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Tag: Adebayo Faleti

  • ‘Africa’s contribution to world civilization can’t be ignored’

    Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, Osun State has said that Africa’s contribution to the world civilization cannot be ignored.

    Speaking at the centre’s symposium for celebrating African iconic figures in all parts of the world, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the CBCIU, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said Africans are renowned for rear feat and greatness despite “desperate attempt to shroud these wonderful manifestations of triumph and immensity from us and our children.”

    The former Osun State governor said Africa has come out strongly to create an identity for herself and in the process broken all records to show that she did not only have a very rich past but have contributed to the world civilization.

    Represented by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Kazeem Adio, he said celebrating African cultural icons was not to show how their contributions have shaped “our existence as Africans since time immemorial.”

    According to him, Africa is replete with great cultural icons that moved mountains and shook the world, saying African Diaspora is not left out “as we know from history the bravery many manifested even in the most extreme of conditions.”

    He continued: “As far back as the 15th Century, even before Europe had thought of building states and forming empires, Africans had established empires and kingdoms and operated political systems that would be envied by many. Our progenitors had built strong economic network that facilitated trade and commerce, both on cross-continental and trans-national levels. We had powerful rulers, who reigned and left resounding legacies that have continued to be subjects of study across the world today.

    “Africa has also had her fair share of wars and in the midst of theses emerged strong men, who created political institutions that exist even up till this day. For instance, there is a suggestion that the Haitian Revolution is believed to be the first incidence of mass emancipation in a colonial society and the only slave revolt that resulted in the formation of a modern state. It is also believed that our African progenitors in Haiti during the revolution identified with Ogun, who they believed abhors injustice, corruption and oppression. This served as the  most portent rallying force that drove the revolution.

    Read Also: Oyinlola ceded LAUTECH to Oyo, says Alao-Akala

    “Just as our progenitors had done excellently well and contributed immensely to the progress and development of human civilization in time past, so we have this generation and in recent times.Only this year, we lost to the cold hands of death, two great cultural icons, Alagba Adebayo Faleti and Akinwumi Ishola. In South Africa, Mariam Makeba too died few years ago. While these cultural icons are long dead and buried, their cultural legacies still revolves around us every day. We also recognize other cultural icons across the continent and in the diaspora for their immense contributions to the survival of the African heritage.”

    Earlier, the Executive Director of the CBCIU, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, has said that the workshop was meant to be intellectually stimulating and engaging, adding that there would be a lesson for the future.

    Oyeweso, who announced January, 2019 as the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the CBCIU, said the Centre had reached a milestone and even surpassed expectations only a decade since it has been opened to the public in 2019.

    He said: “I congratulate everyone, who has made the smallest of inputs to see that the Centre remains the hub of cultural renaissance in Africa and the world at large. Let me use this occasion to formally invite you all on 9th of January, 2019 to mark a decade of the CBCIU’s noble existence.”

    Among iconic cultural icons celebrated at the workshop include the Ondo State born singer and queen, Comfort Omoge; peace Nobel Laureate and South African Bishop, Desmod Tutu; former President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere; and author of the “How Europe Under Developed Africa,” Walter Rodney.

  • VIPs who passed on during the year

    VIPs who passed on during the year

    Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo

    Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, a former military governor of the defunct Western Region, died on Marh 8. The elder statesman and leader of Yoruba Council of Elders died in Lagos on the eve of his 89th birthday. Family sources had said he suddenly took ill at his GRA, Ikeja, Lagos residence and was taken to the hospital where he died shortly after.

    The late Adebayo was appointed the military governor of the Western Region after the death of Col. Adekunle Fajuiyi. After the civil war, he became chairman of the committee for the Reconciliation and Integration of Biafra, retiring from the army in 1975 and later joined the National Party of Nigeria as a politician.

    In 2013, he was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as the Pro- Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. His son, Niyi Adebayo, later became the elected governor of Ekiti State.

     

    Dr. Sam Ogbemudia

    Former Military Governor of Mid-West State, which later became Bendel State, and Edo State, Dr. Sam Ogbemudia, died on March 7 after a protracted battle with high blood pressure and diabetes. Aged 84, the peculiar thing about his death was that he was buried in a grave he prepared beside his wife’s grave before he died.

