70 Children, Several Wives Bade Baba Sala Farewell

Segun Atanda/

With bouquets of white roses on his casket and multiple wives by the side, the father of Nigerian comedy, Chief Moses Olaiya Adejumo MON, popularly known as Baba Sala, was buried on a symbolic note in Ilesha at the weekend.

White roses are traditionally associated with marriages and new beginnings, but they spoke volumes at the burial of Baba Sala who married not less than 20 wives in his lifetime and left behind 70 children.

Eight of the surviving wives filed out beside Baba Sala’s casket as the world bade him a final farewell. They were identified as Rachel, Tayo, Caroline, Segun, Remi, Funke, Bose, and his eldest wife, Bolanle, who acted the role of the comedian’s famous daughter, Sala, in his plays.

Close relations told NewsmakersNG that Baba Sala had admonished his daughters never to protest if their husbands chose to marry other wives.

NewsmakersNG also learnt that in his heydays, the late Baba Sala allotted apartments to his wives in Ibadan, Oyo State and Ilesha, in Osun State where senior wives had a room to themselves but the junior wives were placed two in a room. 

Baba Sala was described as a great man who loved women and loved humanity. His neighbours, at Oke-Itunu around Coca-Cola area of Ibadan, told how he used to feed multitudes on a daily basis, before his fortune nose-dived after he got a loan from the defunct National Bank of Nigeria to produce a celluloid film, Orun Moru, which a trusted staff stole, dubbed and flooded the streets with it.

Family members and sympathizers shed tears on Friday as Baba Sala was buried in his Ilesa country home.

The 82-year-old comedian died on October 7 at his private residence in Ilesa after suffering a stroke.

Speaking at the funeral service held at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Model Parish District Headquarters, Ilesa, Elder Apostle S.O.Adeoye enjoined Christians to live a life worthy of emulation.

He said the late Adejumo lived an exemplary and fulfilled life by serving his God, the Church and humanity.

Adeoye, who urged the congregation to “always lay their treasures in heaven where they will not be consumed by ants, ’’ said the life and times of the late comedian should serve as a worthy example.

The Supreme Head, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Churches World Wide, Prophet Solomon Alao, said the deceased was not a member of any cult group while alive.

“Late Adejumo came, saw, and his life was meaningful for he impacted joy and happiness on many lives.

“His talents, plays, script and performance shaped many lives; Adejumo would forever remain in the people’s heart,’’ he said.

Bola Odubela of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Agege District Headquarters, Lagos, urged Christians to prepare for death by refraining from sin.

“Jesus Christ said you will face tribulations, be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.

“Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour and behave in a godly manner so as to have joy at the end of your race on earth,’’ he said.

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