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Adebayo Faleti

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Adebayo Faleti
Born
Adebayo Mosobalaje Faleti

(1921-12-26)26 December 1921
Oyo, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Oyo State, Nigeria)
Died23 July 2017(2017-07-23) (aged 95)
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Alma materUniversity of Ibadan, Nigeria, University of Dakar, Senegal
Occupation(s)Actor, poet, writer
Known forPoems
Parents
  • Joseph Akanbi Faleti (father)
  • Durowade Ayinke Faleti (mother)

Adebayo Mosobalaje Faleti Listen (26 December 1921 – 23 July 2017) was Africa's first newscaster,[1] Africa's first stage play director,[2] Nigeria's first film editor and librarian with the first television station in Africa - Western Nigeria Television (WNTV),[3] Nigeria's first Yoruba presenter on television and radio alike, a Nigerian poet, journalist, writer, Nollywood film director and actor.[4] He was also known as a Yoruba translator, a broadcaster, TV exponent and pioneer of the first television station in Africa,[5] Western Nigeria Television (WNTV),[6] now known as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).[7]

Early life and education

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Faleti was born in Agbo-Oye, Oyo State,[8] though lived in Obananko, Kuranga, near Oyo State. Adebayo Faleti was the first son of his father, Joseph Akanbi Faleti and the only child of his mother, Durowade Ayinke Faleti. Alagba Faleti has always had a passion for drama from an early age.[9] His parents could not fund his education to pursue his dreams due to lack of income, so he decided to put his primary education on hold. Later, he gathered a couple of interested colleagues and started his own successful theatre group, named Oyo Youth Operatic Society (founded in 1949).[10] Faleti 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.[11] In 1966, he attended the University of Dakar in Senegal and obtained a Certificate of proficiency in French Language and Civilization. Two years later, he graduated from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with an honors degree in Lit-in-English. In 1971, he attended the Radio Netherlands Training Center in Hilversum, the Netherlands, and received a certificate in Television Production.[12]

Personal life

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Faleti's wife was Olori Olubunmi Faleti, a retired broadcaster and television host at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan. He had children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Faleti died on July 23, 2017, after observing a brief morning devotion with his family at his Ojoo residence in Ibadan.[13][14][15][16][17][18]

Career

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Faleti has written, produced and acted in several popular Yoruba plays.[19] He is also known for his poems. He was the first school teacher at Ife Odan, located near Ejigbo Town in Osun State.[8] He was also the General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), which is also known as Radio OYO, Ibadan.[8] In 1959, he worked at Western Nigerian Television (WNTV), now known as NTA Ibadan, as a film editor and a librarian.[8]

Works

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Faleti has acted, written, and produced a number of movies, which include: Thunderbolt: Magun (2001), Afonja (1 & 2) (2002), Basorun Gaa (2004), and Sawo-Sogberi (2005).[20][21]

He was responsible for translating Nigeria's National Anthem from English to Yoruba, his native language.[22] He also translated speeches being made by former Attorney-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - Chief Bola Ige, former military president of Nigeria - General Ibrahim Babangida, former premier of the Western region of Nigeria — Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Head, National Interim Government of Nigeria — Chief Ernest Shonekan, from English to Yoruba. Faleti has published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.[7]

Awards

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Adebayo Faleti has received many awards, both locally and internationally, including the National Honour Of Officer Of the Order of the Niger (OON), Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.), Justice of Peace (JP), Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP).[8][23] Adebayo Faleti received the Festival of Arts award with "Eda Ko L’aropin" in 1995 and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts in the United States (in 2002). His movie - "Basorun Gaa" also received a commendation at Breeze Awards in London as the best epic movie of the year in 2004. The first magazine he wrote for was called Triumph when he was at the University of Ibadan as an undergraduate. He was also a columnist with the Nigerian Tribune.[12][24]

References

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  1. ^ "Three lessons Buhari can learn from legendary Adebayo Faleti". TheCable. 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  2. ^ "Late Broadcaster/TV/Movie Legend Adebayo Faleti Laid To Rest (Photos) »". 2017-09-09. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  3. ^ "Adebayo Faleti: Remembering Nigeria's First Indigenous Broadcaster and TV Host". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  4. ^ Olawoyin, Oladeinde (2017-07-23). "UPDATED: Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and actor, Adebayo Faleti, is dead - Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  5. ^ "Remembering Adebayo Faleti ( broadcaster, actor, producer, writer)". Media Career Services. 2020-07-23. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  6. ^ Adebayo, Musliudeen (2017-07-23). "Veteran actor, Adebayo Faleti is dead". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  7. ^ a b "Biography Of Alagba Adebayo Faleti". Adebayo Faleti Foundation. 2014. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e Salami, Tayo (31 July 2013). "Adebayo Faleti, outstanding Yoruba culture ambassador". Daily Newswatch. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  9. ^ Akinwale, YEKEEN (2017-07-24). "OBITUARY: Adebayo Faleti… Herbalist's son, former houseboy, 'rejected soldier', renowned actor". International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  10. ^ "Adebayo Faleti – DAWN Commission". Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  11. ^ "My mother thought I was impotent – Faleti". Nigeria Films. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Chief Adebayo Faleti". Africa Service. 2006. Archived from the original on 14 December 2006. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  13. ^ "Renowned broadcaster, Adebayo Faleti, dies". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  14. ^ "Adebayo Faleti, veteran actor, dies at 86". TheCable. 2017-07-23. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  15. ^ "OBITUARY: Adebayo Faleti, the greatness-seeker who was thought impotent but sired 15 children". TheCable Lifestyle. 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  16. ^ "ADEBAYO FALETI'S BURIAL: He forgave woman, children that offended him — Cleric". Vanguard News. 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  17. ^ "Adebayo Faleti died after morning prayer, says son". Punch Newspapers. 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  18. ^ Anyanwu, Samuel (2017-07-24). "Minister mourns Adebayo Faleti, calls him a colossus in his time". Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  19. ^ "Ọdún mẹ́ta lẹ́yìn Adebayo Faleti, ìran Yorùbá ń ṣe ilédè rẹ!". BBC News Yorùbá (in Yoruba). 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  20. ^ "Adebayo Faleti". IMDb. 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  21. ^ "Adebayo Faleti". Victola Videos. 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  22. ^ Ayoola, Simbiat (2018-04-26). "Life history of Africa's first newscaster the late veteran actor Pa Adebayo Faleti". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  23. ^ "Veteran Actor Adebayo Faleti Is Dead". Channels Television. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  24. ^ "Renowned Nigerian Broadcaster Adebayo Faleti Dies At 86". Sahara Reporters. 2017-07-23. Retrieved 2020-05-26.