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Twice, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey got it wrong but correcting his mistake became unnecessary as it gave a new meaning to exploits of the quintessential woman of all times. ‘Board Members’ was one of Ebenezer Obey’s classic albums, it was released in 1972 when the Lagos social scene was awash with the nouveau riche, young Professionals and business tycoons whose status and activities caught the attention of top Musicians of that era.
The Board Members’ album featured the eulogy of leading Socialites like Sanyaolu, Chairman of the group, Lawyer Yinka Rhodes, Agoro Baba, Currency Controller Yemo Adeyera, Lawyer Babs Akerele, Lawyer Sikiru Shitta-Bey, Odunaike Insurance Manager, Chief Ademiluyi, Adenaike Baba Gboyega [Oloolu], Barrister Akinyele and Lawyer Duduyemi. Others are Funso Oyename of Remo Carpet fame, Alhaji Babs Alade Animasaun, Bode Osinusi and Laide Oropo. It was in the same work on vinyl that the Chief Commander chose to eulogise Alhaja Adebisi Abike Edionseri, this was no mean feat.
Back to where Obey got it wrong, the top musician erroneously referred to her as Bisilola Edionsere instead of her real name Adebisi Edionseri. Ebenezer Obey also coined the word ‘Cash Madam’ in place of “Cash Woman” that officers at the Barclays Bank [now Union Bank] baptized her with due to the deluge of Cash she normally dumped on them at the Ogunpa, Ibadan Branch of the Bank after she attained prominence and wealth as a top dealer in products supplied by leading multinationals, John Holt, UAC, GB Ollivant and CFAO.
Ebenezer Obey’s innocent gaffe paled into insignificance, it was clouded by a superb rendition, a fusion of drums and guitar laced with an intricate web of melodious lyrics from his Sweet baritone voice. It was not until Yusuf Olatunji in 1973 released his Epic album ‘Yegede’ that we got the gist, Yegede was an album principally dedicated to “Cash Madam”, an appreciative composition for saving him from being amputated when he was unable to come up with the required Capital to offset the bill for a more advanced procedure that would save his festering foot, Adebisi, in a rare act of Empathy-based philanthropy paid for the procedure at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, a gesture that saved him from imminent amputation.
“Yegede” was a title that spoke directly to real or imagined foes that had already spread the rumour that he had been amputated, he simply shoved it in their face that Yegede, won o ge ooo, ese tepe won ge la fi n rin yi ooo, yegede won o ge o eee. Abike Adebisi ni o je ooo. In essence, he was taunting his traducers that his leg was intact unlike rumours suggested, he went on to eulogise ‘Cash Woman’ as the saviour who ensured he remained whole to the delight of his admirers. ‘Baba Legba’ also disabused the mind of people when detractors claimed Cash madam had been arrested for sundry offences, he made it clear that this was not true as the individual arrested only shared her first name Adebisi, he wondered what such a young woman as Adebisi Kuburat could have done to deserve such hatred from the usual suspects, given the fact that she specifically implored him not to disclose her kind gesture to anyone. She was only thirty-eight years old at the time.
She unexpectedly passed on fifth of January after many would have Congratulated her for crossing over to the new year just about three months to her 90th birthday, you can bet preparation would have been set in motion to Celebrate her rise to the 9th floor in grand fashion, well, that is the way of mortals, nothing is ever certain for us. As I watched her being interred, my mind became flooded with emotion and memories of my encounter with her, I can only appreciate her longevity, good looks, Clarity of thought and exceptional sense of Style even at her old age which she attributed to contentment, she exuded Class and Charm till she passed, she was last of the titans, her other compatriots were not as lucky, all her close friends and even ‘aburos’ like my Mom had all returned to their maker but here she was with her full gait, resplendent in her Choice Swiss lace material and showered in ‘Cooper and Sovereign’ as they referred to their Gold Chain and Pendant back in the day. Serifatu Asake, Iya Dada was my Mom’s elder Sister, she was like the twin of Cash Madam, they went everywhere together, they wore the same clothes and attended same parties, she was also eulogized in the same ‘Yegede’ album with Cash Madam by Yusuf Olatunji. My Aunt was a Successful Lace and Gold Merchant in ‘Kota Ariyo’ [Kosoko area] in Lagos Island, she was also close to a few other Kota Ariyo Merchants that later teamed up with Cash madam for Camaraderie, the crew included Madam Jarinatu Seriki [Jarin Fakos], Iya Arif and Alhaja Musili Odueke, they were the party Shakers in Lagos social scene and they formed a spectacle because they always dressed to kill; garnished with their huge ‘Christian Dior’ Sunglasses that formed part of the fashion.
Cash Madam and Iya Dada particularly loved Tuwo masara with Gbegiri and Ewedu, any time they showed up in our house at 25, Apongbon Street, no one needed to tell us what was coming, my Sister and I would rush to wash our Special China bowls and wait for money to be handed to us, it was always a joyous occasion for us, the Ilorin woman selling the Tuwo at the joint we Christened ‘Tuwo Bar’ on Bankole Street, opposite Olowogbowo Methodist School already knew the parole immediately we showed up with two special china bowls. After making our purchase which could be a few kobo short of the face value, we would rush home and await the leftover that always included a mishmash of Beef, Saki, Ponmo and Bogo bone [don’t ask me what that is]. A few drinks will always accompany such events while we await the normal appreciation token that follows such diligent prosecution of an important assignment. At other times, it is Cash Madam’s Chauffeur that would drive all the way from 121, Ogunlana in Surulere for the procurement while we acted as middlemen in the transaction.
Iya Muka that usually cooked Rce and stew in the night with ‘ese baba n Kano’ [Bokoto or cowleg] close to Gbajabiamila’s house after the Folawiyo’s on Apongbon street was also an occasional beneficiary of cash Madam and Iya Dada’s august visit to our Crib. Cash madam was a slim, petite, gregarious easy on the eye damsel with exquisite dance skills, good Music would easily turn her on, an opportunity for her to remind us that she’s a fluid stepper. There was never a dull moment with her, we could never have enough of her. When my aunt, Iya Dada passed on at a relatively young age, she took charge and played the alternate mother and administrator to the admiration of many. Such was her genial spirit and bounteous capacity for successful multitasking.
Adebisi Kuburat Abike Edionseri was a breath of fresh air, even at such an advanced age, she never required glasses to read, she was prim and proper, an extra-ordinary beauty, vivacious, gregarious and generous to a fault, until she had her last breath, she kept foraging in the quest for holes she could plug or hearts she could mend. She died a fulfilled woman. O death, where is thy sting?
Adebisi Kuburat, A fun ni ma siregun, you shall forever remain in our hearts. Rest on:
