•Insiders Reveal A Lot 25 Years After
Do you remember the voice that could
become 5 different people in one conversation? Before social media skits and
viral comedy clips, there was Gbenga Adeboye — a man whose talent turned
ordinary stories into unforgettable entertainment. Known as Funwontan, he
wasn’t just a comedian, he was a broadcaster, storyteller, singer, and a master
of voices. With nothing more than a microphone and his creativity, he brought
entire worlds to life, making millions laugh while reflecting everyday Nigerian
experiences.
His legacy reminds us that true talent
never goes out of style. Long after his passing, many still replay his
recordings, quote his characters, and celebrate the impact he made on Nigerian
entertainment.
Some legends entertain for a season.
Others become part of a people’s culture. Gbenga Adeboye was one of those
legends.
There was a time when families
gathered around the radio, waiting to hear a voice that could make an entire
room burst into laughter. That voice belonged to Gbenga Adeboye. He didn’t need
flashy stages or social media trends. His gift was simple but rare: he
understood people. Through humor, storytelling, and unforgettable characters,
he brought joy to countless homes across Nigeria.
Gbenga Adeboye used his talent to make
people laugh, think, and connect. Long before digital content became a career
path, he proved that creativity, consistency, and authenticity could open
doors. His journey is a reminder that when you master your gift and serve your
audience well, your impact can outlive you.
This year makes it 23 years he passed
on but people still remember him.
His death at the time was so shocking
many of fans cried and refused to believe the story for weeks.
Recently, 2 of his close allies
revealed many fresh facts about his mysterious death and what many people don’t
know about him on a youtube programme called “Alangere” by Kasnatysugar. Please
enjoy the conversation with Mr. Banjo Adekunle.
For the purpose of this interview, pls
tell us your name and your relationship with late Gbenga Adeboye.
My name is Banjo Adekunle, a very
close pal of late Gbenga Adeboye when he was alive. I’m from Gbongan in Osun
State. Gbenga Adeboye’s Mum was like my Dad younger sister. I’ve known Gbenga
from when we were young but we lost contact until one day I met with one of his
uncles, Baba Oyedele in Ojodu and he reconnected us, that was in 1985, and we
were together till the day he died.
What were you doing in that 1985
before you met?
I was working with NEPA then, he was a
broadcaster. I was living in Surulere then but I mostly spend my weekend with
him at Ojodu. Sometimes I follow him to parties. That was how our friendship
started. I was the one that encouraged him to secure his office at Ojodu,
instead of using his home. Many people always troop to his house then, many
broadcasters, and those that need his assistance.
Many people believe he was diabolic,
how true is that?
Those that were close to him knows
him. I was privileged to get close to him and I know him very well. Gbenga
Adeboye loved his work to the core, to the point of death. He always finds
every means to get better every day, always prepare for another day’s
challenges. Anytime he’s writing his script, no one must enter his room;
including his wife and his Dad that he loved most. It’s only Festus and I that
can enter and we must have calculated the time he’s a bit free. He was a
workaholic. He believed so much in prayer. So, it’s a big lie if anyone tells
you he’s diabolic. He doesn’t even believe in juju. Muslim Clerics will come,
they will pray for him, traditionalists will come they will pray for him, he never
discriminates, yet didn’t believe too much in them.
Who were his close pals, probably colleagues,
friends when he was alive, apart from Sikiru Alimi?
They were many, may God rest the soul
of Ope Fajemileyin, he was the one who introduced him to radio and he respects
him so much. They used to chat at programs before until one day he heard him on
radio and was wondering how he got there. He paid him a visit and Opeyemi took
him to the radio station, that was how he started “Oro Kabiti” Abbey Fagboro is
very close to him too. Abbey is very reserved, then Abbey Fagboro was working
at LTV8 as an Account Clerk. One day he told Gbenga Adeboye that hes been
sacked and Gbenga congratulated him, and encouraged him to join his Funwontan
movement. He gave him script to read Iroyin Kayeefi. That was how they became
so close. Abbey was so brilliant and always blend with Funwontan on every
program. Gbenga Adeboye was a man of the people. He loves to encourage talent.
His relationship with late Kola Olawuyi was also divine, he assisted him to
start his program on OGBC then and they were very cordial. The only problem of
Gbenga is to always believe people’s hearsay. People will come to him to report
others to him and he will take it up with that person without verifying. Baba
Gboin is also one of his boys. Akeem Enudunjuwo was Gbenga’s 1st graduate. So
many of them passed through him including Ifankaleluya and Fatai Bantale. Seun
Agboola too. Toba Opaleye is very close to him too. Our office was another
world then. Gani Adams, King Sunny Ade, Kollignton, Pasuma, Sefiu Alao and many
other celebrities always come to the office, including Barrister before their
fight. He was very close to Orlando Owoh, TB Joshua, Baba Olomi Now Now. He was
very close to Tinubu too; he always anchors all the government programs then.
They were very close; he assisted him when he went on trance for 6 hours.
Talking about the trance for 6hrs, we
heard he was sick?
That was his first sickness and he was
treated in Oluyoro Ibadan. He discharged himself from there, even when Doctors
told him he was not okay yet but he insisted he had something to do and came
back to Lagos. Later he felt sick again and he called Festus. Festus also
called me and we rushed to his house, we met him rolling on the floor and
quickly rushed him to a nearby hospital in Ojodu, where they did scan and told
us his intestine is perforated, they showed us and urged us to start the
operation immediately. We called Femi Adeboye and he insisted that we brought
him back to the Government Hospital in Ibadan. They did the operation there and
it was successful; he was getting better but they warned us not to give him
anything to eat nor drink. Adeboye was begging us to give him water but we
refused. But one day, I drove someone to the hospital to pay him a visit.
Unknown to us when he was with him, Gbenga Adeboye requested for tea, and he
made the tea for him, it wasn’t deliberate because he didn’t know anything
about the instructions we were given. And after taking the tea, his whole system
scattered again, they had to rush him back to the theatre. They did the
operation twice and it was okay but his kidney had been stained and we needed a
machine to clean the kidney. The hospital doesn’t have the equipment for that
and we were referred to a hospital at Isaac John in GRA, Ikeja for life
support. At that time, we don’t have any money again. He was the only one who
can sign the cheque but he can’t lift his hands again. We started looking for
money. They requested for blood, we all started donating our blood, including
veteran Actor, Elesho. As we were doing that, we saw Tinubu’s PA, we told him
and he called Tinubu, Immediately, Tinubu instructed them to fly him abroad but
they couldn’t because of his temperature. They now referred us to St Nicholas
where everything was later stable. On the day he died, Myself, his wife and
late Alarinka went to the hospital, I saw him on the bed with swollen legs. We
started chatting normally. He asked about the election, he asked after his
first son, Segun that was staying with me. He requested for his phone; I told
him it was with Festus. We were 2 in the room; myself and his wife. He told his
wife to excuse us; that he wants to talk to me in private but the woman
blatantly refused to step out and he started crying. I was pacifying him to
stop crying, he asked if I didn’t see people standing Infront of him, shooting
gun at him. I said I didn’t see anyone. He was crying profusely and when I
couldn’t bear it again, I left the room, later we left the hospital. As I was
driving towards Ifako, going to my house in Iju, I received a call from Tribune
that they heard Gbenga Adeboye died few minutes ago, I didn’t take them
seriously. On getting home Punch also called that they heard Gbenga died, upon
hearing that I angrily switched off my phone; that these people are not
serious, someone I just left in the hospital now. The following morning I
switched off my phone and Immediately Festus confirmed the story.
SUNDAY ADIGUN
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