Turaki of Ilorin mourns waka legend, Rukayat Batimoluwasi
The Turaki of Ilorin and Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has expressed grief over the passing of renowned Waka music icon, Alhaja Rukayat Batimoluwasi, describing her death as a monumental loss to the Ilorin Emirate and the nation’s cultural heritage.
In a condolence message issued by his media aide, Nasif Sholagberu, Senator Mustapha said the late Waka legend dedicated her life and talent to promoting the rich cultural heritage of Ilorin through music while using her songs to educate, inspire, and positively influence generations.
According to the lawmaker, Alhaja Rukayat Batimoluwasi’s contributions transcended entertainment, as her Waka performances served as a platform for disseminating valuable moral lessons, preserving the traditions of the Ilorin Emirate, and projecting the community’s unique cultural identity to audiences beyond Kwara State.
He noted that her demise has created a significant vacuum in the cultural and artistic landscape of the Ilorin Emirate, stressing that her legacy would continue to inspire lovers of indigenous music and future generations of cultural ambassadors.
Senator Mustapha extended his condolences to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), the immediate and extended family of the deceased, and particularly her daughter, Hajia Khadijat Abdulsalam Imam Al-Idayah, over the painful loss of her beloved mother.
He prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased, accept her good deeds, grant her al-janant firdaus, and give her family, the Ilorin Emirate, and all those she left behind the strength and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
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