Veteran DJ, Abbey Lincoln, passes on

Abbey Lincoln, celebrated DJ, music impresario and the Scion to late Chief Emmanuel Badejo Okusanya, one of the first indigenous owners of music companies in Nigeria, would be no stranger to anyone who clubbed and partied hard in the rocking 70s and 80s social circles. Only his family mostly called him by his real name Abiodun Okusanya. Complimenting the popular attires, cultures and music of that burgeoning era, he was as influential to entertainment as DJ Jimmy Jatt is to this era, dating back to the days when he held sway at top clubs around then like Beach Comba, Classic and more. With such luminary contemporaries as Segun Sonibare, John Chukwu, and Eddie Ugbona, his life revolved around entertainment, from his days in school at Fiditi Grammar School, through to his time at Molusi College, where he was the fastest mile runner in the whole of the then western region. He also participated in several sporting activities like javelin, long jump and high jump. His love for good music kept him around after passing on the baton of nightlife to the new generation of DJs. He ventured into in-car entertainment, tapping into the general love for premium entertainment on the move to attract clients to his Surulere, Lagos workshop to fix woofers, DVDs and different entertainment accessories in their cars. He was at that time popularly called Papa as he neared retirement. At the ripe old age of 74 years, he finally came to end of his journey, and his family will pay their last respects to him today. He is survived by his siblings Opeolu Okusanya, Olori Labisi Tejuosho, CMC Connect boss Yomi Badejo Okusanya, and his children.