Veteran artiste, poet, singer and playwright, Jimi Solanke, died on Monday at the age of 81, two months to his 82nd birthday.
Family source disclosed that Solanke died while being taken to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State.
The deceased, who was born on July 4, 1942, in Ipara, Remo, Ogun State, is survived by his wife, Toyin Solanke.
Solanke graduated from the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma certificate in Drama.
Following his graduation, the actor relocated to the United States, where he founded a drama group called The Africa Review, dedicated to promoting African culture.
His storytelling prowess soon gained international recognition, with CNN lauding him as a “master storyteller” during his time in Los Angeles, California.
Solanke returned to Nigeria in 1986 with three members of The Africa Review group to work with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
He, however, ventured into film and earned lead roles in many of Ola Balogun’s movies.
Solanke contributed to the production of the film adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s ‘Kongi’s Harvest’ and was featured in the 1997 movie ‘Sango’.
His most recent work, ‘Shadow Parties’, was released in 2020.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the ace actor, poet and playwright through is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale.
President Tinubu mourns the literary and cultural virtuoso and describes him as one of the finest of Nigeria’s creative artists and bastion of our cherished mores and cultural heritage.
“It is with a heavy heart that President Bola Tinubu receives the news of the passing of Nigeria’s creative icon, Mr. Jimi Solanke, who died on Monday,”
“Baba Solanke was an actor, dramatist, folk singer, poet, and playwright.
“The President condoles with the Solanke family and all those who mourn this painful loss while praying for the peaceful repose of the beloved departed.” the statement read