By Yusuf Olatunji
Durosinmi Durodoola Duro Ladipo Adisa Elu was of the best known and critically acclaimed Yoruba dramatists that emerged from post colonial Africa. Duro Ladipo was a native of Osogbo the present day of Osun State, South West, Nigeria. He was born on December 18, 1931 in Osogbo.
He wrote solely in the Yoruba Language, he captivated the symbolic spirit of Yoruba mythologies in his plays, which were later adapted to other media such as photography, television and cinema. His most famous play, “Oba Ko so” (The King did not hang), a dramatization of the traditional Yoruba story on how Sango became the god of thunder
The play received international acclaimed at the first Common Wealth Arts Festival in 1965, and on a European tour, where a Berlin critic Professor Ulli Beier the German man who married Susan Wenger popularly known as Adunni Olorisa, compared Ladipo to Karajan. Ladipo usually acted in his own plays.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Duro was raised in Christian family, his father was a minister at an Anglican Church in Osogbo. However, he may have been influenced by his grandfather, who migrated to Osogbo after the Jalumi war. His grandfather was well versed in Yoruba mythology, especially those emanating from old Oyo, and known to have worshipped Sango and Oya.
DURO LADIPO AS A TEACHER AND THEATRE PRACTITIONER
He tried hard and succeeded in exposing himself to traditional and Yoruba cultural elements especially when living under the veil of a Christian home. At a younger age, he would sneak out of the vicarage to watch Yoruba festivals. This fascination with his culture gadded him into researching and experimenting with the article drama and ac wCommunicatio, he was one of the founding member of an artist society or club tagged “Mbari Mbayo” and became influenced Beier. He later replicated the club in Osogbo and it became the premier group for promoting budding artists and dramatists. That were discovered in Osogbo. Throughout his career Duro Ladipo wrote ten Yoruba folks operas combining dance, music, mime, proverbs, drumming and praise songs.
He started his theatre group in 1961 but became fully established with the founding of the Mbari Mbayo club in Osogbo.
His popularity as a folk opera group really rested on his three plays: Obamoro in 1962, Oba Ko So and Oba Waja in 1964. (Oba Waja – “The King is Dead” – is based on the same historical events that inspired fellow Nigerian playwright Prof. Wole Soyinka, Death and the King ‘s Horseman).
He also promoted “Moremi Ajasooro. He later transformed the Mbari Mbayo into cultural center, as arts gallery and meeting point for young artists, seeking to develop their talents. Duro Ladipo wrote quite a number of plays, such as “Suru Baba Iwa”, “Tanimowo”, “Iku”, some of his plays were also produced for television. In fact he created “Bode Wasinmi” for NTA Ibadan. He also wrote book titled “Thunder – God on Stage.
In 1977, Duro Ladipo participated in Festac ‘77, the second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture, in Lagos, South West, Nigeria.
DURO LADIPO MARITIAL LIFE AND CHILDREN
According to Araba Ifayemi Ayinde Elebu ibon “Late Duro Ladipo has four wives three of his wives worked with him as theater practitioners while his senior wife worked at home. I think he had fifteen children.”
“Three of the children from Moremi were into theater one of them Sola Duro-Ladipo is the currently the director of Art and Culture. She works at Cultural Centre here in Osogbo, another one is in America Wole Duro-Ladipo and the youngest one based in Ibadan, Yomi Duro-Ladipo.
IFAYEMI AYINDE ELEBU-IBON ON DURO LADIPO
Yemi Elebuibon describes late Duro Ladipo as his leader, mentor and cultural adviser. He disclosed that Duro Ladipo created Mbari Mbayo cultural centre in 1962. “He founded the cultural groups to propagate Yoruba Culture and Tradition. He was in the class of Prof. Ulli Beier, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. C. Nwoko, and host of others.”
"I was invited to join his theatre group by a German Professor; Prof. Ulli Beier, he was professor of moral studies at University of Ibadan, then Ulli used to come to where I studied Ifa in Ejigbo because he was a researcher. He always attended Yoruba cultural festival. Ulli Beier discovered me through my master late Ifaniyi Agbongbon and he was impressed seeing me as a Ifa apprentice.”
He introduced me to Duro Ladipo Mbari Mbayo group centre” when I joined Mbari Mbayo Duro Ladipo’s prophecy about me when he was introducing me to his group actually came to reality.” “he said, look at this young Ifa priest, his going to be a great Ifa priest, he would travel abroad and people from overseas would come to visit him. He was going to ride a car while his master will not. I thought he was trying to lure me to join his group with sweet mouth. I thank God all his predictions came to fulfillment in my life. He was an extra ordinary man, he was unique, he was a visionary person that was Duro Ladipo, I know.
