Fatai Rolling Dollar

Do you guys know Fatai Rolling Dollar? He is a 79-year old Nigerian musician. He was originally known for his Agidigbo, a Yoruba thumb guitar. He fused sounds from Cuban music, Ghanaian highlife, and traditional Yoruba music on his Agidigbo. He became really popular in the 60s, and he was an inspiration to Ebenezer Obe, Sunny Ade and other musicians of their generation. Sadly, his career died with that of most Highlife musicians. Several reasons have been given for this, one of which is that the militarisation of politics and the lack of security meant that night life was impossible. Highlife was mainly a stage thing; as the people could not be persuaded to come out on Friday nights interests in the music gradually died. Another reason, attributed to Rolling Dollars himself, was the military attack on Fela Kuti’s residence on the 18th of February, 1977. He lived two doors away, and lost his home and his musical instruments. Arguably, it was a combination of these and other reasons that ensured his decline. He spent most of the following years trying to stay alive. At a point, he was a security man at a sports complex.

I saw him perform his ‘Won kere si number wa’ at Ojez nightclub in Lagos in 2003. Jazzhole records recorded and released a record from him in 2003. I remembered him today, googled him and came up with this link where one can listen to his music. I hope you enjoy his music as much as I do.