Life & times of socialite, businesswoman ‘Cash Madam’, who passed away at 89
Princess Abike Adebisi Edionseri, popularly known as “Cash Madam,” a well-known socialite and the toast of music artists in the 1960s and 1970s, has passed away at the age of 89.
According to Penpushing, one of his sons, Dr. Adebayo Adebowale, announced Cash Madam’s passing on behalf of the family in a statement.
She passed away on January 5, 2025, after a brief illness. In a statement, the family said that the funeral would be held in accordance with Islamic customs on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 4 p.m. at her home in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ibara, Abeokuta.
According to Egba Descendants Union, Cash Madam was born on 8th April, 1935, at Ibara, Abeokuta, to Pa Sanusi and Madam Sabitu Elegbede. She decided early in life to learn trading, and in her early twenties, she had working relationships with John Holt and two other blue-chip companies in Ijebu-Ode. In 1959, she was reportedly transferred to the political headquarters of the Western Region, Ibadan, where she became a major distributor with the three companies.
She got the nickname ‘cash woman’ from bank staff who used to attend to her whenever she visited the bank to deposit cash. Evang. Ebenezer Obey, who recorded a musical track about her, “changed it to ‘Cash Madam’ because he didn’t know details about me then. So the real name is ‘cash woman,'” Alhaja Adebisi was quoted to have explained in an interview.
Alhaja Chief Adebisi Elegbede was noted for her humanitarian and philanthropic gestures. She facilitated the treatment of Sakara music maestro, Yusufu Olatunji, also known as ‘Baba Legba,’ whose leg would have been amputated at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos. She came to the musician’s rescue, paying the hospital bills in full.
Baba Legba would go on to reference her in the musical album titled ‘Yegede,’ acknowledging the wonderful role Alhaja Adebisi played in ensuring that his leg was not amputated.
