Sound Sultan Remains Evergreen

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Ferdinand  Ekechukwu

Legendary singer, Innocent Idibia better known as 2Baba last Tuesday paid tribute to his bosom friend and colleague Sound Sultan, who died in the United States on July, 2021 after battling throat cancer, aged 44. Last year, 2baba marked the first anniversary, stressing how badly he missed Sound Sultan.

Two years after his demise, 2Baba promised to continue mourning his friend till forever. Taking to his Instagram, 2Face shared old photos of himself and the deceased, vowing to mourn his death till he joins the late singer. “Mourn U till Eye join u,” he wrote.  Many Nigerian music lovers reacted to the post praying for the repose of the soul of the talented singer.

Other Nigerian celebrities have celebrated the death anniversary of Sound Sultan. Among them is British-Nigerian actor, Wale Ojo. The thespian took to his Instagram page to remember and celebrate Sound Sultan whom they both featured in the movie ‘Head Gone’ (2014). He wrote alongside a flier of himself and the late entertainer. “This truly feels like yesterday. I remember during the covid years interviewing sound sultan.

“It was a riveting, interesting and fun interview! Lanre, you are dead, but not gone. Your infections and friendly aura still hangs in the air. A brilliant musician, actor and friend the impact of your works and lively spirit will grow and grow for decades to come! Forever in our hearts! Olanrewaju Fassasi: 27th November 1976-11th July 2021.”

The wife of the late singer also shared a video of him choosing to celebrate his legacy instead of mourning him. Farida Fasasi took to Instagram page to honour the late singer with some beautiful words. Farida remembered Sound Sultan in a touching message. The mother of three talked about the singer’s impact on the lives of people as well as how supportive his siblings have been to their family.

Also to mark the second anniversary of his passing, a conference – Sound Sultan Memorial Symposium – was held in his honour, tagged ‘Fractured Bonds: Path to Reconciliation and Healing Post – 2023 Elections. The symposium featured distinguished panelists and speakers mostly from the industry and beyond. Among whom are Sam Adeyemi, Chioma Akpotha, Okey Bakassi, Ayo Animashaun, and Desmond Elliot.

Sound Sultan (born Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi) was a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, comedian, and recording artist. He was regarded as one of the pacesetters of modern hip hop music in Nigeria. Known by different monikers, prominent among which is the Naija Ninja, Sound Sultan was reputed for using his music to speak against poverty, corruption, bad governance and societal ills in Nigeria.

A lot can be said about Sound Sultan. He contributed and shaped culture, influenced sounds, groom people, fought for social change, and left indelible mark on the Nigerian music and entertainment industry. One defining quality of Sound Sultan is his ability to be the man behind his songs. So that when it’s all said and done, we can look at his actions and easily reconcile them with his songs.

After the painful exit of the Afrobeats Icon, he left an enduring legacy that cuts across music, entertainment, and sport. And a posthumous EP titled ‘Reality CHQ (Check)’ released after his demise.