SOJOURN WITH DURO LADIPO
Hmm, “I spent more than a decade with him. My colleagues in Mbari Mbayo back them were Omolere Paimo, the manager of thearter, Abidoye Ojo who used to act Gbonnka, but someone had been acting Gbonnka before he came, in person of Ademola Onibon Okuta, Lasisi Gbebolaja was Timi, somebody was Timi before him, that was late Tijani Lawal Mayakire. There were some visual artists such as Chief Jimoh Ibrahimo, Muraina Oyelamin, Twins sevens even, Jacob Afolabi and so on. Many of us that passed through Duro Ladipo Theater of school and Mbari Mbayo, we all knew each other.”
DURO LADIPO CONTEMPRARY
Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon and Mrs Abiodun Duro Ladipo (aka) Moremi Ajaso Oro, quickly remember their master’s ally, the duo named them as follows: Late Kola Ogunmola, Late Oyin Adejobi, Late Hurbert Ogunde, the trio of the blessed memory were his contemporaries
Ogun City News also had a chat with Moremi below, she shared her view on Duro Ladipo Oba K’o So.
Mrs Abiodun Duro Ladipo 80, popularly known as Moremi, she is a native of Ijero Ekiti in Ekiti State, she came to Osogbo to gain admission into nursing school but destiny drive her into theatre world through Duro Ladipo.
To her, “I came to Osogbo in 1962, I stayed with my elderly sister and her husband in other to attend nursing school.
She continues, “I met Durodola Durosinmi Adisa Elu Duro Ladipo Oba Ko So in 1962. I like to sing that is why I join his group, at the same time seeking admission into nursing school. I joined their rehearsal, we recorded music at NBC Ibadan, I told him that I wanted to quit his group in other to forge ahead with my educational. I also complained no one dance to enrich him or herself in spite of all my complaints, he still went ahead to pick me as the leading actress”.
“Duro Ladipo was a hard working man and also gifted. He called me on a blessed day and inquired me why I look sober and I replied that the group’s activity was disturbing my sister’s house. Though I wondered how this man knew I was worried. He later rescheduled the group time-table and ensured strict monitoring of attendance because he was formerly a school teacher.”
“In 1963, he received a letter from Lagos that the then government wanted to present him an award. “Best Theatre Practitioner” in White House. Then we performed a stage play in Lagos that particular year with the theme “OBA K’O SO”. He nominated me that I would accompany him to Lagos to receive the award, which I quickly raised an objection that he should go with his wife because I was not his wife, more so he should go with his people because I was not from his town. He was angry, he reported my disobedient and insubordination to my sister and her husband. They both turned my attitude into laughter and they promised him.
“Mr. Ladipo don’t worry be happy, Biodun would follow you to Lagos to receive the award.” Of which I did through my sister and her husband’s pervasion.
On that day, “I was upset when he compelled me to cover my hair-do (Jerry curl) which was of foreign type in order suite his own ideology as a staunch believer and protector of the rich Yoruba culture of hair-do is an integral part.” “We later proceeded to Lagos on October 18, 1963 to receive the trophy in White House, Late Nnamdi Azikwe was the one who presented the trophy.
Shortly, after we arrived from Lagos, he called me one-on-one for discussion. He begins “I know that you are young, brave lady that comes from good home with excellent family background.” He narrated his life story, at the end of the story, he asked for my hand in marriage and added that If I reject his offer then I should consider marrying Ulli Beier because he wanted to always see me around him. I quickly responded “Emi o le fe Ulli” means I cannot marry Ulli, Ulli Beier is a German man, I cannot follow him to his country. Can you see me when he takes me to his Germany? Where should I put my parents? Impossible! I roared.
Duro was unrelenting in his efforts to have me as his wife but after a while I could not bear it any longer and I bowed to pressure out pity to marry him in 1963. She described her husband as devoted Christian.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CULTURE AND RELIGION
There is difference between culture and religion. “You see follow your religion and face your normal business that was that my husband was doing. Duro was only propagated Yoruba culture and Tradition when he was alive.
