Dola Bamgboye

QUINTESSENTIAL DOLA BAMGBOYE (1962-2020)

By, Seye Adetunmbi

The sad news of the transition of Okundola Bamgboye on Saturday October 10, 2020 came as a rude shock to family members, other relations, friends, colleagues, associates and others who came across him in his 58 eventful years on earth. I was not prepared for it to end too soon! Considering the fact that we were born the same year, he celebrated his natal day on January 13th while I mark mine on July 21st; my hope was that we will celebrate many milestone-birthday anniversaries together as he stood by me in 2012 as the co-anchor of my 50th birthday party. Naturally, I broke down (mo baraje) after the phone call came on October 10 and I was informed that my buddy slept but didn't wake up! Consequently, I am not prepared to write posthumous tribute here. My wish is to celebrate him in our old age and say it to his face that I love him and appreciate our friendship right from when we met as teenagers in Ekiti during his vacation to Usi-Ekiti, his home town. Alas, the unexpected happened! Death where is thy sting? What I have been able to do here is to bid him farewell with some selected vintage pictures of him and highlights of some of the things people have said about him after his sudden exit. I call this publication, "Very Fond Memories of Dola in Pictures" - A Pictorial Tribute. We have indeed lost a gem!

Suave, debonair and a good man

The Event and Sponsorship Manager of MTN Nigeria - Okundola Bamgboye (1962-2020)

Olumide, Dola, Mummy and Bola Bamgboye

1) Bola Bamgboye and Dola Bamgboye with their nanny in 1965 (2) Dola, his sister etc part of a bridal train

Dola in the middle row, standing 5th from right in December 1976 at CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos.

Dola, his lovely wife and children                         Mrs Ochee Bamgboye, Seye Adetunmbi & Dola Bamgboye on his 4th birthday

Dola on 13/1/2007, his 45th birthday with  his children and Seye Adetunmbi

Vintage Dola got the attention of the Prince of Wales who couldn't resist the sincere smile and his aide too

Some of the things various people said about Dola are quoted here. One thing remain constant in most of the testimonies, he was not inclined to turn blind eye to the needs of others. In whatever capacity he could, he often tried to assist others. His colleagues said that he went all out to support them with his energy, time and financial resources. He was down to earth and very humble. He generously shared his personality and character to the admiration of many who had encounter with him. He was a unique dude with an enormous heart and great sense of fun. He made people around him happy and long for his friendship and a was wonderful company to keep.

Dola in front of L-R: Wole Sowole, Mr & Mrs Dapo Adelegan, Funso Daramola, Seye Adetunmbi, Mrs Foluso Olaniyan, Segilola Oluwole and Duro Omogbenigun at the 50th birthday celebration of Seye on July 21st 2012 in Lagos Dola meant a lot to his wide range of admirers, friends, relations, school mates, mentees and other integrated associates. Dr Kweku Adedayo Tandoh wrote: "The Dollar $ Man”, that was my way of hailing him and his reply was “much respect bro”. In the last two years we had the opportunity on at least two occasions to have real and deep heart to heart conversations about life and its vanities. One time was May 2019 in France when we spent 3 nights attending a wedding and the 2nd time in March 2020 in Dubai, attending a 90th birthday. Dola, you were a true friend and bro; honest, humble, loyal, forthright and a family man who truly loved God. If one wanted to hear the truth about any matter, you could count on Dola to give you that truth, whether you want to hear it or not. You loved your wife Ochee and was always thanking God for giving you a true devoted “help meet”. You adored your children and was so proud of the great adults they had become; you never could stop talking about them too. There can only be one Dollar $ Man, and my wife Kunbi, my children and myself will never forget you. I pray that the Almighty God will comfort and console your wife, children and entire family in Jesus Name. Good night, the Dollar $ Man, much respect bro....."