    A soldier and politician, he was highly revered in Edo State. Hence, it did not come as a surprise to many when the sitting governor, Godwin Obaseki, declared a seven-day mourning period after his death was announced.

    A political colossus who left his footprints in the sands of time, Ogbemudia was also known for his peace-making efforts among his kinsmen and Nigerian politicians in general.

     

    Babatunde Osotimehin

    Former Minister of Health and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund,  Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, was one of the prominent Nigerians that passed on during the year. He died on  June 4, 2017.

    Osotimehin died in Harrison, New York, a suburb of Manhattan, aged 68 years.

    During his days at the  United Nations Population Fund , Osotimehin held  the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and was reappointed in August 2014 until his death.

    Osotimehin’s interests were youth and gender, and he advocated for reproductive health and reproductive rights, particularly within the context of the HIV epidemic. One of his strengths was his reliance on data and evidence.

     

    Olu Adeniji

    Ambassador Olu Adeniji, a Nigerian career diplomat, a former Foreign Affairs Minister and politician who was the Special Representative of the General Secretary with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) from November 19, 1999 to July 16, 2003, died on November 27  in London aged 83.

    Adeniji who was born on July 22, 1934 in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian embassies in Washington, D.C., Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Accra, Ghana. He retired from service in 1991 after serving as the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For five years he was the Nigerian Ambassador to France.

    Beginning in early March 2008, Adeniji headed negotiations in Kenya related to that country’s political crisis, following the departure of the previous head negotiator, Kofi Annan. In addition, he served on the Commission of Eminent Persons on The Role of the IAEA to 2020 and Beyond, chaired by Ernesto Zedillo, whose report Reinforcing the Global Nuclear Order for Peace and Prosperity was launched in June 2008.

     

    Olu Adegoruwa

    Former Attorney-General of Nigeria and human rights activist, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, died July 21.  Onagoruwa who died at the age of 80 was appointed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1993 and was further appointed as the African representative to the body that drafted Ethiopia’s constitution in that same year. He was also the Group Legal Adviser/ Company Secretary of Daily Times of Nigeria for several years.

    Onagoruwa was also the Group Legal Adviser/Company Secretary of Daily Times Nigeria for several years.

    Onagoruwa authored several books, including the Nigerian Civil War: Fundamental Human Rights and International law 1969, the Amakiri Case; Press Freedom in crisis 1978 and Law and Contemporary Nigeria Reflections 2004. Onagoruwa, who attended the Academy of American and International Law Center, USA on a full scholarship, served as a law lecturer in various Nigerian institutions, including the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

    His core practice areas included Constitutional law, Legislative Matters, Banking and Insolvency, Oil and Gas, Telecommunication Law and litigation. He wrote several books and had to his credit over 250 published articles. Onagoruwa held a doctorate degree in Law.

     

    Alhaji Gidado Idris

    Renowned technocrat and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Gidado Idris, died in Abuja on December 16 at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

    At his death, his friends described him as a “humble, thorough and simple man who was very accessible to whoever stepped into his office as SGF.”

    Alhaji Gidado Idris hailed from Zaria in Kaduna State. He was appointed SGF in 1993 and he retired in 1999 after a civil service career that started before Nigeria’s independence. He served variously in the military and civilian governments before his retirement.

     

    Teikumo Ikoli

    The Nigerian Navy was thrown into mourning on April 5 when the Fleet Commander of the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli, was found dead at his Apapa, Lagos residence.

    Lieutenant Commander Chinwe Umar, the spokesperson for the Western Naval Command, confirmed that gunshots were said to have been heard in the early hours of that day in the vicinity of the deceased Rear Admiral. He was later found dead in his room.

    Ikoli was the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT and was later appointed into the Presidential Committee on the probe of arms deal before he became the Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command.

    It was gathered that the naval officer had left the office in the afternoon before the fateful day, complaining that he was not feeling too well. He was also said to have nursed the fear that he could be assassinated because of his involvement in the arms deal probe.

    A suicide angle was also raised as his body was found in a pool of blood. He was aged 52.

     

    Senator Isiaka Adeleke

    The death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the senator representing Osun West in the National Assembly, in controversial circumstances on April 23, came as a rude shock not just to his constituents but the entire Nigerian political landscape. The sudden nature of his death shortly after he returned from a political outing had sparked a riot from his numerous supporters who felt that there was more to his death than met the eye.