HOW DID YOU COME BY YOUR STAGE NAME(S) MOREMI AJASO ORO AND OYA ORIRI
Duro Ladipo was the brain behind these stage name(s) such as “Oya Oriri”, Moremi Ajaso Oro”, both were woman heroine who had played great roles in their lifetimes. “Moremi Ajaso Oro” was a powerful woman, she was based in Ile-Ife via marriage. She was a native of Offa in the present day of Kwara State while “Oya Oriri”, too was a powerful woman who exhibited a great bravery in her life time. She was from Ile-Ira in the present day of Kwara State. Though she lived the better of life in Oyo town because of marriage.
SOJOURN ABROAD WITH DURO LADIPO
“We travelled to many cities in America, Europe and Asian continent such as London Commonwealth in 1965, Paris, Nancy, Monaco, Glasgow, Belgrade, Zurich,Zilas, Sao Paolo, New York City, Chicago, Zilas in Iran, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba, Port Elizabeth to mention but a few”.
“When we traveled to Brazil in the 70’s, we met a man, medical doctor, he told us that his lineage were of Yoruba land. He housed 26 of us in his house for 3months. He also spoke Yoruba dialect but with a difference in syntax and semantics from our own type of Yoruba. For instance, “Tolo Tolo Pa Sango” meaning “Sango eat Turkey”.
According to history, he told us that his grandfather was captured as slave during the slave trade year. Though we met his father alive but he was both in Brazil. So we later discovered that his grandfather was captured in “Iresa Adu” in the present day of Oyo state and transported to Brazil along side with other slaves with this popular song, “NIRESA O, NIRESA GBOGBO MODE, NIRESA ILE”. Meaning “IRESA IS MY COUNTRY HOME”. In Yoruba land South West Nigeria. We were emotional down and had the feelings of nostalgia.
LIFE AFTER 38 YEARS OF DURO LADIPO’S DEMISE
“Hmm, Yoruba proverb says if you want to see an old woman teeth outside, ask for her husband. I thank God for everything, I thank my parents, well wishes who stood beside me during the trying period.
“Also I thank Adisa Ogbo though his dead but his spirit lingers on. Ah, it was not an easy task to eat roasted dog though it’s delicious meat but before it gets dry, you will sweat profusely. Ah, Ah, Ah. To God’s be glory, what husband and wife ought to shoulder concerning our children it was Almighty God that did it on our behalf. I thank God greatly for this.
DURO LADIPO MBARI MBAYO THEATRE GROUP
“I worked together with Yemi Elebuibon, Ademola Onibon Okuta, Twins seven-seven, Jacob Afolabi, Tijani Lawal Mayakire, Lasisi Gbeboloja, Abidoye Ojo, Lere Paimo joined us in 1965 before the common wealth festival in London, to mention but a few, some of us were late”.
WITH YOUR SOJOURNING WITH HIM, HOW WILL YOU RATE HIM
“My husband only worked for fame not for money and he got the fame. He was not rich nor poor but he was comfortable.
DID DURO LADIPO PRODUCE FILMS?
The first Yoruba film was produced and directed by Ola Balogun. He called Duro Ladipo and co to act in the film. That was a titled “Ajani Ogun”. Also, in a movie titled “Omo Olokun Esin”, the book was written by Pa Adebayo Faleti but my husband created “Bode Wasinimi” for NTA Ibadan.
MOREMI DESCRIBES DURO LADIPO AS VISIONARY
Duro Ladipo has vision to promote young artists such as Ishola Olusola Ogunsola (aka) “I SHO PEPPER’, and co by assisting them to travel abroad to show case their talents through Yoruba rich culture drama to the outside world but unfortunately, his dream was not materialize.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DURO LADIPO THEATRE AND NOW A DAYS THEATRE
Both Yemi Elebuibon and Mrs Abiodun Duro Ladipo spotted a lot differences between them and now. To the duo, “then there was morality, discipline and stage play, from town to town, one must hard because stage play was a live performance and it gave no room for mistakes, no editing to correct any mistakes.
However, now a days, the theatre practitioners are no longer performing stage play. They now rely on home video which is more relax than stage play. Most times these home video of things are wash out, they don’t project real culture of Yoruba. But in those days, when you watch Oba Ko So, Moremi, Ajagun-nla, you see culture. These kind of act gave audience real culture identity of Yoruba race. Mrs Duro Ladipo says “I am the only person that trying to bring back stage play in conjunction with Prof. Wole Soyinka.
YOUR JOYFUL MOMENT AND SAD MOMENT
My joyful moment was when I gave birth to my first child while sad moment was when my husband died on March 11, 1978.
