Alariwo has revealed he was never ill or bed-ridden as many were made to believe

Afro beat artiste and events host Rotimi ‘Alariwo’ Martins has dismissed reports that he was ill and bed-ridden some months back.

In the closing months of 2015, Alariwo of Africa was reportedly diagnosed with a condition known as varicocele, a situation described in medical terms as an enlargement of the veins inside the scrotum.

Also, his wife was down with acute pulmonary embolism and was on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.


He was said to be in need of $130, 000 for a corrective surgery abroad, a sum he could not afford which led many well-wishers to supporting him financially and otherwise so he could regain stability.

However, in a recent chat with Punch Alariwo disclosed that the news about his health were untrue as he was never bed-ridden. He went on to state that the news about him being hospitalized was false. He added that it was his wife who was ill and not him.

He said: “I was never ill or bedridden, contrary to the notion that was spreading round town. I was never at any point hospitalised. I had a surgery in April 2015 to correct a condition which made my scrotum bigger than normal but since then, I have been on my feet.

It was my wife that was seriously ill and almost died but I thank God for saving her.” He reiterated that he is still very relevant in mainstream Nigerian entertainment, adding that he if he was not relevant as speculated by some he won’t have gotten an endorsement deal with a telecommunications firm.

He said: “I laugh when some people say that I have run out of money or I am no more in the limelight. Anyone who says that I kept a low profile because of competition is telling a lie. I have a studio at home and I have been working.

I have enough money to fend for my family and God has been providing for me. I have been living a very comfortable life and in fact, I just bagged an endorsement deal with a telecommunications company.

If I am not relevant, would that happen?” Speaking further he disclosed reasons behind his collaboration with Senator Ben Bruce on the song Common Sense. Alariwo said he recorded with Bruce so as to lend his voice to an important cause which has to do with national issues.

He said: “I cannot put out any kind of song just because I want to make money, no. My music is driven by philosophies that better the lives of the ordinary people on the street. It is for this reason I just recorded a song with Ben Murray Bruce because I found plenty of sense in his Common Sense philosophy.

“People can say whatever they like but the truth is that we would not move forward as a nation until we start using our common sense to solve the common problems that affect us all.

If Nigeria must be better, indeed, you and I have a role to play especially by buying made-in-Nigeria products to grow the naira.” Alariwo has been around in the Nigerian entertainment industry for some time. He is also an events host and compere.

In the 90’s, he collaborated with Weird MC for a remix of Fela’s song and it was a hit.