God has not told me to remarry –Gbenga Adeboye’s widow

Ten years after his death, his name is still on the lips of many people within and outside Nigeria. These are those who appreciate the all-round entertainment that was his trademark.

That celebrated comedian, musician, actor and broadcaster was Gbenga Adeboye, whose many aliases – including Alayemi Gbengulo, – would also easily flow back to the consciousness of millions of his admirers. Apart from the impact that many of his musical albums continue to make, the fact that no other person in the Yoruba entertainment industry has been able to match his level of creativity would for long make his fans remember him.

The essence of the Gbongan, Osun State-born artist is, however, expected to come back to life on Saturday in Lagos, where the 10th year anniversary of his death will be held. Behind the programme, which holds at the LTV Ground in Alausa, Ikeja is his widow, Lara Adeboye, who says it is not only intended to preserve his legacies, but also to make his impact to continue to be felt.

According to Lara, currently Head of Procurement at the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, Ikeja, the programme will feature a memorial service, performances by various artistes and the inauguration of the Gbenga Adeboye Foundation.

“The foundation will, for now, focus on caring for less privileged children in primary and secondary schools. We are, for now, going to cater for between 10 and 12 of such children, who we will train up to the secondary school. As time goes on, we may be able to be advance beyond that level,” Lara says in a telephone interview with our correspondent.

She adds that if some of the kids are found to be talented, they will also be supported to realise their potentials, in line with her husband passion for art and culture.

Ten years after, Lara says life is okay with her and her children. But she is quick to add that things were rough initially.

, “Things are getting better now. Things are looking up,” she notes, adding that God and “people who He sent to us” have been faithful to the family.

But she concedes that she and her children still miss their bread winner dearly.

She says, “I miss him. He was loving, caring and protective of the family. The children are really still missing him. They are always talking about their daddy. Up till now, they are always still referring to him. On one matter or the other, they would say, ‘If Daddy was alive…”

Although Lara says all of them demonstrate creative talents, she wants them to study first – probably get up to the second degree level. On why she too has not released any other song after Widow’s Mite, a number she dedicated to her husband some years ago, she says apart from the fact that she has been very busy, she has lost interest in singing.

Adeboye’s works – especially music – are still being played, promoted and sold here and there. But Lara says he does not know anything about this. She seems to be distant even from the deceased’s popular old radio programme, Funwontan Extra/Gbenga Adeboye Live and his office at Ojodu Berger, which is still in operation.

Although there were rumours that she might have initially remarried, Lara still remains ‘single’. Asked why she has not remarried, she says, “I have not remarried because God has not given me another husband. God has not directed me to remarry. If He says I should do so, I will have no other option but to do so.”