Jimi Solanke (4 July 1942 – 5 February 2024) was a Nigerian film actor, dramatist,

folk singer Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

, poet and playwright.

Early life

Solanke graduated from the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public university located in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Initially founded as the University College Ibadan in 1948, it maintained its affiliation with the University of London. In 1962, it became an independe ...

, where he obtained a diploma certificate in

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

Career

After graduation, Solanke moved to the United States, where he created a drama group called ''The Africa Review'', focusing on African culture. Members of this group usually put on African clothing, specifically Yoruba costume. They performed in black African schools. Solanke established himself in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, where his

storytelling Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing narrative, stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatre, theatrics or embellishment. Every culture has its own narratives, which are shared as a means of entertainment, education, cul ...

career began. He was described as a "master storyteller" by

CNN Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...

. In 1986, he returned to Nigeria with three members of the African Review group to work with the NTA. He also played the minstrel on the children's show ''Storyland''. His reputation earned him the lead role in most of

Ola Balogun Ola Balogun (born 1 August 1945) is a Nigerian filmmaker and scriptwriter. He also ventured into the Nigerian music industry in 2001. Balogun, who has been making films for more than three decades, is part of the first generation of Nigerian filmm ...

's films. He was part of the team that made the film of '' Kongi's Harvest'' by Nobel Laureate

Wole Soyinka Wole Soyinka , (born 13 July 1934) is a Nigerian author, best known as a playwright and poet. He has written three novels, ten collections of short stories, seven poetry collections, twenty five plays and five memoirs. He also wrote two transla ...

Death

Solanke died at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in

Sagamu Sagamu or Ishagamu is an agglomeration of thirteen towns in southwestern Nigeria. It is located in Ogun State along the Ibu River and Eruwuru Stream between Lagos and Ibadan. It was founded in the mid 19th century by members of the Remo bra ...

, Ogun State, Nigeria on 5 February 2024, at the age of 81.

Filmography

*'' Kongi's Harvest (1970)'' *'' Sango: The Legendary African King'' (1997) *'' Shadow Parties'' (2021) as Akanji's Father *'' Jagun Jagun (2023) as Narrator''

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Solanke, Jimi 1942 births 2024 deaths Yoruba male actors Nigerian male film actors Nigerian male poets Nigerian dramatists and playwrights Writers from Lagos Nigerian expatriates in the United States University of Ibadan alumni 20th-century Nigerian actors