Encomium
ON Wednesday, March 23, 2011, the remains of late star actor, Ishola Durojaiye, popularly known as Alasari were laid to rest in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home amid tears.
The event attracted a large crowd drawn from all walks of life from entertainment, politics and society. His teeming fans and school children were not left out. Some of his colleagues at the burial included Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo), Ajala Jalingo, Madam Saje, Yetunde Wunmi, Waidi Ijaduade, Ebun Oloyede (Olaiya), Odunlade Adekola, Mosun Filani, Opebe, Afeez Owo, Joke Lawal, Tolani Osinrin, Kunle Adegbite, Ibrahim Chatta and others.
ENCOMIUM Weekly later had a chat with his three wives, children and some of his colleagues. Below is what they all said about the late Ishola Durojaye also known as Iroko.
‘I would miss everything about him’ – BASIRAT DUROJAYE (Wife)
How would you describe your late husband?
He was a great man. He was a very loving and caring husband. He was also a fantastic actor, very hard working. I love him but God loves him most.
How would you describe his death?
It was a tragic loss to the entire family and the entertainment industry as a whole.
Did you have premonition of his death at all?
Nothing like that. This is not the time I should lose him because we suffered a lot. We lived under the same roof, I was the only wife living with him. When we used to eat without meat, we didn’t see anybody. Now that things are getting better, that we can boast of three square meals, death took him away. But I believe whatever happens, we still have to take it as an act of God because I believe God knows best.
What would you miss most about him?
I would miss everything about him. I can’t start mentioning all I would miss about my late husband. He was a nice and fantastic man to live with.
Did he share with you any of his dreams that perhaps he couldn’t fulfill?
You know we all have plans for our life, he was a man of plan. He might have had some things he was looking on to before death came but we just have to resign to fate and believe what has happened was an act of God.
So, you believe his death was an act of God?
I believe his death was an act of God. Whatever happens, I believe God has its full knowledge.
Are you aware that a lot of rumours have been trailing his death. Some are insisting that something was fishy because the accident was at the same spot where he had a similar experience last year, what is your reaction to this?
When something like this happens, people will say a lot of things. But whatever is hidden to man, I believe it is known to God. I don’t believe anybody killed my husband, his death came at God’s appointed time. What happened to him last year was worse than the one that claimed his life. I believe if God has it in His plan that he would live longer than that, the accident wouldn’t have killed him but we thank God for his life.
How old are you?
I am 42.
What do you do for a living?
I am a businesswoman.
‘He was a good counsellor’ – ADIJAT DUROJAYE (Wife)
We commiserate with you on the death of your husband?
Thank you.
When exactly did you get married to him?
When we were very young, that was about 27 years ago. We had our first baby in 1988.
How many children do you have for him?
I have just one, Olukayode Durojaye.
How would you describe his death?
It was a painful incident, difficult to bear but there is nothing one can do about it.
What would you miss most about him?
I would miss him a lot. He never for once abandoned me. He was a good counselor, a good adviser. He loved sharing with me every bit of my problem, he was always there for me.
When last did you see him or discussed anything with him?
Just about two weeks to his death. He called me on phone, he gave me confidence that I shouldn’t worry that everything will soon be alright, especially about my son.
What is your prayer for him?
May his soul rest in peace because he was a good man, I can never forget him.
How old are you?
I am 44 years.
‘His death was a rude shock’ – ADEOLA DUROJAYE (Wife)
How would you describe your husband’s death?
It was painful. It was a rude shock. I never expected him to die now. It is a great pain losing him at this time.
How would you describe him?
He was more than a husband to me. He was nice and caring. He loved his family and everybody around him.
Was there anything he promised you that he couldn’t fulfill?
If at all he promised me this and that, what else can I do now that death has snatched him from me.
What would you miss most about him?
A lot, I will miss everything about my husband.
You are the mother of his last child?
Yes, Iretomiwa Durojaye. He is just two months old.
What do you do for a living?
I am a teacher.
You’re from where?
I am from Abeokuta, Ogun State.
‘He was a caring dad’
– OREOLUWA DUROJAYE
How would you describe your father’s death?
