•He’s worthy ambassador, says Abiodun
Deji Elumoye in Abuja and James Sowole in Abeokuta
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said he received with heavy heart, the news of the demise of Nigeria’s renowned actor, dramatist, folk singer, poet, and playwright, Mr. Jimi Solanke, who died yesterday at 82.
The president, in a release by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, mourned the literary and cultural virtuoso and described him as one of the finest of Nigeria’s creative artists and bastion of her cherished mores and cultural heritage.
Tinubu condoled with the Solanke family and all those who mourn this painful loss while praying for the peaceful repose of the beloved departed.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has described the death of Solanke as a colossal loss to the theatre community and the state, saying he was a worthy ambassador.
The governor also condoled with the family of the veteran poet and dramatist and the people of Ipara-Remo in Remo North Local Government Area of the State.
In a statement, Abiodun said the late Solanke had consistently put the name of the state in the limelight for very good reasons, especially in the arts, right from his days at the University of Ibadan School of Drama.
The governor urged relatives and other loved ones of the late poet to celebrate his life and ensure that the many legacies he left behind were preserved for generations yet unborn.
“Renowned for his tireless dedication to the arts, Baba Agba as he was widely known by his numerous fans across the country was a great ambassador of our dear state. He promoted the culture and tradition of the Yoruba race on the global stage with his drama, music, poetry and other works of art.
“In 1961, he emerged as one of the pioneer members of the Orisun Theatre Group, founded by Prof. Wole Soyinka. He went on to put in several decades of diverse exposures and experiences into the global entertainment industry across several broadcast stations, countries and festivals, impacting on the sector greatly.
“Many of his admirers still recall with nostalgia, his epic performances at the Western Nigeria Television, WNTV, Ibadan in the 1960s, his unforgettable stagecraft at the World Festival of Negro Arts in Senegal and the amazing skills he exhibited at the Pan-African Cultural Festival in Algeria, all in the 1970s.
“Also to his credit are brilliant performances in epics like Death and the King’s Horseman, Kurunmi, Kongi’s Harvest, The Divorce and Ovaramwen Nogbaisi. These performances and his numerous talents turned him into a global icon of the arts,” the government statement added.
It stated that he was at different times described by the Oxford Times and the New York Times as a ‘Skilled Nigerian Actor’ and an ‘Excellent Troupe’ respectively, owing to his performance of Wole Soyinka’s Kongi’s Harvest, during a tour of Europe.
“He sang with Highlife music Legends like Roy Chicago, Eddy Okonta and Chris Ajilo. He also worked with many global musicians, including Chubby Checker of Twist fame and Millicent Small of Rock Steady. He was with Ralph MacDonald, the lead voice in the chartbuster, Ona La, The Path,” the statement said.
Recalling Solanke’s sonorous voice, impressive gesticulations, near perfect mimicry and electrifying dances while reeling out folklores with ease, the statement added that the late poet would be greatly missed by all and sundry.
Mostly remembered by many for his television programme ‘Story Land’, on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Solanke reportedly died yesterday morning after a brief illness. Survived by his wife, Toyin, children and grandchildren, he was 82 years old.
