Adebayo Salami, affectionately known as Oga Bello, stands as one of the most enduring figures in Nigeria’s performing arts. In 2024, he celebrated six decades since he first stepped onto the stage in 1964, a milestone that reflects both his immense talent and his unwavering commitment to the development of Yoruba theatre and Nigerian cinema.

From Young Concert Party to Awada Kerikeri

Salami’s acting journey began in 1964, when he joined the Young Concert Party, one of the pioneer travelling theatre troupes in Western Nigeria. The group later evolved into the legendary Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group, where Salami sharpened his craft and became known for his natural comedic timing and ability to embody complex Yoruba characters.

His big break came with the popular television comedy series “Comedy Half Hour,” broadcast by Western Nigeria Television (WNTV)—Africa’s first television station. The show introduced Yoruba travelling theatre to a wider audience and gave Salami national recognition.

Bridging Stage and Screen

Oga Bello’s career spans the full arc of Nigeria’s entertainment evolution—from the era of travelling theatre to the dawn of Nollywood. In 1985, he produced “Ogun Ajaye,” one of the earliest Yoruba films shot on celluloid, helping to pave the way for the home video boom of the 1990s. Over the years he has acted in and produced countless stage plays, television dramas, and films, becoming a bridge between the golden age of Yoruba theatre and the modern Nigerian film industry.

Leadership and Mentorship

Beyond the stage and screen, Salami has been a pillar of leadership in the industry. He once served as President of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), where he championed the welfare and professional growth of actors and producers. His dedication to nurturing talent has inspired a new generation of performers—including his own sons Femi, Tope, and Sodiq Adebayo, all of whom are successful actors and producers.

Legacy of a Cultural Icon

Today, Adebayo Salami remains a living link to the traditions that built Nigeria’s film and theatre culture. His six-decade journey captures the resilience, creativity, and evolution of Nigerian entertainment—from open-air stages of the 1960s to the globally recognized Nollywood of today.

As Oga Bello continues to tell stories and mentor younger artists, his work endures as a testament to the power of performance to preserve culture and inspire generations.

Sources

National Troupe of Nigeria. Profiles of Nigerian Theatre Legends, 2024.

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Bamidele Isola Olumilua (1940 – 4 June 2020) was a Nigerian politician, career diplomat, and Christian evangelist whose life bridged public service and faith. Born in Ikere-Ekiti (now in Ekiti State), he became one of the most visible figures of Nigeria’s short-lived Third Republic, and later a respected voice in Christian ministry.

Governor in the Nigerian Third Republic

Olumilua came to national prominence when he was elected Governor of the old Ondo State—then comprising today’s Ondo and Ekiti States—on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He served from January 1992 until November 1993, when General Sani Abacha’s coup dissolved all democratic institutions and ended the Third Republic.

Despite the brevity of his tenure, Olumilua earned a reputation for dignified and prudent leadership, often praised for integrity and a steady commitment to public good during a turbulent political era.

Diplomatic and Evangelical Roles

Before becoming governor, Olumilua represented Nigeria abroad as High Commissioner to Canada, a post in which he helped strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.

Equally influential was his lifelong Christian ministry. A committed member of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and an active participant in inter-denominational Christian gatherings, he became known as an evangelist and conference speaker, using his public platform to call for moral renewal and spiritual commitment.

Legacy and Passing

Olumilua died on 4 June 2020, aged 80. His life remains a model of principled leadership rooted in faith, demonstrating how civic duty and spiritual conviction can coexist. For many Nigerians, he stands as a reminder that politics and public service can be anchored in values that transcend partisanship.

Sources

Nigerian Tribune, “Former Ondo Governor Bamidele Olumilua Dies at 80,” 4 June 2020.

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Timothy Mofolorunso Aluko (July 14, 1918 – May 1, 2010) stands out as one of Nigeria’s rare figures who excelled in both technical and literary worlds. A civil engineer, public servant and acclaimed novelist, Aluko spent more than nine decades exploring how a nation can modernise without losing its cultural soul. His life and work continue to illuminate the tension—and the possibilities—between tradition and change.

Early Life and Education

Born in Ilesa, present-day Osun State, Aluko grew up in a Yoruba family that valued both learning and cultural heritage. He attended the prestigious Government College, Ibadan, where the disciplined environment of colonial-era schooling shaped his love for knowledge. After earning a scholarship to Britain, he trained as a civil engineer, gaining a professional foundation that would later guide Nigeria’s early infrastructure projects.

Career in Public Service and Academia

Returning home at the dawn of Nigeria’s political awakening, Aluko joined the Western Region’s Public Works Department, eventually becoming Director of Public Works in the 1950s and 1960s. His leadership helped lay the roads, water systems and municipal structures that supported the region’s post-colonial growth.

Aluko later moved into academia, earning a doctorate in municipal engineering and mentoring a generation of young engineers. His rare combination of field experience and scholarly depth made him a respected voice in both government and university circles.

Novelist of a Changing Nigeria

Alongside his technical career, Aluko emerged as one of the pioneers of modern Nigerian fiction in English. His novels marry gentle satire with keen social observation, capturing the friction between Yoruba traditions and the modern forces reshaping society.

One Man, One Wife (1959): A humorous yet piercing look at polygamy and the shifting expectations of family life in a society balancing custom and Christianity.

One Man, One Matchet (1964): A critique of colonial bureaucracy and an exploration of the early nationalist spirit.

With accessible prose and memorable characters, Aluko’s fiction highlighted how communities wrestle with the promises and pitfalls of modernization.

Memoirs and Reflections

In later years, Aluko chronicled his professional and personal journey in works such as My Years of Service and The Story of My Life. These memoirs offer not only a personal narrative but also a valuable record of Nigeria’s transformation from colony to independent nation.

Family and Personal Life

Aluko was married and raised a family while maintaining close ties to his native Ilesa. He was known for humility and a quiet dedication to public service. He passed away in Lagos on May 1, 2010, at the age of 91, surrounded by the respect of both literary and engineering communities.

Enduring Legacy

More than a decade after his death, Aluko’s novels remain staples of African literature courses in Nigeria and abroad. His life’s work demonstrates that technical achievement and creative expression can reinforce one another. By building both physical infrastructure and enduring stories, T. M. Aluko showed how a society can embrace modernity without losing sight of its roots—a lesson as relevant today as it was in his lifetime.

Sources

Aluko, T. M. One Man, One Wife (1959); One Man, One Matchet (1964).

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