Alhaja Adebisi Edionseri, (Cash Madam) Alive, Bubbling At 84

How Ebenezer Obey Gave Me The Name ‘Cash Madam’ – Chief (Mrs.) Bisi Edionseri …Reveals 10 Qualities of a Complete Woman.

If you are a great fan of Juju Music legend, Chief Commander (Now Evangelist) Ebenezer Obey (MFR), you would have come across the name ‘Bisi Edionseri’ in some of his numerous special songs and albums done for special people in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Bisi Edionseri is the only woman fondly called ‘Cash Madam’ by the gifted Juju music legend. This rare breed Egba born woman of timber and caliber has really come a long way in the social scene and till date, she is still a force to reckon with in the social scene in Ogun and Lagos State (South Western Nigeria).

She is one of Nigeria’s most glamorous and celebrated society woman. Chief (Mrs.) Bisi Edionseri is that high class woman you could always watch out for in any octane party in town.

The famous Cash Madam recently grant this no-hold-bared interview with PUBLIC FACES when she celebrated her 80th birthday. Excerpts.

Q. How did you come by the name “Cash Madam”?
A. My husband and I were working with John Holt and two other companies in Ijebu-Ode before we were transferred to Ibadan that was in 1959. Not long after then, I became a distributor with other three companies; so, I got a shop and I started getting goods from them. So, whenever I want to take my money to the bank, “Alaru” (Laborers) will help me take it there, and when we get there, the bank will give me six cashiers and a room to count the money. John Ojomo, a lawyer from Owoh, Adetunji Oladoyinbo, Funke Fagbemo are staff I used to meet at the bank most times. So, whenever I come around I will tell them that I want to go and count my money. Since then, they named me ‘Cash Woman’ not Cash Madam that everybody calls me now. Late Apala Musician Yusuf Olatunji, ‘Baba L’egba’ in his first record said ‘Cash Woman’; it was Evangelist Ebenezer Obey who changed it to ‘Cash Madam’, because he didn’t know details about me then. So, the real name is ‘Cash Woman’ because I was the leader of the customers in those companies.
Q. Do you still have a best friend that you can confide in?
A. My very close friend is late now and since then, my children have been my best friends.
Q. Do you still oversee your businesses?
A. I still oversee my businesses, especially Farm and Poultry business, but for contract jobs, I have retired about twenty years ago but my children have taken over.
Q. Who is Cash Madam as a family woman?
A. A housewife and a super mother
Q. What is your philosophy of a complete woman?
A. A woman that is submissive, she caters for her children, her husband must be happy with her; the in-laws and families must speak well of her, she must not be lazy in her business or office work. She must engage in what can support the husband, she must be religious with the fear of God and not gossip about the family. She must mind her business; she must also know that anybody that has the fear of God has everything. If a mother does all these, when she is old, she will rest and reap the fruit of her labor.
Q. Where did you get your fashion taste from?
A. I inherited them from my Mom and Dad.
Q. How did you meet and fall in love with your husband?
A. He was working at John Holt in Ibara—Abeokuta which happens to be where I was buying goods to sell. He was working there as an accountant, it was during one of those times that I went there to buy goods that he met me and said ‘Hello beautiful lady’ and that was how the love started.
Q. At 80, what are those things that gladden your heart about your life?
A. God answered my prayers, all what I want for my children, God did it.
Q. What are the lessons you have learnt about life?
A. I learnt not to misuse any given opportunity, I have lived and mingled with different people, I was fortunate to relate with good people, I mind my business and God guided me in meeting good people and I didn’t spoil the relationship.
Q. You have a son who is the President of Abeokuta Sports Club, how do you feel about his success?
A. I am a foundation member of Sports Club of Abeokuta; I have contributed immensely to the development of social life in Abeokuta. My membership number at Sports Club is No 33 and then, I was the one that implore all Egba indigenes to join the club. I am happy about my son being the President because it gives me fulfillment. After the success of Sports Club, I gathered people in my house at 121 Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, to encourage them to start Abeokuta Club which is now another prestigious elitist club in Abeokuta, late Oba Oyebade Lipede Mofolorunsho and I were the people that commissioned it.
Q. What does life look like back in your younger days?
A. Then at 7pm girls under the age of 20 must be indoors with their mothers, we go to parties but we don’t go alone but we go with our mothers and we don’t go to night parties. When I got married, the people that accompanied me there waited to collect a stained white handkerchief for my parents, and they went back home to tell my parents and the rest of the family that ‘I am a virgin and it was my husband that deflowered me’. When my husband met me, he went back to his family and brought them to meet mine; there was nothing like boyfriend and girlfriend back in those days.
Q. How did you get the capital to start up your business?
A. My father, late Pa Sanusi Ajoade Elegbede gave me £25 Pounds to start my business
Q. Can you say you have enjoyed your life to the fullest?
A. Yes, to the fullest.
Q. Where in the world would you still like to visit?
A. If not for Ebola outbreak in Africa, I will still like to visit African countries; I have toured other interesting parts of the world.
Q. How do you unwind?
A. I bath, eat and sleep for like an hour or two and if I don’t feel like sleeping, I will just rest on my bed.
Q. How do you give back to society?
A. When my children were in school, their classmates who their parents have no means of paying their (school) fee and people that want to start up business too, I reach out to them. God is using me to help them and their business, now they are all doing well. Helping people gladdens my heart. Over 30 years now, I have ordered Lantoro Hospital to attend to anybody who has issues with medical operation who are financially handicap.
Q. What are your favorite food, color and perfume?
A. I eat all kinds of food, Lafun, Eba, Rice, Beans etc. All colors except for green and my favorite perfume is Sahara.
Q. Do you still go shopping?
A. I only go to the market to see how things are but not to shop, I now do home shopping.
Q. What role do you think women can play in national development?
A. They should face their work and not be greedy, they should be contented with what they have, greediness will not allow them to do what is right and they should train their children and have the fear of God.
Q. Who are your favorite musicians?
A. Yusuf Olatunji, Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Ade, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Wasiu Ayinde
Q. Are you are fan of Nollywood movies?
A. No, because they pass wrong message like madness, death and they like cursing. I used to like them but now, not so much and they should try and put an end to cursing in movies.
Q. At 80, do you still feel strong and healthy?
A. Yes, I look after my parents. My Mom died at the age of 104 and my Dad died at the age of 133 and till they were both dead, they never lost their sight or a piece of their teeth.
Q. Are you on any social media?
A. I only use my phones to make calls
Q.  Do you have any regrets?
A.  No regrets at all.
Q.  We can say you are an epitome of beauty with many chieftaincy titles. How do you balance this with your religion?
A. It doesn’t affect my religion, I am from the Gelede and Yemoja family but I don’t take part in the rituals, I have never visited the Lisabi Shrine even Olumo Rock.
Q. What advice do you have for women of younger generation?
A. If I have my way I will say females (women) shouldn’t put on trousers, but it is hard to remove that from the society now, all I can say now is that they shouldn’t dress half naked and they should have the fear of God.