DID YOU GET TO KNOW BARRISTER?
When I first met him, it was in 1978 or 1979. I used to go to the NTV show. Barbic Show, which is for elders, and I used to perform acrobatics there. It was there that Barrister noticed me, became interested in me, and asked me to accompany him.
HOW DID YOU GET A LINK WITH BARRISTER?
“Huh!” Barrister is not like any other musician. As I mentioned earlier, I was skilled in acrobatics and could cook like a pro when I was eight years old. My brother, who served as my promoter back then, would often take me to various events so I could showcase my talents. It was during one of these shows that Baba gave me the nickname “Aguko,” and he would always call me when he had a show. When I was fourteen years old, there was a musical jamboree concert on TBS. The bouncers at the door refused to let me in, but to my amazement, Barrister sent his manager outside to come in and help me get in. I stopped working at Wharf as a holiday employee in 1985, which caused me to lose touch with Barrister.
One day, as I was leaving work, I learned that Barrister’s album, “Fertilizer,” had been published. Since I didn’t have any cash on me, I had to take some cash from my mother to get the record. I can always play the cassette since my mother has a JBC tape, and she beat me up when she found out that I had stolen her money.
HOW DID YOU RECONFIRM WITH HIM AFTER YOU LOST CONTACT? When I originally released my record in 1994, I told a few acquaintances that I hoped Barrister would bless it. They advised me not to, saying that anyone who had Barrister’s hand on their head will never succeed and will pass away from a headache, but I said I would go. Since I think everything they stated about him was based on superstitions.
When I heard that Barrister would be performing at the FASLAK HOTEL on Demola Yakubu’s wife’s birthday, I went up to the woman hawking goods at the hotel’s gate and pleaded with her to let me see Barrister.
Barrister was singing when I arrived at the party area at around 7 o’clock at night. He abruptly stopped when he noticed me. “Awon kan lomo ohun tose won ti won ko lati jo..Daddy Showkey ma wole omo Baba, Daddy Showkey ma wole omo Ayinde, iwo na adagba lola Olohun Oba.”
When he opened his briefcase and sprayed me with money, I did the same, but he told his manager to return the entire amount, which came to $28,000 when I calculated it. After that day, I assured my skeptic friends that I was still alive, headache-free, and that my record was moving quickly.
WHAT ARE THE MEMORY TEARS BARRISTER GAVE YOU?
“Thanks you! In 1994, while I was traveling to Abuja for a concert with Raskimono, I was unaware that it was Barrister’s birthday; we were even staying at the same hotel (Transcorp). The people there made fun of me when I collapsed that day while trying to open the entrance door because I didn’t realize it was slidding. However, as soon as the door opened, I saw Barrister, who helped me up and promised that someday the ones who made fun of me would pay me back. He told me to make prudent use of all the money Raskimono given me for the event. With the entire sum of $15, 000, I handed my mother $10,000 and used the remaining $5,000 to go to Madillas, where I bought clothes and brew beer for my pals.
My companions, who had bought me beers, went to the Ajegunle Police station and reported me, saying I was merely squandering money and they had no idea where I got it. Taiwo Olakanu was the station’s DPO, and Baba Laso was the IPO. While I was being held, the cousin of the DPO paid him a visit and informed him about a newly discovered musician who had performed at an Abuja performance on that same day.
The IPO brought me to the DPO office where his cousin recognized me and informed the DPO that I am the singer because they intended to show me on TV as an armed robber. They signed me for my second show as a Unilag student there at the station. When I was let out after the event, I went to Barrister and told him everything. He then suggested that I open a bank account. My guarantors were Barrister and Dr. Patrick Obubo, and I opened the account with Citizen Bank. In 1997, I performed as a guest artist at a well-known musician’s 40th birthday celebration. It was during this event that my wife went into labor and was brought to the hospital.
Upon arriving at the medical facility, the doctor instructed me to make a deposit, but at the time I was struggling financially because a promoter had refused to give me the money I needed for my overseas trip. I had an idea to go talk to the musician. I waited for a while after leaving his party, but to my astonishment, two women came to see him, and the security informed them in Yoruba that the musician did not want to meet me. The security guard was unaware that I speak and comprehend Yoruba.
Following my departure, I made the decision to visit Alhaji Barrister because his home is close to the musician’s residence. When I arrived, I was informed that Baba had traveled to Ibadan, but that his manager had helped me contact him. Baba then began to sing, “Moriwa, mori waya ni Isolo.” He then asked his manager to give me $25,000 for the baby, $25,000 for the mother, $25,000 for the hospital bill, etc., so the total amount I collected that day was $250,000. In fact, that was a day I will always remember. The doctor instructed me to leave the money when I arrived at the hospital.
WHY IS BARRISTER THE ONLY ONE?
“Thank you. Baba is a remarkable person, and I think he is rightfully in heaven behind God. Barrister provided me with 500 pieces of block and 250 bags of cement to get the work started on my first home in Ojodu. Things will change in Nigeria if Barrister is two. His music has changed me as a person and given me insight; in fact, many people in Ibadan think I’m his son. Barry Showkey, his son, used my name for his theatrical persona. Although I am not a Fuji musician, anyone who disparages Barrister Legacy will end up dead.
HOW DID YOUR MUM FEEL ABOUT BARRISTER?
“Recall that I already told you about my first album purchase—I used my mother’s money to get the musician CD, Fertilizer. I was at my good friend Pasuma’s child’s naming ceremony; my wife and Pasuma’s wife went to bed one day apart, so when I got there, I saw only Malaika, Remi Aluko, and Atawewe. I asked Pasuma why he hadn’t invited Barrister, and he said baba wouldn’t come. My lawyer, Abdul Kehinde, and I hurried down to Barrister’s house, where I went straight to his bedroom and told him that Pasuma was celebrating his child’s naming, but Baba told me that nobody had invited him. Even he was unaware, but I informed him that he was now aware and that he had to leave. However, he claimed to be engaged and gave me a respectable sum of money, which I asked Pasuma to reveal on her own. I also informed him that the next day would be the naming of my own daughter, for which he also received $250,000. When I presented Pasuma the money when I got back, he was shocked and gave me $150,000 out of it.
Everyone was there on the day of my daughter’s naming, so I told them I was waiting for Baba to give my child’s name. However, he later sent a message saying he needed to visit Iya Eko since she was sick.
When the party ended that day at around seven o’clock, I just happened to see a cooling van pull up in front of a car. You may guess who got out of the car? It was Baba, apologizing for being late, and the celebration commenced once more. My mother was sobbing, saying that the person who had taken my money to purchase his album had now come to visit you at our home. My son, you have succeeded today.