NIGERIAN jazzist, Femi Sanya, has revealed to RMT the reason he left late Lucky Dube,shortly after the reggae musician was shot dead in South Africa Friday.

The Maryland, US-based musician said he toured the world with Dube for 2 years before both parted ways when the South African insisted on paying him in Rands, South African currency, instead of Dollars.

Having no need for Rands in the United States, Femi preferred he'd be paid in dollars for his services as Rand is no legal tender in US, where he lives.

This parting of ways was also informed by Dube's insistence on paying Femi,together with other members that he brought from native South Africa for his shows,in same African currency.

But for that, Femi described late Dube as one of the few African musicians he respected. “Lucky Dube is exactly the opposite of what people see on stage. He doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, and he doesn't womanise. In fact, when you meet him you won't know he is the popular Lucky Dube from Africa because he was so shy and very quiet,” he said.

Expressing shock and sadness over his tragic death,Femi said he still saw Lucky Dube in New York last month.” I was with him at his hotel where he showed me his new band members. He had a show in US then.

“You could notice that his music was changing, I told him so”, he informed. Describing his 2 years stint with Dube, Femi said it was the best in his career as it afforded him the opportunity to play with the “humblest African” in the music industry.

“I met Lucky through our own Orlando Julius. Before then, I had been with O'Jay but had to leave when other members were not satisfied with their financial conditions.

“Dube had a brother, Toto Kani. He usually relied on Toto's band to back him up in US, but a misunderstanding informed Toto's decision to withdraw his band-support to Dube, that was the opening.

“Dube auditioned some of us and I made it. He immediately left for South Africa but called me once he got back, that was the beginning of the relationship. I played with him from 1997-1998, those years helped me a lot in my career. ,” he said in a phone conversation with RMT.

Femi is a multi instrumentalist based in Baltimore, Maryland. He is planning to visit Nigeria next year.