Nigeria loses a rare thespian who could have lived if help came early enough
Perhaps his death was preventable. At various times in the last three years, he had made impassioned public pleas for help during a protracted illness.
“I need help from everyone that has smiled by watching me on TV,” he was quoted as saying. He was also reported saying, “Nigerians should help me. Everything needed for me to be in a healthy state requires money.”
He had planned to produce a movie, titled ‘Fadeyi Oloro Ogbodoku,’ meaning ‘Fadeyi Oloro’ must not die,’ based on a script he had written. That will never happen as the veteran Nollywood actor, Ojo Arowosafe, died on March 7, aged 65. He was better known as ‘Fadeyi Oloro’, the name of a character he played in a popular Yoruba TV series in the 1980s.
The name stuck. That was a testimony to his gripping performance in the 13-episode Yoruba movie, ‘Arelu,’ which brought him recognition. The character was described as “the major villain and attraction of the ‘Arelu’ series.” A profile of the character said: “He was so powerful that no one could dare him, and hurt people throughout the series. Fadeyi represents evil people… At the height of his evil deeds, the whole community organised a revolution against him.”
Not only did the name stick, the actor became known for typecast roles reflecting his acting in ‘Arelu.’ He regularly played characters that symbolise evil, often appearing as a “dangerous and wicked” native doctor with a striking mastery of chants and incantations. Interestingly, he was popular because he was able to act well as a baddie. He often had to explain that he was not a bad person in real life.
He can be said to be among the popularisers of Yoruba movies. He starred in many Yoruba movies, including ‘Yanponyanrin,’ ‘Alagbara Ilu,’ ‘Jagun Ina,’ ‘Inu Bibi,” ‘Ija Abija,’ ‘Osimi Ika,’ ‘Adani Lori,’ ‘Firu Fona,’ ‘Ruke Rudo,’ ‘Bola Ele,’ and ‘Ade Ogun.’
A native of Igbara-Odo in Ekiti State, he attended St. Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Ekiti State, and Timi Agbale Grammar School, Ede, Osun State.
After making a name for himself as an actor, he attracted politicians who exploited his popularity for political purposes. He felt abandoned by politicians when he faced life-threatening illness. “The suffering is too much, despite my closeness to the government – governors and ministers,” he lamented in an interview in 2021. “I worked with them with all I had and almost lost my life in the process. They should all come to my aid now that I need them.”
He explained: “I was not a politician, I only worked for them. When it is time for their campaign, I will volunteer to do whatever they want me to do not only for them but for all of the Southwest.”
According to his daughter, he had suffered hardship before his death. She said, in January, he had been diagnosed with kidney-related ailments at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. She also said her father had faced eviction for failing to pay his rent.
Some weeks before he died, a London-based Nigerian pastor had pledged to donate N3m to him after seeing a video that showed him in a pitiable condition. By this time, it was probably too late to save him.
It is sad that the actor not only experienced such hardship but died in that situation. It is also sad that despite his appeals for help, he didn’t get enough help to keep him alive.
He will be remembered for his acting that entertained many people, his roles that gave insight into Yoruba traditional religion, and his contribution to the growth of Nollywood’s Yoruba movie sector.
-Thenation