Omotayo Tanwa Arewa wrote: "Egbon was truly larger than life. His gait and personality stood out wherever he went. His humility and keen sense of humour were such a gift that stood him in good stead. He was unmoved by “arranging” because he knew that he was enough. Egbon Dola ($) embraced my friends as his and would correct you in love and humour. He was a unique and lovely human in good and bad times."  Also Manny Osifo wrote: Dola was a fantastic guy who touched many generations. He was full of life and there was never a dull moment with him. Our paths crossed nearly 50 years ago in primary school and we remained family friends and eventually brothers till he passed on. Growing up back in the good old days in Lagos, he was a great social influencer, mentor and pacesetter to many in my generation and others that followed. He was so loved by all. Dola was indeed larger than life. Dola's social prowess and charisma warmed him into the hearts of so many cutting across gender, age and social class. This made him so popular in the Nigerian social circle at home and abroad, and one of the most popular happening guys of my growing up days in Lagos." 

The social media among his circle of associates, colleagues, relations, friends, school mates and other constituencies globally stood-still for him when the news of his death broke. Expectedly, the first Zoom Night of Tribute held for him on October 17th had 669 participants. Within nine minutes at the start of the zoom, the Zoom had 330 people. Yes, Dola was popular in life and in his transition. How could anyone forget a rare gem who made everyone around him felt special and loved? Yes, Dolapo was indeed amiable, kind, unpretentious, easy-going and jovial.

Dola was born on January 13, 1962 to the family Chief & Mrs Claudius Agboola Bamgboye of Usi-Ekiti. His father was the Federal Minister of State for Education in 1979. He attended CMS Grammar School, Bariga (1974-79 set) and was a product of University of Middlesex, University of Lagos and Brunel University in London. Until his transition, he was the Event and Sponsorship Manager of MTN Nigeria Limited.

The real McCoy and a jolly good fellow!
Well rounded Okundola
Suave and debonair Dola.
A good man and an outstanding jolly nice fellow has gone home!
I am short of words!
Just like that, our very dear brother and worthy friend left us!
We surrender all to God....
So sad

O digba, ore mi, omoluabi
Fare thee well, buddy.

Till we meet to part no more.
1
Seye

Lagbaja

LAGBAJA 

First written by Seye Adetunmbi on 30-12-10 

    When I heard the radio jingle of Lagbaja just before Christmas, I said Eegun was up to something again on the note of a ground-breaking. Eegun is the name a mutual friend and I call the producer of Lagbaja, Bisade Ologunde when in our elements with him as a friend. Eegun is the Yoruba name for a masked man, masquerade, it is pronounced and written as egigun in Ekiti dialect. Naturally I knew I was not going to miss the show all other things being equal because apart from me, Lagbaja has my boy, Madiba as his fan right from around age of two years when he had been able to recognize the music of one of the most ingenious musicians in Africa who also stands out among the best artists and innovative performers in the contemporary world. The special event which I classified as “family Christmas jam” held as scheduled at Motherlan’ on the eve of Christmas, 24th December 2010. The show was still in the mold of Lagbaja’s regular jam sessions with comedians and upcoming artists and performers providing interludes. The only difference was the special attention given to children during the show which was structured to start at 6 pm and it ended before midnight, a departure from the routine monthly till-dawn jams. 

Lagbaja with Bukunmi Adetunmbi and other fans

    His arrival accompanied with trumpet and dance to the stage through the aisle in the midst of the audience to express his traditional camaraderie to his ever excited fans must have thrilled to no bounds the children who were seeing Lagbaja live, for the first time. To say the children that couldn’t hide their excitement were in one of their happiest moments would amount to understating it. My little angel, four years old Semilore said she was going to hug him in admiration of the unique entertaining procession of Lagbaja to the stage. Lagbaja in his elements as a choirmaster conducted an impromptu children orchestra that sang few popular Christmas carols with the support of his female singers as lead vocalists. Eegun made the cute kids from about age two to eleven plus to entertain parents and other aficionados of Motherlan’ jam sessions. It was creativity at its best and the innocence of the children was a beauty to behold seeing them singing as convenient for each child without rehearsals and yet to the delight of the excited mixed audience of Nigerians and foreigners. 