LAST DAY OF HERO
Durosinmi Duro Ladipo last day was on March 11, 1978, that fateful Saturday, he lost his breath exactly “one” in the afternoon at University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
THE LIVING LEGEND AND THEATRE ICON:
BABA WANDE
As famous as household name for the local matches, called “Isana Elefa” in the south west, Nigeria, many people know Baba Wande as he is fondly called in the theatre industry has various stage names such as “ASIYANBI”, ”SIYANBOLA”,”GBAJUMO”.
Alhaji Abdul Kareem Adebayo Adepoju was born on April, 20th 1943.he also produces films such as “Ti Oluwanile”,” Agbabiaka”, ”Enu Eye”, ”Agbami Aye”,” Obuko Dudu” and so on.
Tundish communication met with veteran actor, popularly known as Baba Wande, a 74 year old but who looks like a young man of early 40s. He is a native of Arikalamu Compound Olu-Ode, Owo-Ope in Oshogbo State of Osun.
EARLY DAYS
“During the stage Politicians: Free education policy in Western Nigeria in the era of Late Obafemi Awolowo,I attended Ansar-ud-deen primary school, Oshogbo from 1954-1960. I later proceeded to catholic Modern School, Agbor from 1961-1963 after modern school, I joined Oyin Adejobi theatre on full time”
WHEN DID YOU START ACTING?
“I started acting drama right from my primary school days in Ansar-ud-deen. Am lucky to be one of the pupils, the school choose to learn drama under the tutelage of Late Oyin Adejobi drama organization. Our school is privately owned by Ansar-ud-deen, the school management made use of the procedures gotten from the various stage plays. We,” pupils’ dramatist” presented at various designated centres to pay our teachers’ salary then”.
“Also Ansar-ud-deen society invited late Oyin Adejobi to perform stage plays for us in our school. That was how I developed interest in drama”.
HOW MANY FILMS DO YOU PRODUCE AND PARTICIPATED?
“I had lost count, I produced many films, also participated in many films(s),I can’t really be specific on the number of films I produced and participated in”
HOW MANY YEARS ON STAGE?
“I thank God for my life, glory be to Him. Now I am fifty-four years on stage”.
“ADVERT OF TI OLUWA NILE”
“You see I was gifted by Allah, whenever am in the commercial bus I listed to passengers’ conversation. One day I was in a bus, someone raised a controversy issue that some people sold a piece of land in a particular town and they began to die one by one. I quickly picked interest in the controversial matter, when I got home I began to think about the issue. Some people fight over here too and drag themselves to court room even I once experienced where they plaster a shelter overnight, somewhere in the Lagos State to beat other party to it. Wonders can never end. That was how I began to write the play but it was detailed then because it was titled. When TK (Tunde Kelani) established mainframe production, he asked me weather I have play which we can produce together. I told him that I have one, I narrated the story, he picked interest in it,. With his brain, my brain and other peoples efforts were put together for the play without title. We later coined the play title when shot a scene in hotel in Abeokuta , when we won the land case in court room, in that particular scene, to celebrate the case we won they asked me, “TALO NI LE?” means “Who owns the land?”, I responded “T’oluwa Nile Ati Awa ti a mo Itan re means “THE LORD OWNS THE LAND AND WE THAT KNOWS THE HISTORY OF THE LAND.”
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH TUNDE KELANI?
“Myself and TK were friends from the beginning of T’Oluwa Nile production, we remain friends after and up till now we are still friends.
WHO ARE YOUR COMTEMPRARIES IN THEATRE FIELD?
‘My contemprairices were Lere Paimo, Jimoh Aliu, Moses Olaiya (Babasala), Ola Omonitan (Ajimajasan), Adebayo Salami (Bello), met us in the field and so on.
BABA WANDE MARITAL LIFE
“Glory be to Almighty Allah, I have many wives and Allah blessed me with many children, both males and females, there is no third tier of children in life. My children are doing fine in their various chosen fields”.
DOES ANY OF YOUR CHILDREN PRACTISE THEATRE?
“Maybe, if possible in future any one of them may decide to resign from his or her job to venture into theatre because they are bankers, engineer, and so on. Presently, they assisted whenever I have production, they participated in my films and then, after production they will go back to their various respective fields of work”.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEN THEATRE AND NOWADAYS THEATRE?
Then veteran actor spotted many differences in the theatre of yesterday and today. He begins, “The differences between then and nowadays theatre is very clear because some people then in our community were ignorance of theatre with wrong perceptions they see us as useless fellow then. But nowadays, they offer theatre art as course in our various universities now.
