By Victor Ayeni
Known for being a boisterous and crowded city in the heart of Lagos Island, Isale Eko has a long and rich history of making music stars, one of which is Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake.
Born in a place regarded as a hub of culture, arts and recreation, the Afrobeat Star rose from his humble roots to become a Grammy nominee with notable performances in the United States and United Kingdom.
The 30-year-old was born in Iga Idunganran (meaning: ‘the palace built on a pepper farm’), a notable street in Isale Eko with its distinctive closely packed houses and multi-storey residential buildings or “face-me-I-face-you” tenement houses.
In September last year, Asake unveiled a documentary which offered his fans a rare glimpse into his journey from the vibrant streets of Lagos Island to international acclaim, and showcased the challenges and triumphs that shaped his career.
However, on Friday, a viral video which featured a man, Fatai Odunsi, who identified himself as Asake’s father has stirred much controversy on social media about the Lonely at the Top crooner.
In the video, Odunsi claimed he had not seen Asake since 2022, when his health began to deteriorate, and now, he felt the need to publicly seek help.
Odunsi further alleged that despite Asake’s fame and success, the singer had not been financially supportive of him.
To verify these allegations, our correspondent visited Asake’s birthplace in Isale Eko on Saturday, where family members, childhood friends, and longtime residents provided nostalgic accounts of his early years.
From Iga Oba, a notable bus stop which leads into a busy street, this reporter navigated the concrete slabs and cemented pathways that stretched through the narrow streets—an enduring feature shaped by the area’s urban density and historical evolution.
“You are looking for Asake’s house?” a tall, young man lying idly in a parked tricycle queried our correspondent. “He doesn’t live here anymore, but this is where he grew up. His family house is around that narrow road leading towards the left. It’s Ori Omo road, ask for Ile Kewu (Quranic school).”
As this reporter made his way towards the school, an elderly woman who gave her name simply as Mrs Farida, seated in a nearby house admitted knowing the family house where Malo – a popular name Odunsi was known by in the area – lived and raised the young Asake.
“This is a close-knit community and we all know him,” she pointed at the surroundings. “Asake was a quiet child who didn’t have too many friends growing up. His father is a jovial man and we all love him here.
“His father is actually an entertainer too, so it’s no surprise that his son has become someone we are proud of here. Growing up then, his father raised Asake well, though he was strict and didn’t tolerate nonsense, so it’s surprising how he’s now treating Malo. It’s not a good thing.”
Asake’s childhood home, a two-storey building painted deep brown, stood closely beside another two storey building with its ground floors now converted to shops.
•Asake’s childhood home “This was where Asake grew up and he was known by other children, most of whom have relocated out of here. He grew up with his father who separated from his mother when he was about four years old.
“Ahmed didn’t have many friends here; even after he became successful, he cut off many people from here. The last time he visited us here was in 2020. He now acts like a stranger to people here, acting like he is an illegitimate child,” a woman in the area who claimed to know the singer told Sunday PUNCH.
A member of Asake’s family who preferred to be known as Alabi told our correspondent that Asake’s father, despite his condition, still visits the local government office in the area where he retired from.
“No matter what Malo could have done to Asake, there’s simply no justification to abandon his father like that. There is no perfect family and we are all human. If his father has wronged him, he should forgive him and help his dad.”
When our correspondent asked if there was something in Asake’s childhood that has led to the alleged estrangement, the man responded, “I don’t know what may have happened that made Asake to start doing this. But one thing I know is that God blessed him so he would be a blessing to others.”
A man who claimed to be Asake’s teacher, Sulaimon Alade, disclosed that he attended a nursery school in front of his family house in Isale Eko.
“His father takes good care of him as a single father. He dropped him in school every morning. I swear with the Quran. After school, he went to Agboolokun his mother’s house to stay till evening when his dad (Malo) returned from work. I don’t know why he neglected his dad to this extent,” he wrote on Facebook.
A woman who claimed to be Odunsi’s colleague, Adetola Oso, also admitted that Asake’s father took care of him.
“Malo took care of Ahmed (Asake). He never lacked in his responsibility as a father to him. We both worked with the Lagos Island Local Government, though in different departments but enjoyed cordial relationship till I retired from service in 2022,” she wrote.
Estranged father, mother and daughter
In the video which went viral on Friday, Odunsi could be heard saying, “Since I had a stroke, I haven’t seen him. The last time I saw him was March 29, 2022. He doesn’t pick up my calls when I call him. Please, I only need your help.”
