Popular Yoruba filmmaker and actor, Chief Adedeji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina is dead.
The 73-year-old actor, in his lifetime, was well known in the contemporary Yoruba theatre industry.
The news of his death was announced by fellow actor, Saidi Balogun, via his Instagram handle (@SaidiBalogun), on Thursday night.
He posted Olofa Ina’s picture with a caption “Goodnight legend Chief Deji Akinremi (Olofa Ina) RIP.”
Below are ten things to know about him:
1.Olofa Ina’s biological name is Adedeji Aderemi. He was born in Ede Osun state on May 15 1950 to the family of Late Chief Abdulsalam Aderemi and Late Aisha Aderemi.
2. He attended St.Peters Anglican Primary School and proceeded to Baptist Secondary Modern School, Ode-Omu between 1957-1965.
3.He was also referred to as “Baba Olowe” and as well the Sobaloju of Edeland, Osun state. He ventured into carpentry as a trainer at Olukorede Furniture Industry between 1965-1970.
4.He once worked as a Grade II Officer with the Ministry of Works and Transport Ibadan from 1970-1977. At Daladson Hotel Idi-Isin Ibadan, he was a Maintenance Officer between 1977-1980.
5.He established a theatre group called Olofa-Ina alongside his colleagues; Dasofunjo, Erinfolami, Gbolagade Akinpelu and Oyetunji in 1972. He went into full theatre practice in 1980.
6.Through Olofa Ina Group histories of Yoruba Warlords such as Balogun Ibikunle, Basorun Ogunmola and Afonja were pioneered as a stage play and recorded by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). 7.The group also produced television series which included Ade Oba, Kogun Maja, Lakaaye and Odetedo.
8.Olofa Ina was not just an actor but a director, scriptwriter and script dialogue. His first debut film was Ejo Ngboro by Tunbosun Odunsi. 8.He featured in many epic Yoruba movies such as Ayonmon by Hubert Ogunde, Ehin Oku by Ade Love, Mosebolatan by Alawada Films, Agbaarin by Jimoh Ali and many others.
10.He and his colleagues tried to get a befitting name for the group but eventually settled for Timi-Agbale Olofa Ina Theatre Group of which he got his alias from. The name of the theatre group was later shortened to “Olofa Ina” after a trial performance at Cultural Centre Ibadan in order to contain a poster advert.
