SALAWA ABENI OPENS UP ON FIVE-YEAR PARALYSIS AFTER SON’S DEATH

Veteran Nigerian waka singer, Salawa Abeni, has opened up about a difficult period in her life, revealing that she was paralysed for five years following the death of her first son. The music star said the experience was one of the most painful chapters of her life and significantly affected her physically and emotionally.

Abeni disclosed that she was unable to move her legs during the period, although she could still speak. She recalled that despite her condition, she continued to maintain a connection with music and the stage. According to her, there were occasions when she would carry a microphone to perform but would begin vomiting blood, while her voice would sometimes disappear.

The veteran artiste said the loss of her son and the health challenges that followed had a major impact on her life and career. She described the experience as a difficult phase that she had to endure while dealing with the demands of her profession and the personal pain surrounding the death of her child.

Abeni also reflected on the challenges within the entertainment industry, noting that jealousy and competition are part of the realities artistes face. She linked some of the difficult experiences in her career to the circumstances surrounding her relationship with Fuji musician Kollington Ayinla, saying fate played a role in her eventual decision to leave him.

Despite the challenges she has faced over the years, Abeni has remained an important figure in Nigerian traditional music. She earned widespread recognition as the Queen of Waka and has continued to be remembered for her contribution to the development and popularity of the genre, having built a career spanning several decades.