Gbenga Adeboye, late comedian and broadcaster popularly known as ‘Mr Funwontan’, hit stardom before comedy became a big industry.

The ace broadcaster and master of ceremony, died on April 30, 2003, after losing the battle to a kidney-related ailment.

Here are five things we remember about the multi-talented comedian.

HIS NUMEROUS NAMES

At birth, he was known as Elijah Oluwagbemiga Adeboye, but as at the time of his death, it became difficult to keep track of his names.
The names were as a result of his exploits in humour and music.
Some of the names are Funwontan, Alhaji Pastor Oluwo, Abefe, Jengbetiele, Itu baba Ita, Alaye mi Gbengulo.

MAN OF MANY TALENTS
Before his death, he was a versatile entertainer. An orator, comedian, master of ceremony, broadcaster and songwriter.

His programmme on Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation gave him the pseudo-name Funwontan.
Some of his songs did not go the usual ‘words and melody’ way, as he carved his own style of singing.

Gbenga Adeboye: 6 facts about late legendary comedian

MENTOR TO MANY TALENTS
During his lifetime and at his death, he was described as a generous and carefree person.

Alaye mi Gbengulo, as he was called by fans, was a mentor to many. Some of those who hold him in high esteem are: Abbey Fagboro, Ereke ni Soobu, Bashiru Adisa better known as Baba Gboin.

Fathia Balogun, Nollywood actress hit limelight when she featured as a dancer in one of his music videos.

WEDNESDAY MAN

In her album titled ‘Omo Majemu’ translated as ‘Convenant Child’, Seun Adeboye, his sister, narrated how he lived before he hit limelight and how Wednesday was special in his life.

According to her, Gbenga Adeboye was born on Wednesday, September 30, 1959; began his education on Wednesday, had his first trip to America on Wednesday, and his first radio programme on a Wednesday.
He died on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 and was buried on Wednesday, May 14, 2003.

EXPLOITS WITH DEATH

Tales of his exploits with death, which he narrated in one of his albums sparked controversies. According to him, he died and had an encounter with God.

Adeboye claimed to have been sent back to the earth by God to complete his unfinished business and was instructed to be buried with his Bible and hymn book.

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Gbenga Adeboye: 6 facts about late legendary comedian

Sometimes, when an all important person dies in the society, a part of that person remains here never to be forgotten. For some people, it is their wealth that lingers on. For others, it is their works and achievement. For someone like Gbenga ‘Funwotan’ Adeboye, it was his laughter, his happiness, the very core of his profession, that he left behind.

Needless to say, when Gbenga Adeboye was alive, his happiness was everyone’s happiness. He made big problems into teeny-weeny jokes so that when these little jokes are laughed over, these challenges and mountain-like distresses disappear all together.

Gbenga Adeboye died in 2003, at the age of 44, and since then, the entertainment industry in Nigeria has been echoing with the sound of his laughter and the rhythm of his care free, happy attitude.

Enough poetry. There is no doubt that many Nigerians are well acquainted with Gbenga Adeboye, the famous master of oduology and humour merchant that was at the forefront of comedy and entertainment in his days.

1. His birth and career

Gbenga Adeboye was born on September 30, 1959, at Ode Omu, Gbongan, Osun state. Nigeria. Although very little is known about his childhood, it is known that the late Gbenga started working as a freelance radio presenter for Radio Lagos where he started a very popular programme which was solely meant for Yoruba audience.

The name of the programme which started in 1981 was Funwontan. Later on, clips from the improvised and mostly impromptu shows were cut out and put in nine albums. Some of them include Orisunkunnu 1 and 2, Ph. D Beetle, Funwontan 1 & 2, Oro lati ori ite mimo 1 & 2, Versatility, Aiyetoro, Controversy, Supremacy and Ijinle.

2. Jack of all trades, master of all

Gbenga Adeboye was, during his lifetime, a man of many talents. His craft covered nearly every aspect of the entertainment industry and he excelled in all of them. He was a comedian (he pioneered stand-up comedy) who could make people’s eyes water with his jokes. He was a musician whose songs of ‘unusual genres’ contained in depth lyrics and melody that caused several people to genuflect.

Even more, Gbenga was an activist, orator, prophet, mimic, humorist, entertainer and master of ceremony. It was quite impressive how he was able to use his talent so well within a short time. Better still, through his words, jokes and actions, Gbenga addressed societal and political ills within the society.

3. Man with ‘a name of many colours’ 

Although Gbenga was christened Elijah Oluwagbemiga Adeboye, nobody exactly identified him by this one name. After his show hit limelight, the humour merchant began to be endued with so many names, too numerous to count. It was as if for every gig or show he did, he got a new name.

Some of the popular names he was identified by include Funwontan, Alhaji Pastor Oluwo, Abefe, Jengbetiele, Itu baba Ita, Alaye mi Gbengulo, One Man Battalion, Jengbentiele, Apagunpote 1, Abefe, Olayinka, Omo Baba Overseer, Awo itu, Baba Ita, Awo Baba Laisi Abesupinle.

About the last name – Laisi Abesupinle – Gbenga often used it a lot on air. He would dye his hair into white, mimic the voice of an old, age-stricken man, and then, attack the ills of the public (youths and adults) head on. That was quite something, right?

