The Man Rasco: A Legacy Etched In Hospitality, Service And Visionary Leadership || By Salawu Oluwaseun Moses
Oba Abdul Razak Ayedun Alli, fondly known as The Man Rasco, was more than just a monarch or entrepreneur, he was a phenomenon. His legacy echoes through Osogbo and Ilowa, where his impact is not only measured by infrastructure but by the lives he touched across generations, class, and culture.
From testimonials gathered during the Man Rasco documentary interviews, a compelling portrait of an extraordinary life emerged, one of generosity, discipline, leadership, and unmatched hospitality.
“He was the first to build a guest house in Osogbo,” recalled Dr. Nike Davies-Okundaye of the Nike Centre for Art and Culture.
“He made Osogbo a tourist destination in the 80s and 90s. People would troop in from Lagos just to feel his hospitality.”
Indeed, Rasco was credited by many as placing Osogbo on the cultural and economic map.
His legacy includes not only a bakery empire, motels, cinemas, and driving schools, but also the infrastructure he personally funded. “He singlehandedly brought electricity to Ilowa,” stated Alhaja Rafatu Ayanfe, “long before anyone asked him to.”
His son, King Adebukola Aremu Alli, now the current Owarisa of Ilowa, recalled how his father roofed the town’s only secondary school without taking a dime, even before ascending the throne in 1996. “He was a man with a large heart,” the king said.
Testimonies like those of Chief Isaac Oluremi further reinforced this sentiment.
“During our Odun Owa festival, Baba would buy cows and ensure everyone ate,” he said.
“He also helped bring a transformer to the town.”
Beyond his royal and business achievements, Rasco was a father in every sense.
Veteran actress Idowu Philips (Mama Rainbow) remembered how “Baba Rasco” cared deeply for everyone. “He was the father of our executive producer, and like a father to us all.”
During the civil war, Sir Emmanuel Monye shared how Rasco saved his family.
“Soldiers were after my father, thinking he was a spy. Baba took us in, clothed and fed us. I wouldn’t be alive without him.”
Prince Oluwaseun Alli described his father as strict but purposeful. “He took no nonsense, not even from his own children,” he said. “He taught us the value of hard work.
He would assign us chores, tell us to clear land, and let us work in the fish pond ourselves. It built our character.”
Rasco made it clear to his children: “The only inheritance I owe you is education.”
He didn’t believe in elitism. “He brought himself down to the level of everyone,” said Dr. Olusola Ajala. “When he became king, the world began to notice Ilowa. He gave Ilowa its recognition.”
Multiple stories emphasized Rasco’s warm, generous nature. Whether it was cooking early in the morning for guests, offering unsolicited rides to stranded children, or funding education for the community, his sense of responsibility was unmatched.
One contributor remembered how Rasco saw a young girl stranded at school. Not knowing she was family, he ensured her safety, and she would later become a doctor of pharmacy.
“He didn’t just build structures,” said one interviewee. “He built people.”
Whether mentoring artisans, opening his home to dignitaries, or assisting during war and peace, Rasco’s influence transcended traditional expectations. “He left an indelible mark in his time against all odds,” said his grandson, Prince Adedayo A. Alli, a lawyer and cultural journalist.
His daughter, Princess Aderonke Alli, said, “He believed in hard work and trained us all to do the same.”
Dr. Nike Davies said it best: “There’s Osogbo, and then there’s Rasco.”
As the documentary The Man Rasco continues to gain traction, what stands out most are not just his buildings or businesses, but the countless lives touched by a man who believed in integrity, diligence, and service.
May his legacy live on through those who walk in his footsteps.
Salawu Oluwaseun Moses.
For Afro American & Rasco Films TV
July 2025.
