Finding Purpose with Passion: Faloh Jagaban’s Rise in Theatrical Arts

By Emmanuel Esomnofu

There are diverse forms of art, but theatre is distinct, not because it draws in most other arts, but because of how it tells its stories. The live presence is felt, and the energy often creates an immediate and long-lasting emotional exchange. It openly mirrors society and shows humans who they truly are. Among the actors who use this art for the preservation and promotion of the culture is Faloh Jagaban.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olamide Michael Falolu, known as Faloh Jagaban, is a talented actor with a strong love for people and community. Growing up in an environment filled with theatre and inspired by legends like Baba Suwe, Jide Kosoko, and Baba Latin, he found his path early in storytelling. Through his acting, Faloh Jagaban continues to express culture, everyday life, and human emotions in a way that feels real and relatable.

Faloh Jagaban’s growth in theatre has been because of his God-given skills and his purpose. With a natural talent for drumming and effortless comic vibes, he became very known for his university stage performances in 2018 that easily connected with audiences. One of his notable stage appearances was in “High,” a socially driven play staged at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on the 13th and 14th of April, 2019. The production, done by Keke Hammond, the CEO and founder of Rue14 Studios, addressed the dangers of drug and substance abuse among youths, and though his role was brief, it contributed clearly to the play’s message of responsible and sustainable living.

Faloh Jagaban has used stage plays to tell real Nigerian stories that touch people deeply. In “Prison Chronicles,” a play about the lives of prisoners, he acted alongside other Nigerian actors at the 2020 Lagos State Festival. The play was directed by Austin Onuoha and staged on the 12th of March, 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown. Faloh played a young man whose hopes were destroyed by an unfair system, and his performance was so emotional that many people in the audience were moved to tears.

In 2021, Faloh Jagaban showed his versatility as a musician when he won the Best Solo Guitar Performance award from the Theatre for Value Initiative (TVI) at the University of Lagos. That same year, he appeared in “Awo” and “Aremu,” two stage plays produced by Joseph Edgar’s Duke of Shomolu (DOS) Production House and sponsored by First Bank. The plays celebrated the lives of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Olusegun Obasanjo and were performed at Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos, from the 22nd of August to the 12th of September. In “Awo,” Faloh was part of the cast that beheld the vision of Awolowo, and in “Aremu,” he saw order, followed it, and etched his skills on the stage.Faloh Jagaban has grown into a storyteller who brings life, culture, and heart to every performance.

On October 20, 2022, Faloh Jagaban played a role in Wole Soyinka’s “Lion and the Jewel” at the PEFTI Arts Festival. The play was directed by Imotunde Adeyemo. In this play, Faloh played a lively villager whose humor and energy made the story more funny.His playful role, and expression of character made the performance feel real and full of life.

Faloh Jagaban has also performed in church dramas at popular new-generation churches like Daystar and Harvesters. There he connected with people and explored faith. Also, as a member of Terra Academy For The Arts (TAFTA) in Lagos, Faloh used every stage, big or small, to grow his craft and share stories that teach and promote culture. In the early days, when audiences were small and performances went undocumented, Faloh pursued theater with passion and dedication.

From joining the University of Lagos’ Julius Berger Theatre to stages in Abeokuta, Ibadan, and across the Southwest, Faloh Jagaban has built a steady path of growth. He’s a talented actor, culture enthusiast and also a skilled guitarist whose music reflects his funny creative spirit. His work shows devotion to truth, culture, and human experience. Today, Faloh Jagaban stands as one of Nigeria’s fast-rising talents, promoting the culture at every chance.