Legendary Folklorist, Dramatist, Jimi Solanke Quits the Stage of Life aged 81

Olufemi Orunsola

Ogun state, Nigeria & Africa as a continent has lost one of the finest folklorists, dramatists & playwright to the cold hands of death on Monday February 6, 2024 creating a great vacuum in Africa's dramatic landscape which no one seems readily available to fill with similar finesse at the moment. 

Reliable sources told O TV that Pa Jimi Solanke, aged 81, took his last breathe as he was been taken to the hospital.

President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun have in separate press releases  mourned the death of Pa Jimi Solanke, describing him as one of the finest of Nigeria’s creative artists.

Pa Jimi Solanke, during his life time which was dedicated to promotion of African arts andt culture with particular focus on folklores, earned himself a global reputation and recognition as a legendary creative genius. He would be remembered by all for his popular television programme tagged "Story Land", a broadcast on the Nigerian Television Authority platform in the late 80s.

Pa Solanke was said to have died while being taken from his country home in Ipara Remo in the Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan when he breathe his last.

Sources close to the creative warlord revealed that he has ill since December 2023 and had to be in and out the hospital.

Pa Solanke has played vital roles in many  creative works such as Wole Soyinka's  Kongi’s Harvest, Sango, Shadow Parties, and countless others.

Tinubu, in a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said he received the news of Solanke’s death with sadness, describing him as “one of the finest of Nigeria’s creative artists and bastion of ours cherished mores and 
 
Similarly, Ogun State Governor, Dapo
Abiodun noted that the late thespian has “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.”

“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 Professor Wole Soyinka. He went on to put in several decades of diverse exposure and experiences in the global entertainment industry across several broadcast stations, countries and festivals, impacting the sector greatly,” Abiodun said.

The governor said Solanke’s many 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 h

President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Monday, mourned the death of renowned folklorist, dramatist and playwright, Mr Jimi Solanke, describing him as one of the finest of Nigeria’s creative artists.

The legendary poet and playwright mostly remembered by many for his television programme ‘Story Land’, on the Nigerian Television Authority, died on Monday morning after a brief illness. He was 81 years old.

Solanke was said to have died while being taken from his country home in Ipara Remo in the Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan when he passed on.

Solanke was also known for the Kongi’s Harvest, Sango, Shadow Parties, and many more.

Tinubu, in a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said he received the news of Solanke’s death with sadness, describing him as “one of the finest of Nigeria’s creative artists and bastion of our cherished mores and cultural heritage.”

“The President condoles with the entire Solanke family and all those who mourn this painful loss while praying for the peaceful repose of the beloved departed,” the statement added.

Also, Governor  Abiodun described Solanke’s death as a colossal loss to the theatre community and Ogun State.

Abiodun noted that the late thespian“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.”

“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