    Prior to his election as a senator of the All Progressives Congress APC) in 2015, he had functioned as the first civilian governor of Osun State and the senator representing  Osun West on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party between 2007 and 2011. Before his sudden death in April, he was aspiring for the governorship seat of Osun State a second time.

    Mr Alfred Aderibigbe, the nurse accused of administering an overdose of drugs on the late senator, denied the allegation before the Coroner Inquest Panel set up by the Osun State Government.

     

    Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo

    Former Managing Director of Daily Times, Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, would probably be alive but for the menace that armed robbery constitutes in the country. He fell to the bullets of armed robbers on the Ilesa–Akure Road on his way from Abeokuta to Abuja after attending the 80th birthday celebration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Adinoyi-Ojo, a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Senior Special Assistant, Public Communication, was reputed for shunning a good job with the United Nations to remain in Nigeria to work for the development of the country.

    A journalist as well as an author and playwright, he was known to have had very good relationship with his professional colleagues.

     

    Prof. Abubakar Momoh

    The Director-General of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Electoral Institute in Abuja, Prof. Abubakar Momoh, died of natural causes in his official residence in Abuja at about 9 am on May 29.

    A renowned Professor of Political Science fondly called the political whiz kid in the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University, where he lectured until his appointment as the DG of INEC Electoral Institute, his death was described by the Vice-Chancellor of the university as a huge loss that saddened the entire university community.

    Before his death, the former Vice President of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), and National Treasurer, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) 1991-1995 had been a research fellow and lecturer in many universities around the world.

    The native of Auchi, Edo State, also served as an election observer in several African countries on behalf of ECOWAS and the African Union, as well as in some European countries.

     

    Prof. Andrew Nok

    The death of Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Andrew Nok, came as a shock to his friends and associates even though he was hospitalised for about three weeks before his death. This is because the professor, who died on November 21 at the age of 55, was thought to have recovered at the National Hospital, Abuja, where he was being treated for an unnamed sickness. Sadly, he died at a time that friends and associates expected him to return to work.

    A former university teacher, he had left the Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, following his appointment on July 29, 2015 as the Commissioner for Health and Human Services. He later became the state’s Commissioner of Education, Science Technology on May 4, 2016.

    Nok who held a master’s and doctoral degrees in Biochemistry from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was noted to have made some revolutionary contributions to the Ministry of Health in Kaduna State while he held sway as a commissioner.

    He was a recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award in 2010 in the science category. He also won several awards and research grants, including Alexander Von Homboldt Prize in 2013 for his work in finding a cure for Trypanosomiasis.

    He was also a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Alexander Von Homboldt Foundation and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

     

     Alhaji Kabir Umar

    The Emir of Katagum Emirate in Bauchi State, Alhaji Kabir Umar, was also one of the prominent Nigerians who departed during the year after a protracted illness he battled for five years. He died at the age of 89.

    His death was announced by the state governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, who declared that the royal father was upright, just and kept the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. His death, Abubakar said, was a great loss to the state and Nigeria as a whole.

    The late emir, who was said to have been survived by 49 children, was buried at his palace in Azare.

     

    AVM Olufunsho Martins

    Retired Air Vice-Marshal Olufunsho Martins, a resident of Park View Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, died in a lone accident together with his driver in his Ford Explorer Sports Utility Vehicle on the Third Mainland Bridge on October 28 after his car somersaulted and plunged into the lagoon.

    Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), which swung into a rescue action along with local divers, were able to recover the remains of the Air Vice Marshal and his driver from the Lagoon many hours after the incident occurred.

    AVM Martins, who was said to have just returned from the United Kingdom for a burial in Nigeria when he died, had held several appointments in the Nigerian Air Force. He was the Commandant, Rehab Oshodi and AOL HQ NAF.

    As a businessman, he owned and event centre and was also into real estate.

     

    Adebayo Faleti

    The movie industry lost one of its finest hands, Pa Adebeyo Faleti, to the cold hands of death on July 23.   Born on December 26, 1921,  Faleti was  a bundle of talent and a man of many firsts. He was Africa’s first newscaster, Africa’s first stage play director, Africa’s first film editor and librarian with the first television station in Africa (WNTV/WNBS), Nigeria’s first Yoruba presenter on Television, a Nigerian poet, journalist, writer, Nollywood films director and actor.

