I have been married for four years – Queen Salawa Abeni

By Victoria Oluwayemi

Seasoned singer, Queen Salawa Abeni, has surprised many attendees at a recent event by revealing that she had been married for four years.

The event, celebrating the retirement and birthday of her husband, Rasheed Adahunse, the former Comptroller and Commandant of the Customs Training College, witnessed Salawa expressing heartfelt praises for him.

During the celebration, Salawa expressed gratitude, saying, “I don’t have many words to utter other than to thank God. I will just say a bit about my dearest husband. You have retired but not tired, as God joined us together as husband and wife four years ago. I pray you will live long and have abundance.”

She also reflected on their initial perceptions of each other, mentioning, “You saw me as a musician and I saw you then as a complete ‘English’ man, but love conquered all. I have not chosen wrongly.”

The revelation of her marriage took many by surprise, as it was previously unknown to the public.

However, in a brief interview with Punch, Salawa clarified that she did not keep the marriage a secret, stating, “The event was my husband’s retirement and birthday ceremony. Who did I keep it (news of the marriage) away from? The people who knew, knew. I have confirmed to you that I am married, and that’s what is important.”

Prior to her current marriage, Salawa had relationships with Lateef Adepoju, the owner of Leader Records, to which she was signed, and another musician, Ayinla Kollington.

In 2020, Salawa faced a blackmail attempt involving her ‘nude pictures’, where a 19-year-old graduate, Olufowoke Emmanuel, demanded money in exchange for not making the pictures public.

Salawa bravely released the pictures herself and the blackmailer was later arrested by the police.

Salawa began her illustrious career in waka music in 1976 with the release of her album, ‘Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed’.