Update: Fatai Rolling Dollar dies in Lagos

The musician died at the age of 85.

Nigeria’s oldest practising musician, Fatai Rolling Dollar, is dead. He died at the age of 85.

His wife, Zainab Olagunju, confirmed the news to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview.

The bereaved said the musician was receiving treatment in America as he fell ill in that country. She said that few days after arrival in Nigeria, he complained of inability to walk properly. He was subsequently taken to a private hospital at Ogunlana Drive in Surulere area of Lagos State.

The late musician’s wife said her husband was on admittance in the hospital for over a week, before he finally passed away early Wednesday morning.

“Yes it is true, Baba is dead. He died this morning at a private hospital located in Ogunlana drive of Surulere in Lagos,” Fatai’s widow told PREMIUM TIMES correspondent on the phone.

She said Fatai’s bill was being footed by an organisation for whom he worked as a model in an advertisement.

Ms. Olagunju said arrangements are being made to move his corpse to a mortuary in Lagos.

The late musician was often referred to as ageless because of his agile performances. Perhaps his most popular song was one of his singles, ‘Won kere si number wa.‘