    He was also known as a Yoruba translator, a broadcaster, TV exponent and pioneer of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), now known as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

    He was responsible for translating Nigeria’s national anthem from English to Yoruba. He also translated speeches being made by Nigeria’s former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, former premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of National Interim Government of Nigeria, from English to Yoruba.

     

    Senator Kanti Bello

    Two-time senator from Katsina State, Kanti Bello  died on 29 August 2017. Bello who represented Daura Senatorial Zone between 2003-2007 and 2007-2011, was the pioneer Managing Director of Katsina Steel Rolling Mill.

    He was elected senator in 2003 on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform.  In the 2004 local elections in his state, he protested strongly against alleged electoral fraud which resulted in People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidates being returned. However, in 2007 he successfully ran for re-election on a PDP slate.

    In 2009, Bello was the Nigerian Amir-Hajj for the Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. He broke a record where for the first time in over 20 years, all the pilgrims left on time.

  • Celebrating Alagba Adebayo Faleti

    Celebrating Alagba Adebayo Faleti

    While he lived, Alagba Adebayo Faleti, a versatile artiste who died last July and was celebrated by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State penultimate week, was a promoter of indigenous cultures, filmmaker, actor, author, broadcaster, language translator and more.  Edozie Udeze who attended the celebration reports that the event was entirely colourful and deserving.

    He was a peculiar kind of theatre artiste. In all his professional engagements and involvements, Alagba Adebayo Faleti demonstrated that an artiste could be multi-faceted on the job, and yet be able to carry the society along dutifully. Thus, while he lived, he remained the most respected artiste of his generation throughout Yoruba land and beyond. Penultimate week at Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Institute of Cultural Studies of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), put everything in place to celebrate this astute artiste who passed on in July this year. Faleti was born on December 26th, 1921 in Oyo State where he rose early in life, using his local troupe to create a niche for himself. His love for the art began in earnest.
    The Pit-Theatre of OAU, venue of the celebration was agog with cultural frenzy throughout the whole day. As groups and friends gathered from different parts of Yoruba land, the idea was to let the world know what this irrepressible artiste did to lift the culture of his people and place Yoruba language on the front burner. This was why the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede who declared the event open, took time to harp on the numerous achievements and accolades of Faleti. “He lived all his life to ensure that no aspect of Yoruba culture and norms was left out in his numerous professional productions”, Ogunbodede declared, amid cheers and acclaims from students, family members, artistes, fellow academics and other dignitaries present at the occasion.
    As he spoke, artistes warmed up to mount the stage to pay deserving tribute to a forerunner, a foremost pioneer and courageous purveyor of his people’s heritages. Ogunbodede said, “Yes, he was a great historian, scholar, poet, producer, dramatist, actor and language media influencer; someone who brought total life into his roles in films, plays and other programmes which he anchored”.
    He was indeed one of the most influential Yoruba cultural ambassadors. As a researcher on Yoruba culture, the OAU authorities appointed him at a time into the management cadre of the cultural institute to help prosper the sector and discover new ideas and ideals to promote the people’s heritages. Here therefore Faleti proved his mettle; he brought his professional dexterity into his job that today the OAU sees him as one of the few that conscientiously infused renewed hope into the cultural arm of the institution. “Between 1998 and 2001 when he served us here”, Ogunbodede continued, “Alagba Faleti, in collaboration with his friends at the institute at the time, left significant marks on the sand of time. His friends and colleagues then included Professors Akinwumi Ishola, and Sope Oyelaran. They documented deep Yoruba customs that otherwise would have been left to fizzle away”, he said.
    So art was his life while he lived. Faleti’s life history was therefore documented by the OAU in forms of artifacts, pictures, artworks, short films and so on. All these were shown as part of the celebration and legacies of this carnivorous artiste who is still larger than life. Some of the films were shown to depict the roles he played in such epics like Bashorun Gaa, Afonja, Thunderbolt Magun and others. In these films, Faleti brought total life into the historical roles these figures played in the 19th century Yoruba wars. He wore his costumes to depict the warriors of that era when the different sub-ethnic groups in the Yoruba race fought to upstage one another.
    But the Director of the Cultural Institute, Dr. Felix Ayoh Omidire highlighted the reasons why OAU has chosen to celebrate and honour this rare icon when he said in his speech, “We cannot forget this cultural icon who used his God given talents to promote Yoruba history, poetry, cinema and the arts generally. From the old Western Nigeria Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation to its radio and television successors – BCOS, NTA and their numerous offshoots all over the Yoruba speaking states of Nigeria, from his impactful stint as the first state director of the famed MAMSER in Oyo State where Faleti brought honour to an otherwise unpopular military government that was desperately seeking legitimacy, through the grandiose but ephemeral projects to his bold strides in the then nascent Yoruba film industry, he showed how colourful and resourceful he could be as an artiste”. He was indeed a renowned pioneer.
    He was not just a man of great erudition, having studied languages and literature at the University of Ibadan and French at the University of Dakar, Senegal, he often came out as the most exposed artiste of those moments. Thus, he was able to translate the National Anthem into Yoruba. In addition, he also translated the speeches of many head of states into the local language of Yoruba. In all this, he proved versatile in other languages. In his role in Saworoide which he did with the Mainframe Productions in the Nollywood genre, he spited the obnoxious roles of Abacha and his cohorts in government.
    This made him almost a household name, for his boldness at that time in the political history of Nigeria. This talent is what he deployed in film after after film, that were rolled out from the stables of the Mainframe, Remde land and other indigenous film producers. With his peculiar cap, long, dangling and specially artistic, he was able to successfully create his own brand, niche and class. The caps came in different colours of costumes as they were bent on either side of his head. This was one of the most significant signatures of Alagba Adebayo Faleti while he bestrode the theatre scene in the world like a colossus. His presence was indeed infectious and totally felt by those who loved the rudiments of cultural flavours, values and sentiments.

