As we celebrate (with) FO today, may long life, sound health and all-round peace continue to reside with the great mind with different nicknames; many call him FO, few know him as Okinba Launko, some refer to him as Elereko, while a few of us dub him ẸKÙN (Tiger) based on some reasons but particularly one of his songs from one of his numerous stories: “Ekun, ekun, ekun is not your friend ooo… Run away o, don’t delay o e…”
Picture taken at the premiere of AWILELE
Osofisan never treated us (students like myself, Sola Adeyemi, Bisi Ademakinwa, Grace Adinku , Bunmi Skelly Opajobi, Alla-dave Ayo, Lanre Fatoba (Dr. Fatoba’s wife) Iyabo Ajibola, Bunmi Adedina (nee Nwosu), Ademola Demola Adetunji, Olabisi Olarinde , Solomon Iguanre of blessed memories) who were members of the company as students but professional actors with good payment and other treatments…
GENERALLY, by its natural characteristics, the animal, Ẹkùn (Tiger) roars when it is pained, hungry or angry, also when it wants to devour a prey, but this particular Ẹkùn of mine is humane, altruistic, jovial, creative, obliging, accommodating, supportive, enterprising, knowledgeable and definitely not perfect. Anyways no human has ever been. This Ekun of mine roars when he wants to educate, enlighten, inform or entertain.
When I was St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo, Oyo State (now Emmanuel Alayande University of Education) between 1989 and 1992, I tried my hand in writing a play in Yoruba language and enthusiastically went with the manuscript to one of our lecturers at the Yoruba department, a renown writer in Yoruba language, now late (name withheld), with a request to help go through, proofreading, polishing so that I can improve. I actually wanted him to mentor me, but the man shockingly and unapologetically told me in Yoruba language and I quote:
“Nibo ni aye wa lati ba enikan wo nnkankan? Emi naa ko ti dawo iwe kiko duro”, meaning, “Who has time to check anything for anybody? I myself haven’t even stopped writing’.
I left his office discouraged!
I didn’t bother to write anything again until my final year in the college in 1992 when I took a course in the English department, Creative Writing (perhaps the only one that took the course) under the supervision of Uncle Remi Raji (Rem Raj) now Prof. Remi Raji Oyelade, the Mogaji of Adegboro Compound, Ibadan. I wrote a short play, a prose and some poems. I never wanted to write any poem but he encouraged me, and I did.
Fast forward, I got admitted to University of Ibadan through the direct entry in 1994 to study Teacher Education with Theatre Arts and English as my teaching subjects. I actually wanted to go in directly to study Theatre Arts but unable; another story for tomorrow. Even to get in through the Faculty of Education was not easy despite my 7 points over 10. This was during the military regime, when admission to universities was highly bastardised based on connections. Special thanks to Prof. Lanre Bamidele and Mama, Prof. (Mrs) Okedara, HOD, Teacher Education then.
Another fast forward (lol), the first theatrical production to be cast in was RED IS THE FREEDOM ROAD written by Femi Osofisan, directed by Bashiru Akande Lasisi, Ph.D, an undergraduate final year directing student then. I played the lead role, Akanji; Chika Obi , now in the USA, played the lead female, Ibidun. It was during the viva after the performance that I met Emeritus Prof. Femi Osofisan one-on-one for the first time. His comments on my performance, as a new comer to the department, was highly encouraging. Together with other lecturers like Dr. Femi Fatoba of blessed memories, present at the viva, he pointed out areas to work on. This marked the beginning of my association with FO (as we fondly call him) who later became my mentor, role model, employer and benefactor in the creative world.
Somehow, maybe because I had to read the text, RED IS THE FREEDOM ROAD, over and over to learn my lines and internalise my role, get the interpretation right, I fell in love with the message and thought it should be made available to Yoruba readers too, thus the decision to translate it into Yoruba. I approached FO on this to seek his permission. He simply asked me a question, “Are you sure you can do it?’ I said yes. ‘Go ahead,” he approved. He didn’t look down on me or discourage me. If we should make some comparative analysis, his response made a great positive impact on my quest in the creative world, unlike the previous scenario with the renown Yoruba writer.
Within two weeks I did the idiomatic/subtext translation. I gave it to him. The following week he called and told me he was impressed and satisfied with the translation but suggested we allow a Yoruba language and literary expert to read it, and the person he chose was Prof. Akinwumi Isola, who also gave it a pass mark with some little corrections. One Saturday morning, I was at the Arts Theatre for a rehearsal and I saw Baba Akinwumi Isola at the newspapers stand adjacent to the Arts Theatre. I walked up to him and introduced myself as the translator of the work. Baba was happy to meet me and encouraged me to keep it up, never stop. This piece of advice marked the beginning of my journey as a professional translator. The translation was later published in 1997 in London under the title “ONA OMINIRA, ONA EJE”
Right from then I became close to FO, even closer. Many years ago, I did translate his MOROUNTODUN into Yoruba too, but somehow, I misplaced the manuscript when it was returned to me through Prof. Duro Adeleke for tone marks. Unfortunately, I do not have a soft copy. It was done when I didn’t have a personal system.
