The children of Juju and Highlife singer Iyun “Saint Janet” Ayilore have revealed that she performed at a show, visited the market and cooked soup hours before her sudden death.
Omowunmi, Orinayo and Fola Ayilore said their mother showed no sign of illness after performing overnight in Sango, Ogun State.
Speaking during an interview with ALORE TV, Omowunmi said the singer returned home after the performance and slept before going to the market the following day.
“She performed the previous night. People even celebrated her with applause. We did not suspect anything,” she said.
Saint Janet reportedly returned from the market at about 6 pm and insisted on preparing her own meal. After cooking, she checked around the house for other tasks before Omowunmi noticed her clutching her chest.
Saint Janet Developed Chest Pain After Cooking
“After she finished cooking, she checked around the house to see if there was anything else for her to do. I later noticed she was holding her chest,” Omowunmi recalled.
“She said she felt like something wanted to drop off her chest. Her breathing was no longer regular.”
The singer subsequently asked to be taken to hospital. Omowunmi said her uncle and three siblings rushed Saint Janet there, where she was admitted and placed on oxygen within minutes.
Her son, Orinayo, said medical personnel attended to the singer immediately but could no longer detect her pulse shortly afterwards.
“I was told that she was having difficulty in breathing. We took her to the hospital, and she was being attended to immediately. It was when they were looking for pulse that she gave up,” he said.
Fola said she arrived at the hospital only to be informed that her mother had died. She described Saint Janet as a caring woman who always ensured that people around her had food.
The singer’s manager also said she performed well at her final show and displayed no sign of illness. He added that Saint Janet called him on the day of her death to say she was cooking soup and would call him back.
Her death was confirmed on August 2, although an official cause was not disclosed.
The family has established a committee to oversee her burial arrangements and commenced nine days of prayer and thanksgiving. The funeral has been scheduled for August 25 and 26
