Chief Mrs Christiana Adekemi is the pretty wife of Juju maestro, Wonder Dayo Kujore. Interfacing with the media for the first time since the demise of her husband, the United States Of America based Adekemi in this encounter with Editor, Femi Adepoju narrates how she met Kujore and what she would want corrected, should they be husband and wife again in their next world.
Kindly give the readers a brief account of yourself so they can get to know you better.
A:My names are Chief Mrs Christiana Adekemi Dayo-Kujore a.k.a Mama Wonder, an appellation given to me by my late husband.
Since when have you been in the United states of America
l have been in the States for about 9 years.
Whats your attraction to the states. Why did you chose to live in the states over and above other countries where we have many Nigerians.
Well, America is a land of opportunities, if you are focused and serious. I never chose to live in America but l think it was divine. My late husband attempted that we travel out with his band in late 90’s but we were swindled by one popular promoter then (now late) As a result, l lost all my business money and went back to nothing, since then l didn’t make any more attempt.
One faithful day in 2013 somebody around my shop called and said somebody was asking for my phone no and asked me if he should give him and l said he should, since I was not owing anybody. He called me and asked if l wanted to come to America and l said yes.
He asked me if l have a passport l said no. l had taken like 3 in the past and they all expired. He said i should go and obtain one, but l did not answer him until he called the forth time and asked if l have obtained the passport. Then l gave it a consideration, went to the passport office, got my passport the following day, started processing then the rest is history.
What do you miss most about Nigeria
I miss my family and friends.
You were married to the popular musician, Wonder Dayo Kujore, (God rests his soul) How and when did you meet.
I met my late husband, Wonder Adedayo ldowu Kujore in 1994 through one of his cousins who happened to be my childhood friend, Adenike Adekoya
I was working in the Ministry in Ondo State but after my 1st marriage failed, my mother was worried that l was the only one, because l was born and bread in Lagos but went to Akure by marriage, so my mother asked me to move back to Lagos and l worked briefly with AgipNig Plc from there l started my own business, that was when l met my late husband.
How long specifically were you two married before he was called back home.
Like l said, we met in 1994 we were together for years, we broke up for some reasons, he later straightened up things and we came back together. We decided to make it official in 2021 so l could file for his papers to join me in America. We got married on 16th of December 2021 but went to rest in the bosom of our lord Jesus on 10th of January 2022
There was controversy about his age, how old was he actually
Late Adedayo Sunday Idowu Kujore was born on 4th of April 1954. We share the same birthday but not same year, we marked our 2021 birthday not knowing it was going to be the last.
What do you love most in him. what attracted him to you.
His humility. Here was down to earth, humble to a fault. He greets everybody respectfully, bow down to greet both young and old. No dull moment with him.
Were you the only wife as at the time you too wedded considering that musicians usually have more than a wife.
He had too many women before. I remember one day that he went for a show @ Ladun Sank, in Ijaiye, a lady came and asked me if l am his wife, l said yes and why, she said she told him that he liked him and he said his wife was around and he pointed at me because l used to seat with the crowd if l go out with him, so many but he never got married to anyone of them talk less of divorce. Everybody left, my marriage with him was the first and it was the last.
The day he went to the Registry with his first son Adedoyin Kujore to make enquiry, l was put on speaker because they were asking me some questions too, his son was telling them that his father never got married to any woman. And Adedoyin was one of his witness at the registry. All his children were in attendance when we got married.
What do you miss most about him
I miss everything about him, we shared so many things in common. We shared same birthday, we are of the same height only 2 inches taller than me, we used same size of shoes and cloth. He was a loving husband, he was my confidant, my friend, my father vis a vis he tells me everything. If it is true that there is another world , he will still be my husband only that both of us will adjust on some things.
Whats the position of his band right now.
His band is still on ground, Wonder Dayo Kujore Reformed Band. His first son Adedoyin Kujore leads the band. He is a musician, he has his own band too Solace Adedoyin Kujore.
What’s your assessment of Juju music today
To me, of all brand of music, Juju is the best, its for notable and decent people in the society.
Aside Soko music, whose other Juju do you find irresistible
Aside Soko Music, l like Sir Shina Peters, Baba Lai Addis and Olu Fajemirokun.
Do you see Juju music becoming popular again like it was in the 80&90s.
Yes, to me Juju is still popular among our sets, but those upcoming Juju artists have job to do. My husband granted an interview which l happened to be around and was listening, he said they have to work hard if they don’t want Juju to be washed down the drain.
which is your favourite of Wonder’s songs.
The song l like most: Wa jo soko, ere ti Wonder, sebemi lo lulu fun loba loba, sebi emi lo nlulu fun joye nijoye,
Awa na ko, ola oluwa mani, wa jo soko, wa jo soko
… But he has particular one for me…..
Sokoto mi tutu labe,
Ara mi wa lona
O tutu labe ma,
Ara mi wa lona,
Se kama puro, o ti yimi lori
Ikebe muru ti mo nwo yi ooooo, Edumare pari ise sibe,
Ma ba e dele, dele, ma ba e dele.
Lately he will just look at me and say
Mimi kan o le mi eeee
Adekemi, Oluwa dara si e
Femi ADEPOJU – Editor
