Olatubosun Oladapo

Ọlátúbọ́sún Oládàpọ̀, also known as Túbọ́sún Ọládàpọ̀, or Odidere Aiyekooto – "the loquacious parrot" (born 19 September 1943), is a Yoruba-language folk poet,[1][2] playwright, music producer, radio personality/broadcaster, writer, and researcher from Nigeria whose audience resides chiefly in South-West Nigeria, and speak Yorùbá.

Olatubosun Oladapo
Born
Ọlátúbọ̀sún Ọládàpọ̀

(1943-09-19)19 September 1943
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Other namesTubosun Oladapo, Olatunbosun Oladapo
Alma materUniversity of Lagos
OccupationPoet, Writer, Record Producer
Parent(s)Daniel Akanji Oladapo, Segilola Oladapo

Life, literary and broadcasting career

Born Abraham Ọlátúbọ́sún Ọládàpọ̀, he attended Phillip's Primary School in Ararọmi Owu, Osun State in 1950, then went to St James’ Olanla in Akinyele, Ibadan (1951–54), and the University of Lagos.[3]

He underwent training at St. Luke’s Teachers’ Training College, Ibadan, where he first started performing poetry with a presentation at the school in the 1965 festival of arts where he chanted Ìjálá Yorùbá oral poetry.[4] He completed that in 1967 and was posted to St. David's School, Kudeti, Ibadan. He has said: "It was at St Luke’s that my talent in drama was discovered, and it was on account of this that I was sent to the University of Lagos to study for a diploma in Yorùbá Studies free of charge. I came out with a distinction in that programme."[3]

In 1969 he joined "The Sketch newspaper", GbounGboun, a Yorùbá newspaper, where he worked for a year before moving in 1970 to Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS). There he met the likes of Adebayo Faleti, who impacted on him greatly and Prince Adebayo Sanda, the presenter of Kaaro Ooojiire and Tiwa N’tiwa. Oladapo resigned in 1977 to found a record company, Olatubosun Records, to seek out, promote and produce indigenous-language artists and folk poets across the Yorùbá country.[4]

He has produced more than 51 different albums and produced 200 artistes’ records on the label, including the late Ojogbon Ogundare Foyanmu from Ogbomoso, Odolaye Aremu from Kwara, Ayanyemi Atoko wa gbowo nile, the talking-drum specialist; Alabi Ogundepo, and Duro Ladipo International Theatre, among others.[4] His personal Yoruba poetry (ewi) albums typically feature Yorùbá poetry recited over an orchestra of folk music. Oladapo's back-up choir once included the famous "K-12 Voices" led by the now-deceased Diipo Sodiipo.

Writing

Oladapo has released about 29 different books, some of which are used as recommended text across primary and secondary schools and Universities in Nigeria and abroad.[4]

He is the author of print collections of poetry, Aroye Akewi (1 and 2) and Arofo Awon Omode. His plays Ogun Lakaaye and Egbade Falade were joint prize winners of the Oxford University Press drama competition in 1970.

Traditional titles

He is a traditional chief in the city of Ibadan (in Oyo State) and Ire-Ekiti (in Ekiti State), Nigeria.

Personal life

He is father to a number of children, including writer/linguist Kola Tubosun, and writer/accountant Yemi Adesanya.

References
  1. Washington, Teresa N. (2005). Our mothers, our powers, our texts: manifestations of Àjé in Africana literature. Indiana University Press. pp. 276–. ISBN 978-0-253-34545-5. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  2. Abiodun, Taiwo (2015). "Sycophants are Taking the Shine Off Ewi". The Nation.
  3. Taiwo Abiodun, "‘Sycophants are taking the shine off Ewi poetry’", The Nation, 26 July 2015.
  4. "Abraham Olatubosun Oladapo". Dawn Commission. 25 February 2016.
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