Kunle Adelabu
Leader and members of the Ikorodu Division Drummers & Musicians Association took their turn to honour late (Sir) Chief B.O. Benson, SAN, KJW, who was their grand patron and the Asiwaju of lkorodu, as they staged a special performance at his Ibeshe palatial Estate of the on Tuesday (yesterday).
To kick-start their special performance for B.O. as he was fondly called, the drummers, as early as 8am, gathered at their meeting point from where they moved across lkorodu community, playing their drums as well as dancing and singing the praise of their late patron to the admiration of passers-by and onlookers who were impressed by the drummers’ display.
Their performance was powerful enough to drag the widow of the late legal giant, Chief (Mrs) Adunola Benson, Oba Segun Benson, the Olojodu of Ojodu, Ogun State, and other members of the family to the dance floor as they danced passionately in celebration of a worthy life lived by late legal luminary.
The drummers announced their arrival at the compound of Chief B.O. Benson in the afternoon, with the sound of their drums and a big banner which carried the picture of their late patron which immediately attracted the attention of eminent personalities and other sympathizers who were already on ground to commiserate with the widows and family members of the deceased.
Hadj Kazeem Ganiu Sanni, the leader of the drummers association in the division, before paying homage to the widow and others in the compound, marched his men to the point where the family placed the condolence register and portraits of the late Asiwaju of Ikorodu, to play their drums for about an hour as way of paying their last respect to their beloved late patron.
He led the special session with his traditional talking drum to sing the praise of late Benson while his group members responded with their drums to create a solemn occasion.
The remarkable drumming session indeed created an atmosphere that reminiscent the good old days when drums were used to announce the death of a traditional ruler or great or legendary individuals.
While this special session was going on, Chief (Mrs) Adunola Benson, in company of friends and family members, moved close to the drummers to acknowledge their presence and also appreciate them for honoring her husband in death.
After paying homage to late Benson, the drummers went round to honour family members and guests, starting with the widow who is well accustomed with the drummers’ performances as usually visited the Estate every year, particularly during Christmas celebration, to pay homage to her late husband being their patron.
The drummers also had a special session for the Olojodu of Ojodu, Oba Segun Benson, who later joined other members of the family to support Chief (Mrs) Adunola Benson on the dance floor and sprayed her some naira notes.
Meanwhile, Hadji Kazeem Sanni, head of drummers in Ikorodu Division and also the News Editor of Oriwu Sun newspaper, in an interview with THE IMPACT at the event, said that late B.O. Benson would be missed for his activities in the community and also his care for others.
He said that the late Asiwaju of Ikorodu accommodated the drummers and never looked down on them as many do in the community.
“We are here to celebrate the life of Chief B.O. Benson, SAN, who was our grand patron for 50 years. He was a very nice man to us and we will surely miss his fatherly advice”, the head of the drummers said.
“He never for once related with us as ‘Onibara’ or ‘Alagbe’ (beggars) as people usually referred to us. He usually hosted us every year during the Christmas festivities in his house. We are always entertained and thereafter, he would also give us money.
“Chief Benson will certainly be missed for his fatherly advice and words of encouragement by the entire lkorodu community, being a typical community activist and goal getter whose contributions to the development of Ikorodu division is exemplary.
“In the aspect of his profession, people will also miss his professional support and interventions”, he said.
The Oriwu Sun news editor, while explaining roles of drum in the old African society, said that drum was effectively used to announce the the death of prominent persons in the community during the period.
He added that their association, which late Benson revered very much, is using drums to honour and celebrate his death.
“In the olden days, our drum was called ‘Atoro’, which was used to announce the death of prominent persons in the community. Whenever we are seen outside, people know that a prominent person has departed to the great beyond or something big is about to happen”, he explained.
“So, playing the drums served as a way of announcing the death of a prominent person in the community in the olden days.
“We are today using drums to celebrate our late grand patron for his fulfilled life and also announce his departure, being a great man in the society”, Hadj Sanni added.
Hadj Kazim also told THE IMPACT that it is not strange to them seeing the widow of late Benson, traditional ruler of Ojoduland and other members of the Benson family dancing to their drums because they usually do that every Christmas when the drummers visits the estate.
“Mama (Chief Mrs Benson) dancing to our drums is not a new thing to us because that’s how she dances every year whenever we visit Benson’s estate during the Christmas period, even the Olojodu, before he became a traditional ruler, also danced to our drums”, he said.
Stating that it will be difficult to find someone like late Benson, Hadj Sanni added that most prominent persons in the community do not care about others but themselves unlike the deceased.
“We are going to miss him greatly and I don’t think that we can find a replacement for him for now because of his commitments to his professional and community activities.
“Most of his contemporaries don’t care about others, especially the youths, despite being rich. But that is not Chief Benson”, he said.
