On Sunday, April 30, family, associates, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, and fans shower encomiums on Nigerian iconic humourist and broadcaster, Gbenga Adeboye to mark the 20th remembrance of his demise.
Adeboye, a man with several monikers including ‘Funwontan’ hailed from Ode Omu, Osun State, and died of kidney-related diseases on April 30, 2003 at the age 44.
Heralding his artistry, friends and family shared his music clips, videos and memories of the all-rounder entertainer on social media with many describing him as a genius, prophet, and inspiration to the new generation of comedians of today.
One of his sisters, Princess Adeboye had an emotional eulogy to remember the late Adeboye saying, “My late brother is a great inspiration to the generations that came after and ones that are yet to come. It’s 20 years after his demise, and many comedians of today can’t meet up with him. They even extract from his records and his messages. He is just like a book for everyone to study.”
Adeboye’s two children, Damilola and Igwe Adeboye plan to immortalise their father’s legacy.
“Yes, we have a plan of organising an annual event to celebrate my father’s legacy,” Damilola, his first daughter disclosed.
In the same vein, popular comedian Gbenga Adeyinka 1st honoured Adeboye, whom he referred to as one of his inspirations, in death. At the Osogbo edition of his Laffmattazz show, which coincidentally took place at the late Adeboye’s home state, Adeyinka took his time to eulogise the memories and fondness of Adeboye to the delight of attendees.
Despite being an entertainer, Adeboye was famous for being a blunt rights activist and he constantly used the Bible, Quran, and Ifa knowledge to promote peace and unity.
“He sang to penetrate the soul and revive conscience and consciousness and not entirely for pleasure or blind alignment with vogue,” a social media commentator, Legendary Joe, expressed. “In his ‘Discovery Album’, he awakened the decomposing humanity in children who upon attaining success abandon their procreator to affliction.”
Continuing Joe said, “As the ‘Oluaye Sorosoro’, the One man Batallion as he was hailed at the time delivered his rendition like none other. His mastery of the Quran, Bible, and Yoruba language had no equal which gave his deliveries a unique touch of class and excellence never seen before then, still not seen now, and maybe never be seen.
“As a comedian, before what we now know as skits, Gbenga Adeboye pioneered comedic series on the radio with legendary fictional characters like ‘Itu Baba Ita,’ and ‘Lasisi Abesupinle’, etc.
“It’s been 20 years, Gbenga Adeboye, the large shoes you left had not been filled, the position of King of Talk had not been occupied, and your unique style of comedy had not been replaced. Say, continue to rest well in peace and quiet knowing your man Asiwaju is now president-elect as you would have wanted.”
In the same vein, Segun Awosanya aka Segalink penned a tribute for Adebaoye on his remembrance . “May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace. His program back then, including the Ìròyìn Kàyéfì with Abbey Fagboro that follows as an interstitial, kept us enthralled as a family. It was more like a call to prayer for us every Saturday morning. His albums and subsequent releases through his media/production outfit brought so much joy to most families.
“We love him but God Almighty loves him more. He’s a great influence to me personally and I believe he will continue to live on in our hearts.”