15th February, 2013
GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN
Nigeria’s Juju maestro, Chief Sunday Ishola Adeniyi Adegeye alias King Sunny Ade has been described as the Nigeria’s ambassador-at-large, who has taken the nation’s name to the length and breadth of the world.
Professor Isaac Adewole, the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan (UI) said this Thursday during the Distinguished Personality colloquium organized by the Institute of African Studies of the premier university in honour of King Sunny Ade for his contribution to the music world.
Adewole who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Arinola Olasumbo Sanya said, “Africa cannot thank him enough for doing us so proud. Nigeria cannot thank him enough and our own little way to thanking him for making us so proud is partly by organizing the kind of event we have today in which eminent scholars have gathered to subject Sunny Ade and his creativity to academic analyses”.
The VC noted that his past works make him a golden fish that cannot be hidden adding that he is also such a prolific artiste that never rests on his oars.
He noted that King Sunny Ade would forever be celebrated.
The chairperson of the occasion, Professor Bolanle Awe in her speech noted that King Sunny Ade was being honoured because the university has decided to appreciate the African treasures and heritage.
She said, “It is important to us in Africa to focus attention not only on those things which have come from outside, but on those that have evolved from within our own African environment and whom our society has acknowledged as a source of pride to us. It is within this context that the university today has identified King Sunny Ade”.
Continuing, “Whosoever has not heard of Sunny Ade, listened or danced to his music, is obviously to be pitied as he is obviously living only on the fringes of our society in Nigeria”.
Professor Tunji Vidal, Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, Dr. Sola Olorunyomi, Dr. Kayode Samuel and Oloye Lekan Alabi revealed the life of the great musician through their different presentations which would be collated into a book latest by August.
They all described him as a gentle, humble creative, generous, humorous and disciplined man.
Reacting, King Sunny Ade said that he would never forget the honour done him by the premier university.
Also in attendance to grace the occasion was Oni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade in the company of his wife, Olori Moniola. About 30 other Yoruba kings attended the event.