Secondly, another difference was then we move from city to city, village to village, from one state to another, we slept in king palace also to perform stage play in the palace square, that was when people started developing interest in drama. However, nowadays, there is no more travelling to village, cities and so on, audience sat back at the comfort of their living room to watch movies through technology.
Thirdly, theatre has moved away from the professionals who really love the job in the beginning. It has moved to the businessmen who now go into it for profitable means, like the common saying that “he who plays piper dictates the tunes” nowadays, some theatre practitioner dance to the tune of the marketers because if they asked to act nudity they will, because they have no choice. Though marketers know those they dictate to, they dare not do that with me. It is not all about money, but being a role model, preaching the right to our audience through plays and just like every other perform, we will sure give account of our deeds on earth before Allah.”
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IF YOU ARE NOT IN LOCATION?
“Hmm, when am at home I would be reciting the Holy Quran, if I have script to write, I do that and always like people around me to review it. That’s why you see people around doing presently.
BABA WANDE AND SPORTS
“Ah, I am an athlete, I play football, I do run, I do jump and I do various exercise to make me sweat and keep me fit”.
WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SAID SO FAR, WHAT DID YOU BENEFIT FROM THEATRE?
“Alhamdulillah! I benefited a lot from theatre, you see everything is not money, I got fame through theatre, I performed Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia through theatre, I toured Europe and America continents through theatre, I trained my children up to university level through theatre, I really benefited from theatre, I thank Almighty Allah.
As Alhaji Abdul Kareen Adepoju benefits from theatre, he also as a mentor produce many artists via training the young budding stars to nurture them to stardom people like;
Shukurah Opeyemi Lawal, a native of Ikirun, Osun State. She is a Business Administration Graduate from Imo State Polytechnic. She is one of the Baba Wande trainees, she describes the living legend actor as a role model, man of the people who treats his subjects equally.
To Adetutu Omidiran, a native of Osogbo, Osun State, “Alhaji AbudlKareen Adepoju is my father because he treated me like her daughter though, am his apprentice in theatre industry”. Omidiran a computer Science undergraduate student at The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State .
Abidemi Oladimeji, a native of Iragbiji, Osun State. To her, “Baba Wande is not our master, he is our father, a great father who plays fatherly role in our life, he never sees us as his trainees, he treat us like his children, also gave us good advice.” Though I am a Business Administration under graduate student at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.
YOUR MEMORABLE DAY?
“The day I saw the Holy Mosque, Kaabah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It surprised me that I theatre practitioner like me can perform Hajj. I wonder that I could perform Hajj though the money I make from theatre because no individual or government sponsors my trip to Saudi Arabia. I sponsored my trip to Mecca with my sweat and the money and I made from theatre industry.
YOUR ADVICE TO NOWADAYS THEATRE PRACTITIONERS?
“I beg them to remember the son of whom they are, also they should know that one day we would leave this world where Almighty Allah would ask us to account for all what we did in the universe on the day of judgment.”
Thanks for your time.
You are welcome.
THE LIVING LEGEND AND THEATRE ICON:
BABA WANDE
As famous as household name for the local matches, called “Isana Elefa” in the south west, Nigeria, many people know Baba Wande as he is fondly called in the theatre industry has various stage names such as “ASIYANBI”, ”SIYANBOLA”,”GBAJUMO”.
Alhaji Abdul Kareem Adebayo Adepoju was born on April, 20th 1943.he also produces films such as “Ti Oluwanile”,” Agbabiaka”, ”Enu Eye”, ”Agbami Aye”,” Obuko Dudu” and so on.
Tundish communication met with veteran actor, popularly known as Baba Wande, a 74 year old but who looks like a young man of early 40s. He is a native of Arikalamu Compound Olu-Ode, Owo-Ope in Oshogbo State of Osun.
EARLY DAYS
“During the stage Politicians: Free education policy in Western Nigeria in the era of Late Obafemi Awolowo,I attended Ansar-ud-deen primary school, Oshogbo from 1954-1960. I later proceeded to catholic Modern School, Agbor from 1961-1963 after modern school, I joined Oyin Adejobi theatre on full time”
WHEN DID YOU START ACTING?
“I started acting drama right from my primary school days in Ansar-ud-deen. Am lucky to be one of the pupils, the school choose to learn drama under the tutelage of Late Oyin Adejobi drama organization. Our school is privately owned by Ansar-ud-deen, the school management made use of the procedures gotten from the various stage plays. We,” pupils’ dramatist” presented at various designated centres to pay our teachers’ salary then”.