I feel bad about it, it’s a great pain.
What would you miss about him?
I would miss him because he loved me.
What would you remember about him mostly?
He used to give me money and he loved me. I will remember him forever.
What was his last promise to you?
He promised he would take me to the UK.
‘He couldn’t complete the studio he promised me’
– KAYODE DUROJAYE (First son)
How would you describe your dad as a father and an actor?
My father was a very nice, very hard working and agile man. He was a very good actor.
How would you describe his death?
It was a sad incident. I am yet to get over it. It was too early for him to die because he had just started reaping the fruits of his labour. But God knows best.
When last did you see him?
That was on Sunday, the same day he died.
Did he make any pledge that he failed to fulfil?
Yes, he had always assured me of his support. He promised to stand by me, especially in my career as a movie editor. He was actually trying to build an editing studio for me but he couldn’t complete it till he died. It is very painful.
What is going to happen to the studio now that he is gone?
I believe God will help because my dream is to be on my own which he also supported.
What would you miss most about him?
I will miss him a lot. I can’t just say exactly what would be missed about him.
What would you like to remember most about your late dad?
I will remember him for everything he stood for as a father and as an entertainer.
How old are you?
I am 24 years.
Are you his first child?
Yes.
‘He promised to take me to the UK’
– ANUOLUWAPO DUROJAYE
How do you feel about your father’s death?
It was a sad incident. I feel bad about it.
How would you describe him?
He was a very nice father. I love him.
How would you describe his death?
It is a loss that I can’t explain now. I am feeling bad about it. It is a sad thing.
We learnt you’re also acting.
Yes, my father introduced me to it.
But now that he is gone, are you continuing with acting?
Yes, I don’t want to stop. I believe God will help me.
How many movies have you taken part in?
I have done two movies with my father.
Are you also part of his last movie entitled Iyanu?
I was part of it.
How old are you now?
I am 11 years old.
Which school do you attend and what class are you?
I attend Ideal Comprehensive College, I am in JSS 1.
Did your father make any promise to you that he couldn’t fulfil?
Yes, he promised he would take me to the United Kingdom.
What would you miss most about him?
I would miss his care. He was a loving dad
‘He promised me a Blackberry phone’
– GBENGA DUROJAYE
How would you describe your father’s death?
It was shocking and sudden. I am still trying to get myself together.
How would you describe him?
He was more than a father to me. He was my mentor, my adviser, he was my everything. He used to guide me all the time.
What would you miss most about him?
I would miss everything about him.
What was the last thing he promised you?
He promised to buy a Blackberry phone for me.
When was the last time you saw him?
I saw him last on Sunday morning, the day he died. You know we lived together till his death.
What was your last conversation with him?
The last thing he told me was when he was about leaving, he just called me, ‘Gbenga, come and carry these luggage to my room,” and that was all. I didn’t know I won’t see him again my life.
How old are you now?
I am 15 years.
What class are you?
I am in JSS III.
How is life going to be now after his death?
I believe God will help me to achieve my dreams.
‘He was a fantastic actor’ – WAIDI IJADUADE
As a close colleague and friend of Alasari, how would you describe his death?
It was a tragic incident, it came as a surprise because I never expected that kind of thing. It is painful but there is nothing we can do. All we can do now is to pray for the repose of his soul. May God be pleased with him.
How would you describe his exit from the movie industry?
It is a great loss. We have lost yet another gem. We can’t forget his contribution to the development of the industry, especially the Ogun State chapter of our association (ANTP). He was such a fantastic actor and a good coordinator. He was one of the pillars of the state chapter of the association. We loved him but we believe God loves him more than we do.
But the tale in town is that his death has a spiritual connotation and that the leadership tussle in the state chapter of ANTP may have been responsible for it, what is your reaction to this?
I don’t believe in that. The leadership tussle in the association has nothing to do with his death. He was a polite man and everybody loved him. Let us believe that what happened was an act of God.
What would you miss most about him?
I will personally miss him. All of us will miss him, especially his contribution to the development of the association and the film industry as a whole. He was a good actor and he also liked encouraging others to grow.