Responding in a video, Asake was seen singing in Yoruba, seemingly addressing the controversy. The lyrics of his song conveyed a message about staying true to himself despite external pressures.
He sang, “You can’t please the world. Whatever you do, do it for God and always remember the day you’ll die and meet your God. My people, can you see how it’s going?
“Even my father wants to cajole me, but I stand firm and they can’t off my light. I used to press money for him and I do it with one mind. If you strike, I will move on. No one can quench my fire. God is the one that is taking me ahead in life.”
When our correspondent visited Asake’s father’s house at 82, Adeniji Adele Street on Lagos Island, a woman, believed to be the singer’s stepmother said he just stepped out of the house and would not return till evening.
She called Asake’s father on the phone while this reporter was there but he declined to speak. Attempts made by our correspondent to contact him to get his comments after the visit were also not successful.
However, a video posted by an X user, Olamide (@Olamideofficial) which went viral on Friday showed Odunsi who appeared to celebrate a new Lexus car that was presented.
“That Lexus car could not be maintained and had to be sold. Aside from the ailment Asake’s father is struggling with, his rent is also due. The poor man has not been able afford his rent and his son has been ignoring his calls,” a family friend who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent.
A WhatsApp message believed to be sent by Odunsi to Asake’s mother, identified as Mrs Fali, read, “Help me to talk to Hammed. I wont be able to pay my house rent. I don’t have no money, please help me talk to him.”
In another message seen by our correspondent, he wrote, “I want to pay for therapy and hospital bill. I don’t have any money, please almighty Allah will answer your prayer.”
However, newsmen could not independently verify the specific date, recipient and sender of these WhatsApp messages.
Meanwhile, our correspondent also gathered that Asake’s alleged baby mama, Adijat Ajoke, had an 11-year-old daughter named Zeenat who was being taken care of by Odunsi.
“Ololade, please take care of your daddy. I am begging for the sake of almighty Allah. Malo is your father, he’s not my father and you can’t make my father yours. I’m not going to talk about your mother’s matter but I will say that you need to do the needful and take care of your father.
“Don’t rely on hearsay, in this Isale Eko, you can still find a house of N30m, N40 or N50m that this man can rent out to generate income. Even if it’s one building on which you will etch your father’s name that can generate income for your dad, do it. Your father hasn’t asked for too much from you.
“And as for Zeenat, you also need to take care of her. The lady said you can go and do a DNA test for her, so you can be certain that she is your daughter. Many men deny fathering their children but a DNA test will bring the proof out. Wherever you select to do that DNA test, Iya Zeenat will follow you there and her family will follow you there as well,” a family representative said, in a video posted by Ameboloversgist on Facebook.
Conflicting reports
Since the video went viral on Friday, there have been conflicting claims about Asake and his father’s relationship.
While some users claimed Malo abandoned Asake as a child, others insisted that he was a devoted father who raised him alone.
“Mr Odunsi Fatai was not an absentee father. Far from it. He single-handedly raised Asake from the age of three, after his mother left. He worked as an LG council staff on the island, known and respected by many. He sold his car to send Asake to Obafemi Awolowo University. Asake’s primary and secondary teachers, colleagues, and neighbors have all testified to his sacrifices and dedication.
“Ironically, the mother who left Asake as a child is now his favourite. He even adopted her name—Asake—as his stage identity. Life truly takes unexpected turns. Now, a man who gave everything for his son is suffering alone, abandoned and in need,” a Facebook user, Segun Ben-Ajayi stated.
Conversely, another user, Aimee Doe, faulted what she described as a “sense of entitlement” displayed by Asake’s father.
“He couldn’t bring himself to be humble and instead resorted to publicly shaming a child he previously had no connection with. Africa’s situation is largely due to emotional manipulation.
“In life, we create our own circumstances, so why would anyone expect this boy to respond positively to his father after everything he did in the past and this unnecessary traumatic revelation he is bringing on the young man?”
Agreeing with her, Omowunmi Onayemi wrote, “Men, when they are young and strong, they won’t be there for their wives, sleeping around, not taking responsibility. Now, they are old sick and they cannot go back to their side chicks or their family that was encouraging them to misbehave to their own wives and children at home.”
On Saturday, Isaac Fayose, brother of a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, revealed on Instagram that he had sent Odunsi N500,000 to take care of himself.
“As I promised last night,” Fayose stated, “we will take care of Asake’s father since he refused to take care of him. I promised him yesterday that I was going to give the man N500,000. I spoke to him this morning and he’s a very happy man.”
In this article