    In the main, the plays and songs that accompanied the celebration centered on his roles. As members of his family gathered in the Theatre to witness the event, some were also made to be part of the dramas on stage. The dramas basically traced the history and career of Faleti, how he brought humour and seriousness and satire into the art. The two plays humoured him as they placed premium more on the hypocritical nature of the Nigerian state.
    The plays were rendered in Yoruba language to further entrench the ideals Faleti lived for. “It is to show how much love he had for his people”, Akinsola Adejuwon who curated his works said. The curated works centered on the diversity of roles he played; the works showed him as a family man, lover of the art, someone who mixed with the high and the mighty. He lived through stages to touch lives, he wrote books, travelled round preaching the message of the preservation of cultural values.
    Inside the hall, were his regalia, his symbolic caps, his costumes, his framed pictures especially where he was being conferred with the OON by the late president Umaru Yar’adua, among others. Adejuwon who took guests round the hall was of the opinion that more has to be done to uplift the face of artists to make the hall totally an art and culture outfit.
    Ogunbodede opined that this celebration would be a yearly affair. “But it has to be in collaboration with other institutions and centres that benefitted from the artistic wisdom of Faleti. With this also, we want to place emphasis more on the culture aspect of the motto of OAU which is learning and culture. Over time, we tendered to overlook the culture aspect of this. Today, we want to begin the campaign to go back to culture to make our learning total and comprehensive” Ogunbodede noted.

  • Adebayo Faleti buried in Oyo country home

    Adebayo Faleti buried in Oyo country home

    The late cultural icon, Adebayo Faleti, was buried in his Agboye Village, Oyo State, on Friday.

    The interment was preceded by a funeral service held at the First Baptist Church, Oyo.

    Eminent personalities at the event included Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, a retired Archbishop of the Methodist Church, Rt. Rev. Ayo Ladigbolu, Nollywood actors, government functionaries, theatre practitioners, youth groups and traditional leaders among others.

    The dignitaries paid glowing tributes to the late elder statesman, describing him as a worthy ambassador of the Yoruba race.

    One major highlight of late Faleti’s career was his role as pioneer director of the Oyo State directorate of Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) now known as National Orientation Agency (NOA).

    He was also translated the Nigerian national anthem to Yoruba language and died at the age of 95 at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan in July 23.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, described the late Faleti as a “living genius and a man of impact on his generation.”

     

     

  • Adebayo Faleti (1921 – 2017)

    Adebayo Faleti (1921 – 2017)

    •Adieu to a stickler for professionalism

    Among the abundance of tributes that followed the passing of Adebayo Faleti on July 23 at the age of 95, one was particularly striking on account of its source and its substance.  Literature Nobelist Wole Soyinka said of him: “Adebayo Faleti was a pioneer in virtually every genre of literary creativity, and its expansion. No one should have been surprised to watch him lift the level of acting in the flush of Nigerian films, with his studied, subtle character portrayals. Yoruba scholarship owes him much, and will honour him befittingly.”

