Bola Johnson (Lagos; 6 July 1947 – 30 April 2014) is a Nigerian musician, bandleader. Born to a traditional music family, he attended Livings Stone Academy in Ijero, Ebute-Metta (Lagos) for his primary schooling. He was admitted to Eko Boys High School in Mushin, Lagos, after completing his primary school education. He stopped studying in 1963, when he was in his fourth year of secondary school. This was due to a lack of financial support. He decided to study typing at the Ebute-Meta commercial school, Lagos. Within three months, he was able type. BJ excelled as a footballer during this time. Through a talent searcher, he was offered a job because of his sport activities. He moved to Ilorin, Kwara State in Nigeria as a typist at Government Trade Centre (Ilorin). There he played for the state’s football team. He was a member of the senior team from 1965 to 1965. However, he moved to Ibadan because of Northern Zoning. Bola Johnson was a musician and played maracas with Mr Eric Akaeze, a highlife band based in Ibadan. Bola Johnson also learns to play the trumpet. Bola Johnson learned how to play the trumpet and formed his own band, named “Bola Johnson and His Easy Life Top Beats” in 1968. Bola Johnson was a comedian in Radio Nigeria Ibadan. He played the role of Papa Rebecca, Rebecca’s father. Bola Johnson, a popular Ibadan musician, moved to Zaria, Northern Nigeria with his band. Bola Johnson played Saturdays and Fridays in the Hotel “JUBILEE HOTEL” Zaire. Bola Johnson returned to Lagos later to record more singles. One of these is “ASEWO AJEGUNLE YAKARE”, which was recorded by Philips Records. Bola Johnson began writing scripts in the 70’s as a freelance journalist for newspaper “Wakabout” in Lagos, Saturday newspapers, Ibadan, and daily Sketch newspapers Ibadan. In 1970 Bola joined Radio Nigeria Band Wagon and was cast as “I GO DIIE O!” Bola Johnson recorded so many recordings as Papa Rebecca, a comedy radio program, a comic trail Wakabout and I GO DIIE O! He was a part of many popular shows and played in FRCN (Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Lagos). He was employed as a DJ in FRCN’s greetings program, I Salute O!, in 1970. (I am greeting o! Bola Johnson is a Highlife music section programmer. He developed his own style of Pidgin English by telling stories on his programme. After the creation in 1970 of Lagos weekend newspaper, Bola Johnson was hired as a freelance journalist. His wonderful stories in Pidgin English were very popular. Bola Johnson is a freelance presenter in FRCN. He writes Pidgin English scripts to help Nollywood film producers make Nigerian home-comedies. Bola Johnson can speak Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo fluently. Johnson says he was married with three children. He had two boys and one girl. Bola Johnson, a highlife entertainer, comedian, columnist and comedian, died at his Ikorodu residence on 6 April 2014. Bola Johnson’s remains were taken to Obon, Nigeria in the Delta state. His family and fans attended a traditional service to pay their last respects on the 30th of April 2014. From Wikipedia