“Also Ansar-ud-deen society invited late Oyin Adejobi to perform stage plays for us in our school. That was how I developed interest in drama”.
HOW MANY FILMS DO YOU PRODUCE AND PARTICIPATED?
“I had lost count, I produced many films, also participated in many films(s),I can’t really be specific on the number of films I produced and participated in”
HOW MANY YEARS ON STAGE?
“I thank God for my life, glory be to Him. Now I am fifty-four years on stage”.
“ADVERT OF TI OLUWA NILE”
“You see I was gifted by Allah, whenever am in the commercial bus I listed to passengers’ conversation. One day I was in a bus, someone raised a controversy issue that some people sold a piece of land in a particular town and they began to die one by one. I quickly picked interest in the controversial matter, when I got home I began to think about the issue. Some people fight over here too and drag themselves to court room even I once experienced where they plaster a shelter overnight, somewhere in the Lagos State to beat other party to it. Wonders can never end. That was how I began to write the play but it was detailed then because it was titled. When TK (Tunde Kelani) established mainframe production, he asked me weather I have play which we can produce together. I told him that I have one, I narrated the story, he picked interest in it,. With his brain, my brain and other peoples efforts were put together for the play without title. We later coined the play title when shot a scene in hotel in Abeokuta , when we won the land case in court room, in that particular scene, to celebrate the case we won they asked me, “TALO NI LE?” means “Who owns the land?”, I responded “T’oluwa Nile Ati Awa ti a mo Itan re means “THE LORD OWNS THE LAND AND WE THAT KNOWS THE HISTORY OF THE LAND.”
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH TUNDE KELANI?
“Myself and TK were friends from the beginning of T’Oluwa Nile production, we remain friends after and up till now we are still friends.
WHO ARE YOUR COMTEMPRARIES IN THEATRE FIELD?
‘My contemprairices were Lere Paimo, Jimoh Aliu, Moses Olaiya (Babasala), Ola Omonitan (Ajimajasan), Adebayo Salami (Bello), met us in the field and so on.
BABA WANDE MARITAL LIFE
“Glory be to Almighty Allah, I have many wives and Allah blessed me with many children, both males and females, there is no third tier of children in life. My children are doing fine in their various chosen fields”.
DOES ANY OF YOUR CHILDREN PRACTISE THEATRE?
“Maybe, if possible in future any one of them may decide to resign from his or her job to venture into theatre because they are bankers, engineer, and so on. Presently, they assisted whenever I have production, they participated in my films and then, after production they will go back to their various respective fields of work”.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEN THEATRE AND NOWADAYS THEATRE?
Then veteran actor spotted many differences in the theatre of yesterday and today. He begins, “The differences between then and nowadays theatre is very clear because some people then in our community were ignorance of theatre with wrong perceptions they see us as useless fellow then. But nowadays, they offer theatre art as course in our various universities now.
Secondly, another difference was then we move from city to city, village to village, from one state to another, we slept in king palace also to perform stage play in the palace square, that was when people started developing interest in drama. However, nowadays, there is no more travelling to village, cities and so on, audience sat back at the comfort of their living room to watch movies through technology.
Thirdly, theatre has moved away from the professionals who really love the job in the beginning. It has moved to the businessmen who now go into it for profitable means, like the common saying that “he who plays piper dictates the tunes” nowadays, some theatre practitioner dance to the tune of the marketers because if they asked to act nudity they will, because they have no choice. Though marketers know those they dictate to, they dare not do that with me. It is not all about money, but being a role model, preaching the right to our audience through plays and just like every other perform, we will sure give account of our deeds on earth before Allah.”
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IF YOU ARE NOT IN LOCATION?
“Hmm, when am at home I would be reciting the Holy Quran, if I have script to write, I do that and always like people around me to review it. That’s why you see people around doing presently.
BABA WANDE AND SPORTS
“Ah, I am an athlete, I play football, I do run, I do jump and I do various exercise to make me sweat and keep me fit”.
WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SAID SO FAR, WHAT DID YOU BENEFIT FROM THEATRE?
“Alhamdulillah! I benefited a lot from theatre, you see everything is not money, I got fame through theatre, I performed Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia through theatre, I toured Europe and America continents through theatre, I trained my children up to university level through theatre, I really benefited from theatre, I thank Almighty Allah.