One cool afternoon, I was standing in front of the Arts Theatre (now Wole Soyinka Theatre), when he came around and asked me to meet him at the UI Conference Centre in the evening; that day I became a member of his theatre company, Kaunka Sela, as a paid actor. Thus, I featured in the premieres of some of his new plays then namely, FIDLLERS ON A MIDNIGHT LARK and ONE LEGEND, MANY SEASONS (a stage adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens), likewise the production of his MIDNIGHT HOTEL for MUSON Centre anniversary in the late 90s. All productions directed by him.
LET me say this: Osofisan never treated us (students like myself, Sola Adeyemi, Bisi Ademakinwa, Grace Adinku , Bunmi Skelly Opajobi, Alla-dave Ayo, Lanre Fatoba (Dr. Fatoba’s wife) Iyabo Ajibola, Bunmi Adedina (nee Nwosu), Ademola Demola Adetunji, Olabisi Olarinde , Solomon Iguanre of blessed memories) who were members of the company as students but professional actors with good payment and other treatments, though he would jokingly refer to us as semi professionals being students. Lol. We also had Uncle Joe Emordi of blessed memories and Prof. Ogundeji in the company.
I wrote a play, gave it to him, he ‘frankly’ told me he was disappointed because he expected something better than what I wrote. A sincere criticism. I wrote another, “UNBURIED SECRET” (my experiment with his style of writing) even when he was not on campus (had been appointed as the CEO, National Theatre, Iganmu by the Federal Government of Nigeria), he did not only encourage me, he gave a handsome financial support to put it on stage, likewise another mentor and father, Uncle Laolu Ogunniyi of LOTO Productions. The production ran for three days at the Arts Theatre, U.I. It was a success. I remember our HOD then, the doyen of theatre, Prof. Dapo Adelugba of blessed memories, invited me to his office, congratulated me and gave me a cheque.
Then in 2001 when I was back to the Theatre Arts Department for my post-graduate studies, I decided to go into film production and again approached FO to adapt another work of his, A RESTLESS RUN OF LOCUSTS. He said, “Demola, go ahead, but let me see the first draft of the script.” I did the first draft, he made some corrections, suggestions and contributions. I, together with my aburo, Laide Bakare, eventually produced the star-studded film directed by Niji Akanni, under the title EWE OJU OMI in 2002 starring Olumide Bakare, Clarion Chukwura, Mama Rainbow, Tola Oladokun, Funso Adeolu, Femi Brainard, Ronke Osodi Oke, Wale Adebayo (Sango), Bayo Bankole (Boy Alinko), Olofa Ina, Ademola Adeniyi (Kukulaja), Oyekunle Azeez (aka Professor) and a host of others.
One Sunday night, I just finished presenting the popular entertainment chit-chat programme, AWAWA, on Oluyole FM 98.5, Ibadan, a radio channel of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, and as I switched on my cell phone the first call that came in was from FO. I was surprised; it was after 9:00PM. As I picked the call he said, “Demola, I just listened to your programme. I enjoyed it. Actually, I listen to it whenever I’m in town. You made an error today. You played a very beautiful song but failed to tell us the title and the artiste.” He was actually referring to IRE by Adekunle Gold. I apologised that it would never happen again. FO, a powerful song writer, surely has ears for good song/music. Also when I premiered my short movie on HIV/AIDS advocay, AWILELE, in conjuction with the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS, OYSACA at Viva Cinema Ring Road, Ibadan in 2019, despite his tight schedule, FO still honoured the invitation. The above simply proves a point, that FO monitors the progress of his mentees. Let me also add that, he was the one who encouraged me to write songs. Today I have written and produced many musical commercials, signature tunes for radio and TV stations and theme songs/music for my movies. I wrote all the songs in UNBURIED SECRET and the one in ỌNA OMINIRA, ỌNA ẸJẸ.
Because I believe in celebrating my benefactors when still alive, just like the title of one of his play BIRTHDAYS ARE NOT FOR THE DYING, join me to celebrate the pride of Nigeria and Africa, olowo-ori ọkọ (husband) Adenike Osofisan (a professor of Computer Science), the African playwright recognised as having the highest number of published plays with translations in at least seventeen different languages, Emeritus Professor of Theatre Arts, actor, director, poet, song writer, columnist and a mentor to many professors, scholars, actors and playwrights scattered all over the world, BABAFEMI ADEYEMI OSOFISAN, who clocks 80 today.
As we celebrate (with) FO today, may long life, sound health and all-round peace continue to reside with the great mind with different nicknames; many call him FO, few know him as Okinba Launko, some refer to him as Elereko, while a few of us dub him ẸKÙN (Tiger) based on some reasons but particularly one of his songs from one of his numerous stories:
“Ekun, ekun, ekun is not your friend ooo,
Run away o, don’t delay o e…”
My family with Prof. Femi Osofisan at the Faculty of Arts Lecture Theatre, University of Ibadan in 2014 during the Command Screening of the movie “Dazzling Mirage “produced and directed by Tunde Kelani, an adaptation of the novel “Dazzling Mirage” written by Olayinka Egbokhare (Ph.D).
- https://www.facebook.com/PD.Femi