Gbenga Adeboye: 5 things to remember about late legendary comedian

4. Godfather in the Entertainment Industry 

Apart from his many achievements, Gbenga Adeboye also impacted the lives of many entertainers. He was not a lone ranger, rather, he embraced many people and made them as great as he was. For one, it is impossible to mention the person of Yinka Ayefele without talking about Adeboye.

Also, the likes of Abbey Fagboro, Ereke ni Soobu, Bashiru Adisa better known as Baba Gboin reverence Alaye Mi Gbengulo for the role he played in their career. Even more, Nollywood actress Fathia Balogun came to the spotlight only after she featured as a dancer in one of his music videos.

5. His Miraculous resurrection and death

Before Gbenga finally died on April 30, 2003, he made certain controversial statements in a recorded tape. He said that God had called him to glory at a point in his life. According to him, the purpose of his death at that time was to be shown several mysterious things by the Divine.

Gbenga claimed that he was later sent back to earth by God because he had to complete an unfinished assignment. As if he knew about his imminent death, the entertainer requested that he be buried with the Bible and a hymn book.

6. ‘Omo Majemu’ (Covenant Child)

Seun Adeboye, sister to the late singer, once dedicated a song to her brother. The song which was titled Omo Majemu set out to narrate the life journey of the master of oduology. To surmise the album, Seun asserted that Gbenga was a covenant child.

Her reason for this was that Gbenga, in a strange twist, practically was a Wednesday man alone. He was born on Wednesday, September 30, 1959; began his education on Wednesday, had his first trip to America on Wednesday, and his first radio programme on a Wednesday. He died on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 and was buried on Wednesday, May 14, 2003.

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By Eromosele Emmanuel

The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, Abeokuta and Continental Europe Chapters, organised a sensitisation visit to schools in Abeokuta to mark the 2023 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The schools visited were Abeokuta Grammar School Idi-Aba and Baptist Boys’High School Oke Saje. The event was organised in light of the growing concern about the alarming increase of illicit substances consumption and abuse among in-school youths, out of school youths alike, and even the relatively older ones. A high percentage of Nigerian youths are at risk with an estimated figure of over 11% of the youths said to consume substances like syrup, cannabis, tramadol, diazepam, cocaine, shisha mix, alcohol among others. Drug abuse is often linked to drug use disorders, mental illness, high crime rate, high rate of sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS, and ‘’many debilitating conditions like schizophrenia and psychosis, leading to psychiatric admissions’’. “Drugs can eventually change how the brain works and interfere with a person’s ability to make choices. In fact, many criminal offences such as theft, burglary, cultism, murder, kidnapping, sex work, terrorism and banditry have been greatly attributed to drug abuse”.

The programme which was also partnered by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ogun State Command, had in attendance two Principal Staff Officers, Drug Demand Reduction Units, NDLEA Ogun State Command, Mrs Oluseyi Morakinyo and Mr Frank Nwaohamuo. Addressing the students, the NDLEA officials sensitised the students about the dangers inherent in drug abuse. Mrs Morakinyo advised the students to focus on their studies; adding that, drugs have the potential to cut short their lives and destroy their future if they indulge in it. They further stressed that 95% of mentally deranged cases may be connected to substance abuse. Mr Frank said that people should stop discrimination against victims of drug abuse. He added that stigmatisation does not help the situation of such victims, instead they need support, care and love. They further stated that drug abuse victims need counselling and treatment.
The NDLEA representatives noted that parents, teachers, communities, government and all stakeholders have important roles to play if they must put an end to the menace of drug abuse among students and secure the future of the country. They equally advised all to look out for signs of drug abuse by children and individuals around them. Among such signs include an outspoken child becoming suddenly withdrawn, a quite child suddenly becoming talkative, dry lips, bloodshot and watery eyes, among others. They also said that the drug dealers are the most dangerous people on earth and not the users. This is because they do not use but make it available to others thereby destroying the users’ future. They, therefore, appeal for concerted efforts to ensure the arrest and prosecution of these traffickers and dealers.

The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, is nonprofit, nongovernmental, nonreligious and detribalised group which believes in identifying and fighting against the ills millitating against the attainment of a just and egalitarian society where no one is treated on the bases of any biases, be it gender, tribe, religion and so on. It adopts such strategies as advocacy, public discourses, researches, humanitarian gestures and litigations. The group is registered with the Nigerian government, through the Cooperate Affairs Commission.

The global observance is to raise awareness of the major problem that drug abuse and illicit drugs pose for society. It is aimed at strengthening action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse. The day calls for unity in the fight against illicit drugs; individuals, entire communities, organizations, educational institutions, faith-based institutions and governments all over the world are enjoined to join in the fight to eradicate the scourge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. We are all stakeholders; therefore, we should ensure actions to protect people, including the vulnerable especially children, women and youths, including ‘’strengthening drug use prevention and treatment, and by tackling illicit drug supply’’. The observance encourages other practical solutions like encouraging researches which will provide facts, data and practical solutions which may prove invaluable in combating the scourge.

The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, Abeokuta and Continental Europe Chapters, as part of the programme of activities to mark the event, also hoisted a billboard message condemning drug abuse and espousing drug abuse prevention, at Onikolobo facing traffic from Mapoly, in front of MacJob Grammar School.