As Alhaji Abdul Kareen Adepoju benefits from theatre, he also as a mentor produce many artists via training the young budding stars to nurture them to stardom people like;
Shukurah Opeyemi Lawal, a native of Ikirun, Osun State. She is a Business Administration Graduate from Imo State Polytechnic. She is one of the Baba Wande trainees, she describes the living legend actor as a role model, man of the people who treats his subjects equally.
To Adetutu Omidiran, a native of Osogbo, Osun State, “Alhaji AbudlKareen Adepoju is my father because he treated me like her daughter though, am his apprentice in theatre industry”. Omidiran a computer Science undergraduate student at The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State .
Abidemi Oladimeji, a native of Iragbiji, Osun State. To her, “Baba Wande is not our master, he is our father, a great father who plays fatherly role in our life, he never sees us as his trainees, he treat us like his children, also gave us good advice.” Though I am a Business Administration under graduate student at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.
YOUR MEMORABLE DAY?
“The day I saw the Holy Mosque, Kaabah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It surprised me that I theatre practitioner like me can perform Hajj. I wonder that I could perform Hajj though the money I make from theatre because no individual or government sponsors my trip to Saudi Arabia. I sponsored my trip to Mecca with my sweat and the money and I made from theatre industry.
YOUR ADVICE TO NOWADAYS THEATRE PRACTITIONERS?
“I beg them to remember the son of whom they are, also they should know that one day we would leave this world where Almighty Allah would ask us to account for all what we did in the universe on the day of judgment.”
Thanks for your time.
You are welcome.
THE LIVING LEGEND AND THEATRE ICON:
BABA WANDE
As famous as household name for the local matches, called “Isana Elefa” in the south west, Nigeria, many people know Baba Wande as he is fondly called in the theatre industry has various stage names such as “ASIYANBI”, ”SIYANBOLA”,”GBAJUMO”.
Alhaji Abdul Kareem Adebayo Adepoju was born on April, 20th 1943.he also produces films such as “Ti Oluwanile”,” Agbabiaka”, ”Enu Eye”, ”Agbami Aye”,” Obuko Dudu” and so on.
Tundish communication met with veteran actor, popularly known as Baba Wande, a 74 year old but who looks like a young man of early 40s. He is a native of Arikalamu Compound Olu-Ode, Owo-Ope in Oshogbo State of Osun.
EARLY DAYS
“During the stage Politicians: Free education policy in Western Nigeria in the era of Late Obafemi Awolowo,I attended Ansar-ud-deen primary school, Oshogbo from 1954-1960. I later proceeded to catholic Modern School, Agbor from 1961-1963 after modern school, I joined Oyin Adejobi theatre on full time”
WHEN DID YOU START ACTING?
“I started acting drama right from my primary school days in Ansar-ud-deen. Am lucky to be one of the pupils, the school choose to learn drama under the tutelage of Late Oyin Adejobi drama organization. Our school is privately owned by Ansar-ud-deen, the school management made use of the procedures gotten from the various stage plays. We,” pupils’ dramatist” presented at various designated centres to pay our teachers’ salary then”.
“Also Ansar-ud-deen society invited late Oyin Adejobi to perform stage plays for us in our school. That was how I developed interest in drama”.
HOW MANY FILMS DO YOU PRODUCE AND PARTICIPATED?
“I had lost count, I produced many films, also participated in many films(s),I can’t really be specific on the number of films I produced and participated in”
HOW MANY YEARS ON STAGE?
“I thank God for my life, glory be to Him. Now I am fifty-four years on stage”.
“ADVERT OF TI OLUWA NILE”
“You see I was gifted by Allah, whenever am in the commercial bus I listed to passengers’ conversation. One day I was in a bus, someone raised a controversy issue that some people sold a piece of land in a particular town and they began to die one by one. I quickly picked interest in the controversial matter, when I got home I began to think about the issue. Some people fight over here too and drag themselves to court room even I once experienced where they plaster a shelter overnight, somewhere in the Lagos State to beat other party to it. Wonders can never end. That was how I began to write the play but it was detailed then because it was titled. When TK (Tunde Kelani) established mainframe production, he asked me weather I have play which we can produce together. I told him that I have one, I narrated the story, he picked interest in it,. With his brain, my brain and other peoples efforts were put together for the play without title. We later coined the play title when shot a scene in hotel in Abeokuta , when we won the land case in court room, in that particular scene, to celebrate the case we won they asked me, “TALO NI LE?” means “Who owns the land?”, I responded “T’oluwa Nile Ati Awa ti a mo Itan re means “THE LORD OWNS THE LAND AND WE THAT KNOWS THE HISTORY OF THE LAND.”
