For those who grew in Ibadan in the late 1970s and 1980s, especially those of us at the lower rung of the economic ladder, I feel that each of, somehow, have our Baba Sala stories.
I’ve deliberately exempted those in the category of “ajebótà”, whom I feel (as I felt back in the days), wouldn’t understand what it meant to be at our level. I also feel that they wouldn’t enjoy our kind of fun.
Looking back, it’s now ‘fun’ to reminisce on the fact that we most often peeped through neighbours’ door curtains or windows, and were made to sit on the floor, to watch TV shows. I still haven’t been able to find the right words to describe how it feels when you saunter into a neighbour’s home to watch TV and you’re sent back. A feeling like it is when you get there and find the TV switched off…
In my part of dear Samonda (Oyo Road), Ibadan, we have people like Brother Jaye, Brother Ojo and Baba Anna to thank for always being there. We didn’t have “Uncles” as we have them now. Through these people, we were able to see The Love Boat, Sesame Street, Atom Ant, Baba Sala, Baba Mero, Jacob and Papa Lolo and so on. When the station opens at 4pm, we also saw music shows on NTA Ibadan like Dauda Epo Akara; Dele Abiodun, Sunny Ade, I. K. Dairo, Ade Wesco etc. before the (lone) station shuts down at about 9pm.
They were patient with us, especially Baba Anna. Baba Anna, maybe because he was married and we watched the evening shows with his wife when he would have just returned from work. Of course there were homes you dared not go!
The shows, especially Baba Sala’s, united us as neighbours, friends and acquaintances. I’m sure Sina and Segun Olaoye; Mukaila and Kasim, Ebinepre Koinyan,
It was also one of the weapons to get us to do our chores. Yes, you’d want to finish whatever assignment/home chores you were given so that you would not miss Baba Sala’s Àwàdà…
Rest in peace, legend. Thank you very much for the memories.
What’s your Baba Sala story?
Sam Nwaoko is the Ekiti state correspondent for Nigerian Tribune Newspaper and chairman, NUJ Correspondents Chapel. Ekiti state.