‘The Alasari we knew’ – Colleagues
‘He was a great actor’ – KUNLE ADEGBITE
How would you describe Alasari?
He was a very nice man. He was a man that believed in the upcoming ones. He was a man that loved encouraging the young ones and he was always there for them. We really love him but God loves him most.
How would you describe his exit?
That is a great loss to us, the industry and his family. He was a great man but death has claimed him. There is nothing anybody can do about it.
‘Alasari was a good man’ – YETUNDE WUNMI
How would you describe Alasari’s death?
His death was painful and pathetic and it’s a great loss to the movie industry.
What kind of person was he?
He was a good person, he loved everyone. His loss has created a big vacuum. We will all miss him a lot. May God forgive him all his shortcomings.
‘He was a peace maker’ – RONKE OSHODI OKE
Who was Alasari?
He was a nice man, he was a peace maker. He lived a life that touched people’s lives. We would really miss him.
How would you describe his death?
It was tragic, unbelievable because it wasn’t expected at this moment. The man was too nice to die young. His death has created a great loss and vacuum. We pray that God overlooks his shortcomings.
‘He was a talent developer’ – TOLANI OSIRIN
Who was Alasari in the industry?
He was a fantastic actor, a human developer. He took the job of grooming actors and actresses. For instance, he made a lot of actors and actresses star including Odunlade Adekola, Lola Magret, Lizy Anjorin, Mr. Paragon and others. He would definitely be missed by all. He was very nice.
How would you describe his death?
It was too sudden. His death is a great loss to the industry. We pray that his soul rests in peace.
‘His death has left a vacuum’ – JOKE LAWAL
Who was Ahmed Alasari?
He was a good man, a father of youths. He had confidence in the upcoming ones. And he really tried in that aspect. May God be pleased with him.
How would you describe his death?
It is a great loss. It touched every one of us because of his contribution to the development of the industry. He was a bundle of talent and he also believed in developing others. He discovered a lot of people and he helped them in their bid to realise their dreams. I never expected people like him to die young but God knows best. We will surely miss him. The vacuum he left will be difficult to fill.
‘He wasn’t fetish’ – AFEEZ OWO
How would you describe Ahmed Alasari?
I thank God that I was close to him. We happened to be on location together about two weeks to his death. It was at the shrine of that movie location that he marked his birthday and we all rejoiced with him. His 48th birthday was marked inside that shrine we set for him as a diviner in that movie and we all sang the birthday song not knowing that he was bidding us farewell.
The news in town is that he died because of the role he was known for, we mean a diviner?
No, there is nothing like that. Everybody in the industry has a calling. He can’t play the role of a fine man, he can’t play the role of a pastor or an Alfa, the role that was accepted of him by the public is that of a diviner where he would be portrayed as a ‘juju’ man. So, there is nothing wrong in that. He had played so many roles apart from that. But people didn’t accept him. Anybody interpreting that kind of role is usually perceived as fetish. He wasn’t fetish at all. He was only trying to interpret the role given to him.
How would you describe his death?
It was shocking and sudden. We have missed yet another fantastic actor. If you talk of who should die in the next 50 years, I would say, he won’t be on that list but God knows best. He was too nice to die young.
‘He was a nice colleague’ – OPEBE
Who was Alasari?
He was a nice man. He was also a fantastic and hard working actor. He contributed a lot to the industry.
How would you describe his death?
His death was a great loss to us. And I believe his teeming fans will also miss him greatly. His death came so sudden to us.
‘He touched people’s lives a lot’ – IBRAHIM CHATTA
How would you describe Alasari?
He was a man of the people because he lived to touch the lives of so many people especially the new generation stars and a lot of upcoming ones. He was a good man, he was a great and fantastic actor.
How would you describe his death?
It was a tragic one. He was at his peak when he died. He had just started enjoying his career. His death is painful because he left a little kid behind and few others that are still looking up to him. But death is inevitable, we were born one day and definitely we would go back to God one day. I pray that God will forgive him his shortcomings and protect the family and colleagues he left behind.
- This story was first published in ENCOMIUM Weekly on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