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH TUNDE KELANI?
“Myself and TK were friends from the beginning of T’Oluwa Nile production, we remain friends after and up till now we are still friends.
WHO ARE YOUR COMTEMPRARIES IN THEATRE FIELD?
‘My contemprairices were Lere Paimo, Jimoh Aliu, Moses Olaiya (Babasala), Ola Omonitan (Ajimajasan), Adebayo Salami (Bello), met us in the field and so on.
BABA WANDE MARITAL LIFE
“Glory be to Almighty Allah, I have many wives and Allah blessed me with many children, both males and females, there is no third tier of children in life. My children are doing fine in their various chosen fields”.
DOES ANY OF YOUR CHILDREN PRACTISE THEATRE?
“Maybe, if possible in future any one of them may decide to resign from his or her job to venture into theatre because they are bankers, engineer, and so on. Presently, they assisted whenever I have production, they participated in my films and then, after production they will go back to their various respective fields of work”.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEN THEATRE AND NOWADAYS THEATRE?
Then veteran actor spotted many differences in the theatre of yesterday and today. He begins, “The differences between then and nowadays theatre is very clear because some people then in our community were ignorance of theatre with wrong perceptions they see us as useless fellow then. But nowadays, they offer theatre art as course in our various universities now.
Secondly, another difference was then we move from city to city, village to village, from one state to another, we slept in king palace also to perform stage play in the palace square, that was when people started developing interest in drama. However, nowadays, there is no more travelling to village, cities and so on, audience sat back at the comfort of their living room to watch movies through technology.
Thirdly, theatre has moved away from the professionals who really love the job in the beginning. It has moved to the businessmen who now go into it for profitable means, like the common saying that “he who plays piper dictates the tunes” nowadays, some theatre practitioner dance to the tune of the marketers because if they asked to act nudity they will, because they have no choice. Though marketers know those they dictate to, they dare not do that with me. It is not all about money, but being a role model, preaching the right to our audience through plays and just like every other perform, we will sure give account of our deeds on earth before Allah.”
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IF YOU ARE NOT IN LOCATION?
“Hmm, when am at home I would be reciting the Holy Quran, if I have script to write, I do that and always like people around me to review it. That’s why you see people around doing presently.
BABA WANDE AND SPORTS
“Ah, I am an athlete, I play football, I do run, I do jump and I do various exercise to make me sweat and keep me fit”.
WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SAID SO FAR, WHAT DID YOU BENEFIT FROM THEATRE?
“Alhamdulillah! I benefited a lot from theatre, you see everything is not money, I got fame through theatre, I performed Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia through theatre, I toured Europe and America continents through theatre, I trained my children up to university level through theatre, I really benefited from theatre, I thank Almighty Allah.
As Alhaji Abdul Kareen Adepoju benefits from theatre, he also as a mentor produce many artists via training the young budding stars to nurture them to stardom people like;
Shukurah Opeyemi Lawal, a native of Ikirun, Osun State. She is a Business Administration Graduate from Imo State Polytechnic. She is one of the Baba Wande trainees, she describes the living legend actor as a role model, man of the people who treats his subjects equally.
To Adetutu Omidiran, a native of Osogbo, Osun State, “Alhaji AbudlKareen Adepoju is my father because he treated me like her daughter though, am his apprentice in theatre industry”. Omidiran a computer Science undergraduate student at The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State .
Abidemi Oladimeji, a native of Iragbiji, Osun State. To her, “Baba Wande is not our master, he is our father, a great father who plays fatherly role in our life, he never sees us as his trainees, he treat us like his children, also gave us good advice.” Though I am a Business Administration under graduate student at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.
YOUR MEMORABLE DAY?
“The day I saw the Holy Mosque, Kaabah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It surprised me that I theatre practitioner like me can perform Hajj. I wonder that I could perform Hajj though the money I make from theatre because no individual or government sponsors my trip to Saudi Arabia. I sponsored my trip to Mecca with my sweat and the money and I made from theatre industry.
YOUR ADVICE TO NOWADAYS THEATRE PRACTITIONERS?
“I beg them to remember the son of whom they are, also they should know that one day we would leave this world where Almighty Allah would ask us to account for all what we did in the universe on the day of judgment.”
Thanks for your time.
You are welcome.
