High life artiste, Rolling Dollar, dies of cancer

 

Nigerian music juju highlife maestro, Fatai Olagunju, popularly called Rolling Dollar, passed away.

He died at a Lagos hospital at the age of 86.

Although Rolling Dollar was reportedly hospitalised about two weeks ago at the Ahmadiya Hospital in Ijaye, Lagos, a report said he eventually breathed his last at another medical centre in Surulere.

He was said to have been diagnosed with cancer. However, hospital sources said he complained of respiratory complications on Wednesday morning.

One of his associates, Mr. Kunle Tejuosho, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Jazzhole Records, which produced the artiste’s most successful album – Won Kere si Number Wa – recalled that Rolling Dollar did not really go through any protracted illness, as it was only a few weeks ago that he returned from the United States where he had performed.

Tejuosho said, “Baba was a great musician. He lived a life of music. He was always ready to perform.”

A thoroughbred artiste, who was particularly great as a composer, singer, guitarist and dancer, Rolling Dollar was one of the few voices that kept highlife going, after the death of many of his contemporaries, including Adeolu Akinsanya, Bobby Benson, Oliver de Coque and Osita Osadebe.

Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described the death as a huge loss to the country’s entertainment industry.