May 16, (THEWILL) – Dr Oluwole Adetiran, who composed the anthem of the National Youth Service Corps, may be long gone, but one of the people most hit by his demise, aside his biological children and the Celestial Church of Christ, CCC, Lagos where he was the central choir music director, is gospel singer, Sola Allyson-Obaniyi.
The sonorous-voiced singer has remained inconsolable and devastated as a result of the demise of the man who passed on at the age of 74 on Friday, May 6, 2020 due to prolonged illness. Adetiran might not be Allyson-Obaniyi’s biological father, but he played that role in the singer’s life since she met him in 1997. He was instrumental to Allyson-Obaniyi’s success in the gospel music genre.
Although Sola came from a Muslim background, she always sneaked into churches to sing. After her conversion to Christianity, she joined the Central Choir of CCC as a member. Adetiran noticed her talent and called her “a striker” which affirmed that she needed to boost her confidence as a professional singer and back-up singer to the likes of late Gbenga Adeboye, Yinka Ayefele, Daddy Showkey, Pasuma and Obesere.
Initially she was rejected because of the way her voice sounded, but Adetiran’s validation about her voice kept her going over the years. He built her confidence in the way she sings and often compared her with a football striker. Her voice became her unique selling point and has produced hit songs which later became anthems in the gospel music genre.
Adetiran took her as a protégé even when her biological parents rejected her. He took her to every musical concert he was invited to as the choir leader of the Central Choir of CCC in Lagos state. Through his influence, she was able to secure musical performances that earned her a lot in terms of cash rewards.
The late composer was also instrumental to Sola’s education and the course she chose to study, which was music, at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. This was why she rallied round the great man when he was down with prostate cancer and diabetes, which contributed to his death. She would often celebrate him on social media and she had to make a public outcry when the news was agog that the great composer was hit by hard times and was dying a few years ago. She raised money, though with the assistance of his biological children and took him abroad for surgery and medications.
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