    It was a struggle for Faleti to rise to the height he reached.  According to an account of his difficult early years, his parents could not afford to send him to school. As the story goes, “He then gathered a couple of interested colleagues and started his own successful theatre group, named Oyo Youth Operatic Society (founded in 1949).” It is testimony to his interest in learning and his determination to be learned that he “later found his way back to school by getting a job in a primary school, in which he worked for six years to raise enough funds for his secondary schooling with the financial support of his father.”

    With this educational foundation, in 1966 he studied at the University of Dakar, Senegal, where he earned a certificate in French Language and Civilisation.  He pursued a degree in English afterwards at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and graduated two years later.  He also attended the Radio Netherlands Training Centre in Hilversum, the Netherlands, where he got a certificate in Television Production in the seventies.

    Given his training, Faleti was equipped to rewrite his own story and he did. His success in writing and acting as well as other creative endeavours underlined his remarkable movement from grass to grace. He was among the pioneer staff at the then Western Nigerian Television (WNTV), Ibadan, reputed to be the first television station in Africa.  He also became the General Manager of Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).

    Faleti was an outstanding cultural presence, and made an immense contribution to the promotion of Yoruba, which was his native language. This side of him mirrored his cultural significance and formed a considerable part of his legacy. For instance, he translated Nigeria’s National Anthem from English into Yoruba, and similarly translated speeches by military president Ibrahim Babangida and Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of the National Interim Government of Nigeria. As a Yoruba translator with a degree in English,   he was well positioned to project his mother tongue in an informed and competent manner.  He also published “a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.” Indeed, he was acknowledged as an exemplary Yoruba cultural representative.

    His acting reflected not only experience, but also excellence. Faleti added value to the movies he featured in, and brought a consistent quality to his dramatic appearances.  Among the well-rated movies that he was associated with as actor, writer and producer are: Thunderbolt: Magun (2001), Afonja (1&2) (2002), Basorun Gaa (2004), and Sawo-Sogberi (2005). Winning the Festival of Arts Award for Eda Ko L’aropin (1995) and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts (2002) emphasised Faleti’s artistic distinction.

    In a noteworthy tribute, his mentee, Yinka Ogundaisi, narrated how Faleti was a stickler for professionalism: “He had during the rehearsal given the cast the right pronunciation of “Irene” and when most members disagreed, he simply counselled that we all did whatever we thought was right! No tantrum! But he insisted on his own pronunciation to keep with what he said was “his broadcasting doctrines, even if the younger generations prefer their wrong but entrenched pronunciation!”

    For Faleti, the national honour, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), was a crowning glory that spoke volumes about the social impact he made through his creative services.

  • Orphaned by Adebayo Faleti’s passing…

    Orphaned by Adebayo Faleti’s passing…

    With Papa Adebayo Faleti’s transition to the world beyond, I am now officially an “orphan” in the real and reel sense of the word,” writes Yinka Ogundaisi

    The last of my biological parents, my mum passed on in 1979 to join my father who had earlier transited from mother earth in 1976. Papa Adebayo Faleti and late Buky Ajayi both played my rich and aristocratic parents in the 1999 movie; Hostess, also featuring Gloria Anozie-Young, Clarion Chukwurah, and Yomi Obileye in the lead roles. The “Hostess” was a story of a young lady, Vivian (Gloria), a graduate of music, forced into prostitution by the circumstances of her father’s sudden death. She accidentally met the only son and heir of his parents (Yinka) on his business trip to Lagos. At his presidential hotel room, Remi (Yinka) was impressed with Vivian’s dexterity on the piano, which coupled with her unusual honesty earlier on display at their meeting had no hesitation to junk his temperamental fiancée, Irene (Clarion) for her. The horrified aristocratic parents (Faleti and Ajayi) promptly threw their weight behind Irene until her involvement in the criminal offence of kidnapping Vivian came to light.

