Hon. Risikat Adeniyi Adegeye, started courting the limelight about three decades ago when she got married to King Sunny Ade, the Juju music maestro who was already a household name in Nigeria and some parts of the world. Although Risikat met Sunny Ade at a time he was already famous, that did not stop her from finding a space in his heart as, according to her, it was a marriage that music joined together. She was and has remained a great fan of her husband’s music while their love has grown stronger and deeper ever since. Hon. Adegeye served as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2017. Since then, she has remained a grassroots mobiliser in her constituency. But how has she been coping as the wife of King Sunny Ade, ‘the man of the people’, as she is wont to describe him? She tells PAUL UKPABIO all about it in this interview.
HOW does it feel to be married to a popular musician like King Sunny Ade?
My husband is well known around the world, and I do recognise that fact and have lived with it. Let me give you an instance of his popularity: I was once traveling to America. At the Immigration point, the officer asked me where I work and I told him. He looked at me and asked who my husband is. I told him I am Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye’s wife. I didn’t even know that the Immigration officer had once lived in Nigeria and knows my husband. He quickly looked at his computer. He looked at me again, and asked, ‘Who is Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye?’ I told him he is also known as King Sunny Ade (KSA). He said ‘Wow!’ He then asked where I served as a honourable member and I asked him if he knew Nigeria. He asked me to answer his question first. I told him I represented Amuwo Odofin. He laughed and told me about Mile 2 and Festac Town. So, his popularity is always rubbing off on me wherever I go. Not only me, but all members of our family.
Do you really like his music?
Very well! That was what inspired me to marry him when I was young. I have been a great fan of his since I was a child. It is his music that I love, and I can even say that I hardly like any other music as much as my husband’s music up till date.
Which of his songs do you like the most?
(Her face lit up with joy) The one I love the most is Oro t’o n lo. I was in the third year in secondary school (when it was released). I recall also at our school’s end of the year party then, his music was the music we danced to throughout. I actually danced to it till the next day. Afterwards, I was focused on Sunny Ade. I wasn’t really thinking about any other thing as much as marrying Sunny Ade.
How did you eventually meet him?
Of course, we met much later through one of his friends who is now late. They were mutual friends, though the man was much older than Sunny Ade. His friend was very familiar with my family. He also knew about my interest in Sunny Ade and my undying love for his music even back then. If you must know, I used to clamour for his records. People around me at that time knew of my love for his music because I was also a good dancer and I loved dancing to his music. So the man, I mean Sunny Ade’s elderly friend, connected us and it turned out very well.
So where eventually did you meet?
We met in Ibadan. It was not at a party. The first time we met was at my mother’s house.
What was your impression of him after you met and how did you feel afterwards?
I was very happy. I felt indeed very happy. He sent a driver to pick me. That same driver is still with him till today.
And what happened after?
He proposed marriage. He had been told about my unusual love for his music. He said, ‘So, you like to dance to my music? He asked me a lot of questions like where I come from and so on; from the surface questions to the deepest questions. I was there excitedly giving him answers, responding like a computer (laughs).
So many years after, what can you say about the marriage?
Yes, eventually, we got married and God has blessed our marriage. I thank God that I am still with him today and even tomorrow. I have never had any cause for regret.
But what was your parent’s reaction when he came to marry you?
My family agreed to the marriage. You know I am talking about 30 years ago. My mother was supportive from the outset. My father was cautious because he said Sunny Ade is a Christian while we were Muslims. But it didn’t take long before all my family members accepted that I marry him. My father consented to it. When my father died, King Sunny Ade was the one that did everything for his final burial. I thank God and I thank my husband. My prayer is that he lives long to be there for me and us all.
What are the things that you admire in your husband, apart from his music?
There are so many things I admire about him. He is peaceful. He avoids quarrels and quarrelsome people. And he always gives good advice to his wives and children. Again, I admire him because of his humility. Oh, he is so, so humble and I wish him long life and that he does not leave us until he is over 120 years.
And you think that is possible?
Yes, it is possible, because his mother died about that age. I don’t mind if I go at 94, but I want him to be around because there are so many people who depend on his umbrella, who depend on his wings of love, and he will need to be there for them. He is a responsible man and a man of the people who loves to have people around him and loves to help them too. So, I will continue to pray for him.
Is there any special thing that you know that most people don’t know about your husband?
Most people do not know how caring Sunny Ade is to his wives and children. That is the most unique aspect of his life that most people do not know. He doesn’t want any challenges for anyone of us. In any situation, he buckles up his belt and arrests the situation. He is up and doing.
What do you love about your husband that keeps you going?
He trusts me. He knows what I can do and what I cannot do. My husband has been my great supporter. My husband gives his wives and children freedom to choose the different areas that they can contribute to the community. If I die at the age of 95 and eventually I come back to this world, I still want to marry KSA. As a woman, I will always want to marry him.
Let’s talk about your fashion sense. What kind of clothes appeal to you?
I do not consider myself a fashionable person as such. I am not even one to stick to the latest fashion. Whatever I believe will fit me is what I put on. I do not stay with specifics; I wear what fits me. I wear English and native dresses. And when I see other dresses from other climes that look good on me, I wear. I guess I wear clothes that make me look responsible.
Can you recall your experience as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly?
My experience in the House definitely contributed to the person that I am presently. The kind of training I got in the House has prepared me for leadership in all aspects. That indeed was my initial training school, and I want that to reflect in all kind of leadership that I aspire to in future. The House of Assembly is a leadership training ground in itself. When you get there, you will indeed find the need to learn and appreciate the workings of good leadership.
Who is your role model?
I have in the last couple of years patterned my footsteps along the likes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who I consider as my mentor. I admire his giving spirit and political judgment. I have been emulating some of his practices. His free mindedness and his belief in people. Since 2007, I have ensured that I pay for Christians and Muslim leaders to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and to Mecca. That is the giving spirit that Asiwaju taught me. As leaders, we are not expected to fold our hands or look away from people’s plight or needs. So I usually make myself available when such needs arise or when people are challenged beyond their resources.
What childhood memory would you never forget?
I was considered a tough child while growing up. I remember an incident in the late 60s. I was told that the spiritual oro was to be observed and that everyone, especially all female, should remain indoors. I stubbornly refused to stay indoors. I wanted to see what oro looks like. My parents didn’t know when I sneaked out of the house. Luckily for me, I was found. They took me back to our house. My parents were shocked and I was warned not to come out again.