Dara Adetunmbi (holding microphone at the special Lagbaja Show for children at Motherlan in December 2010 

The climax of the children segment of the show was a dancing competition. Seeing is believing when the batch of the very young ones had their dance. Lagbaja identified some dancers among the older children to prune the competitors to five. The dancing competition finalists were tasked to sing a favorite song which they were used to in their respective homes and my 7 years old daughter, Dara took the first shot and sang ope lo ye o, Baba olore…. and the band gave her solemn back-up with talking drum and other musical departments, the audience joined her in the rendition to the applause of all. The other competitors followed suit with one praise worship song or the other to the admiration of the surprised gathering of mixed music enthusiasts that were expecting konko below or ori mi wu o, e lagi mo etc! Who said Jesus has not conquered the world? He is the everlasting King. 

    Dancing competition for children at the first special family jam session at Motherlan’ on 24/12/10 was creative and entertaining. The prize was flat for the first three winners while the 4th and 5th went home with musical CD. Democratic Father Christmas Lagbaja used audience to decide the first three best dancers in the manner of children party setting for those in support to say yes. Dara who had always wanted to have her own telephone line won one of the Nokia phones as one of the first three winners. Thanks to Santa Claus Lagbaja 2010! Lagbaja has got another title from me for having some instincts of Father Christmas in him. 

    Looking back to the pre-mask days of the producer of Lagbaja, discerning ones who knew him as an undergraduate instrumentalist and those of us who had been seeing the entertainer in Bread & Butter days by Allen Avenue roundabout in the early 1990s may not be too surprised the success he has recorded as a masked performing artist. Like eleniyan, abami eda, the only one of its kind, Fela Anikulapo Kuti; his background as a son of a priest must have had early influence on his interest in Music. Bisade’s distinctive Baptist background of devout parents must have exposed him to musical instruments and best of choral songs in his growing up days. As a son of a distinguished organist, I can attest to the power of influence of such strong good music background in anyone’s deep seated interest in well harmonized music. 

    Some people wonder why he opted to continue his musical career with mask and took-up Lagbaja as the stage name. Though I have never engaged him on this issue, yet I would rather give it novelty inspired by the inherent characteristic modest nature of Bisade the great artist. Thus, I’m of the view that here is an artist who must have perceived stardom awaiting him and genuinely would wish to separate stage performance from the real person behind the mask. Unlike other stars, he can conveniently go wherever he wants to go like any other person without attracting undue attention to himself. Except you knew him at Government College, Ibadan or at University of Ife and those who knew him in the pre-mask performing days, he would conveniently go about his affairs unnoticed. 

    For some time in the late 1990s, he was part of us at the UNILAG Senior Staff Squash Club to keep fit. He rode his bicycle to Akoka and back to Ikeja quietly. Of course golden fish has no hiding place, and perhaps when fans got to know and the identity became tough to conceal he must have quietly reviewed his schedule. There was a time he had a show at Motherlan that featured two “Lagbajas” which accentuated the originality of the producer. That’s the vintage him for you. 

Madiba, Dara, Seye and Semilore at Lagbaja’s Show in 2010 

The mask concept is damn too innovative. It is not like the traditional masquerade which some people may have issue with, because the real masquerade doesn’t speak like human beings. Novel Lagbaja in his ago (costume/mask) speaks like you and I, and sings his songs to the positive reception of his teaming devotees. As a matter of fact, the original man behind the ago can travel abroad while Lagbaja performs here in Nigeria or vice-versa. It is the same principle behind those traditional masquerades in Yoruba nation that are over 100 years old and new performers will wear the costume to perform as a going concern. Creativity indeed is the mother of invention and kudos to the grand producer and the inimitable performing artist, one and only Bisade Ologunde. This has earned Lagbaja the classification of an institution in the contemporary world of music and institutions don’t die. In our old age we can conveniently watch Lagbaja perform to entertain us with my friend eegun himself in the audience holding a walking stick and so shall it be for the generations unborn as a going concern, ceteris paribus!

Kako (the author) in his elements mimicking Lagbaja with an improvised costume in 2005 (l) and the real McCoy on the right  

Lagbaja, ijogbon ko se n'ikan fa, omo baba muko-muko, the Eegun himself