    We had the reading rehearsal of the movie at the National Theatre and Papa Faleti at his own cost came all the way from Ibadan for the rehearsal (separately from the shoots!) He also refused to stay in the hotel; opting instead for my modest apartment where we spent the night going through the script line by line to perfect in his words “the colloquials.” He had during the rehearsal given the cast the right pronunciation of “Irene” and when most members disagreed, he simply counselled that we all did whatever we thought was right! No tantrum! But he insisted on his own pronunciation to keep with what he said was “his broadcasting doctrines, even if the younger generations prefer their wrong but entrenched pronunciation!” Today those “younger generations” are now in Papa Faleti’s shoes and hopefully they also now concede the rights of their own younger generations to them. He suggested and made generous use of traditional costumes for himself to promote our culture and as a major cultural slant of the movie.

    The production overran its budget and being my first venture after resigning my corporate job with Xerox, this posed a major financial challenge to me. Papa Faleti and late aunty Buky were the first to volunteer the unpaid balance of their fees. Feeling jittery about how to cope with life after the security of guaranteed monthly salary, Papa guided me with his own story of life after his exit from the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS.

    Aside our common Oyo ancestry, we both spotted the same Oyo facial marks, which made him a natural to play the role of my father. All the credits so far attributed to him weren’t undeserved but much more so. What remains unknown or so far unspoken about was that late Ade Love’s first (own movie) IJA OMINIRA (Fight for Freedom) was based on his novel; OMO OLOKUN ESIN and various single-handed conciliatory roles he played to settle the inevitable professional squabbles amongst our founding theatre lords. For me, he remains a father; always to be remembered as a worthy role model, a cultural icon, a pioneer that proudly held his traditional ancestry amongst his peers, especially at a time when to have facial marks made the carrier untouchable. He blazed the trails that I feel proud to have followed and on which tracks, I shall remain – May his soul rest in peace.

  • Faleti’s death, a huge loss to creative sector – Lai Mohammed

    Faleti’s death, a huge loss to creative sector – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the death of renowned author, poet, broadcaster and actor, Pa Adebayo Faleti, as a huge loss to the country’s creative Sector.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the minister said Faleti was a trailblazer and a colossus across many genres, who left an indelible footprint in the Nigerian landscape.

    The statement was signed by the Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the Minister.

    The minister said generations of authors, poets, broadcasters and actors owe Faleti a debt of gratitude for his dedication, hard work and love for the country.

    He commiserated with the family and friends of the departed, as well as all practitioners in the sector.

    The minister prayed that God will comfort them and grant repose to the soul of the departed.

    Faleti, a celebrated actor and playwright died on Sunday in his home in Ibadan at the age of 86.

    Faleti, according to Wikipedia was “Nigerian poet, journalist, writer actor, Yoruba translator, a broadcaster, TV exponent and a pioneer of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television.

    He was responsible for translating Nigeria’s national anthem from English to Yoruba.

    Faleti published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.

    He received many awards, both locally and internationally, including the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)

    He also received the Festival of Arts award and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts in 2002.

  • Ajimobi mourns ace broadcaster, Faleti

    Ajimobi mourns ace broadcaster, Faleti

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has described the death of ace broadcaster, writer, poet and actor, Chief Adebayo Faleti, as shocking and devastating.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Faleti, aged 86, died on Sunday at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    In a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, Ajimobi also described the octogenarian as a repository of Yoruba culture and tradition.

    Faleti was also a good ambassador of the state, he said.

    “Even though Baba Faleti died at the ripe age of 86, his passing away is very unfortunate, disheartening and sad.

    “Part of the things that endeared him to my heart was his simple lifestyle, his dislike for material wealth and commitment to the progress of the Yoruba race.

    “Instead of allowing his humble background to serve as a barrier for his career progression, Chief Faleti defied all odds.

    ‘’He ensured that he trained himself up to the university level, even at a time when education was not too attractive.

    “As a pioneer staff of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), he exhibited his dexterity in broadcasting, while he imparted morals in the younger generation through his various books, poems and acting.

    “In recognition of his contributions to the development of Yoruba culture and tradition, the Federal Government conferred on him the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON),” Ajimobi said.

    Ajimobi said that with Chief Faleti’s demise, the state had lost one of its cultural icons who had brought it fame and honour through his various activities in broadcasting, publishing and film industry.

    He, however, called on members of his immediate family, friends and associates to celebrate rather than mourn the deceased, having lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation.

