Why Nollywood Stars Shun Pa Kasumu's Son's Wedding

It was apparently a moment of bliss for ailing Yoruba actor, Kayode Odumosu, alias Pa Kasumu, during the traditional wedding of his son, Olatunde Odumosu and Mojisola Adamolekun on Saturday, March 1, at Blessed International School, Aboru, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

The colourful ceremony took place two days after the court wedding on Thursday, February 27, at the Ikoyi Registry, Lagos, a ceremony attended strictly by family members.

The Saturday’s traditional wedding, which was relatively elaborate, kicked off at about 1p.m. under a drizzle. The 37-year-old groom, who was dressed in a lace material cut in buba and sokoto with a red cap, was all smiles, while the proceedings lasted. The Ekiti State-born bride, with graceful steps and beatific smiles, complemented the groom in all imaginable way. As the engagement ceremony glided from the introduction, prayers for the couple by their parents, exchange of rings to the cutting of the wedding cake, the two alaga iduro as well the two masters of ceremonies, in their characteristic vivaciousness, added colour and panache to the ceremony. And then, the live band further enlivened the venue with an electrifying performance.

Interestingly, like a sub-drama, several eyes kept stealing a glance at the groom’s father at intervals. There was no mistaking the suspicious look on some faces, especially as one of the masters of ceremonies, Ben Cash, repeatedly debunked the death rumour about the respected actor. Unknowingly, he seemed to echo the murmurs in the minds of some anxious guests who wanted to know whether the various media reports about Pa Kasumu’s ill health had been sensationalised or not in anyway. But it was obvious for all to see: wobbly steps, almost inaudible voice and occasional blank look. Nevertheless, the actor, who donned a blue agbada with a pair of matching shoes and an ash-coloured cap, dutiful played his fatherly role on the occasion to the admiration of all, thereby rubbishing the claim that he is already in a vegetative state.

Interestingly, in the midst of the ceremony, many wondered why Pa Kasumu’s colleagues in the movie industry were conspicuously absent to share in his joy. The pertinent question asked in hushed tone was: where are the stars? Even when Pa Kasumu was dancing, though not energetically, with the couple, he was only supported by family members, while he ‘sprayed’ the excited couple with some crisp notes. In the opinions of some, it could only be proof of a frosty relationship between him and his colleagues.

However, some hours after the ceremony, the actor, in a telephone interview with AfricaScreen, he gave a hint on why his colleagues were not in attendance. Contrary to the insinuation in some quarters, Pa Kasumu, who initially expressed shock that our correspondent got wind of the event in spite of the strategic plans to shut out media coverage, said, “I actually didn’t invite them because my son didn’t want any publicity. Although I invited Iya Rainbow, Iya Awero, Jide Kosoko and Ngozi Nwosu, none of them could make it. Ngozu later called me in the evening that she was held up in traffic around Iyana Ipaja, so I told her not to bother because it was almost over. Iya Rainbow couldn’t come for reasons I won’t like to disclose, but neither Jide Kosoko nor Iya Awero called me to explain why they didn’t come. The truth is, if they had come, my son wouldn’t have been happy with me because he would know that I invited them. Really, their presence would have generated some publicity, which might have angered him. So, he wanted a low-key ceremony.”

When asked to clarify the rumour that the bulk of the money donated towards his treatment went into the planning of the wedding of his first son, he raised his voice, saying, “Anyone who said that must be stupid! My son is gainfully employed and I am sure you saw some of his expatriate bosses at the event. So, why won’t he be able to sponsor his wedding? It was a thing of joy to me, and that was why I danced excitedly. Oh, I love to dance! If not that I was weak, you would have been pleasantly surprised.”