  • Adebayo Faleti dies at 86

    Adebayo Faleti dies at 86

    •His last moments, by son
    •Wives, children: we’re proud of him

    Actor, author and broadcaster, Adebayo Faleti, is dead.

    Born on December 26, 1930, the renowned thespian reportedly died on Saturday morning after an illness.

    He was 86.

    The late Faleti was a pioneer at the first television station in Africa, the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    He was a poet and Yoruba translator.

    He translated Nigeria’s National Anthem from English to Yoruba and translated speeches by military President Ibrahim Babangida and Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, from English to Yoruba.

    Faleti, a recipient of many awards, including the Order of the Niger (OON), the Festival of Arts award with Eda Ko L’Aropin and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts, has published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.

    Faleti died in the early hours of Saturday while taking his bath in his Ibadan home.

    One of his sons, Adeniyi, said his father observed his morning devotion with his family.

    The renowned actor reportedly told his family that he had prayed to God to send someone else to continue his mission on earth because he was tired and longing for home.

    Adeniyi said: “After the morning devotion, I helped him to the bathroom, as I normally did. He said he wanted God to send someone else to complete his assignment because he had done all he could do. He also said he wanted to go home.

    “Suddenly, I noticed that he was not breathing again. We took him to the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, where he was confirmed dead. We shall miss him greatly.”

    Another son of the deceased, Gbemi, said their father led a good life, adding that the family would remain grateful to God for granting him a good life.

    He said: “He reached the peak of his career in life. As an actor, he was celebrated; as an administrator, he headed the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) and the Oyo State office of Mass Mobilisation for Self-Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery (MAMSER). He fitted into every good role a father and a friend could play. He was caring and loved by all. We are sad about his demise, but we are grateful for a fulfilled life he lived. He is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. That is a grace anyone should be thankful for.”

    Faleti’s first son, Ayoola, said he spoke with his father three days ago and that he was on his way home when he was told that his father had passed on.

    He said: “In his usual attitude, he called me three days ago and we discussed like father and son. After I received a call this morning from my brother concerning the state of his health, I hit the road to come home and see him. But I did not see him alive as he had died before I got home. He took care of all his children and gave us good education. We shall all miss him.”

    One of the deceased’s wives, Moteniola, said she married him in the 1950s.

    She said he was a loving husband who was always concerned about the welfare of the family.

    Mrs Faleti said: “I knew him as a loving husband and I will always remember how well he catered for the family. He prepared the children for a good future by ensuring that they got good education.”

  • Actor, ace broadcaster Faleti is dead

    Actor, ace broadcaster Faleti is dead

    Actor, author and broadcaster, Adebayo Faleti is dead.

    Born on December 26, 1930, he died on Sunday morning. He was aged 86.
    His death was confirmed to The Nation newspaper by Mr. Niji Akanni, convener of Ibadan Film Circle.
    Faleti, a pioneer of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), Ibadan wrote and acted in any films such as Thunderbolt: Magun (2001), Afonja (1 & 2) (2002), Basorun Gaa (2004), and Sawo-Segeri (2005).
    He was also poet and Yoruba translator.

    He translated Nigeria’s National Anthem from English to Yoruba and also translated speeches being made by military president of Nigeria Ibrahim Babangida and Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of National Interim Government of Nigeria, from English to Yoruba.
    Faleti, a recipient of many awards, including the Order of the Niger (OON), the Festival of Arts award with Eda Ko L’aropin and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts, has published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.

    In his condolence message, Ogun State Governor,  Ibikunle Amosun  said Faleti’s death was sad .

     

    The governor described the deceased as a zealous  promoter of culture, noting that his works will always be cherished.

     

    Amosun also stated that the poet and writer will be remembered for his contributions to the birth and growth of the Broadcast Industry, particularly the Television.

     

    “His role as one of the pioneers of the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), the first television station in Africa and a consistent television personality, made him a pride to Broadcast Industry.

     

    “Baba Faleti, as a broadcaster, poet and writer targeted his energy at the promotion of culture and his death at this time is regrettable. His sound wisdom would  have been valuable now that we are all battling to restore our fading traditional values.

     

    “He will be missed by all Nigerians, especially broadcast and theatre practitioners, who regard him as a role model”, the governor added.

    He prayed God to grant his family to the fortitude to bear the loss as his creative soul rest in peace.