Jimoh Aliu , ( November 11, 1939 – September 17, 2020), also known as Aworo, was a Nigerian dramatist, sculptor, film writer, playwright and director.

Early life

He was born on November 11, 1939 at Okemesi, a city in

Ekiti State Ekiti () is a state in southwestern Nigeria, bordered to the North by Kwara State for 61 km, to the Northeast by Kogi State for 92 km, to the South and Southeast by Ondo State, and to the West by Osun State for 84 km. Named for the Ekiti ...

southwestern

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. His father, Aliu Fakoya, was an Ifa priest who hailed from Oke-Imesi while his mother hailed from Iloro-Ekiti.

Career

Aliu began acting in 1959 when Akin Ogungbe, a Nigerian veteran dramatist visited his hometown, the same year he joined the Akin Ogungbe theatre group where he gained some experience in drama. In 1966, after he spent seven years with the Ogungbe troupe, he established "Jimoh Aliu Concert Party", a group based in

Ikare Ikare is a city in the northern senatorial part of Ondo State, Nigeria. Ìkàré-Àkókó (Ikare for short), city in southwestern Nigeria, is located in the Northern Senatorial District of Ondo State. Ikare is about 100 km from Akure, the ...

Ondo State Ondo () is a States of Nigeria, state in Points of the compass, southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State (Nigeria), Western State. Ondo borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast fo ...

southwestern

. He later joined the

Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The President of Nigeria is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Army, and its professional head is the Chie ...

in 1967 but retired in 1975 with the aim of focusing on drama as well as promoting independent artists under the platform of Jimoh Aliu cultural group. He had produced several television drama series such as ''Iku Jare Eda'' ''Yanpan yanrin'' and ''Fopomoyo'' that featured king

Sunny Ade Sunny may refer to: People * Sunny (name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Sunny (singer), member of Girls' Generation * Sunny (wrestler), WWE Hall of fame wrestler * Sun Diego, German rapper * Sunny, of Sue and Sunn ...

, a good friend of Jimoh Aliu's. It was later learned that his good friend, Sunny Ade, slept with his wife, Orisabunmi. Jimoh Aliu ultimately forgave his friend but eventually divorced Orisabunmi. The major character, Fadeyi Oloro, played by Ojo Arowosegbe became a significant part of Jimoh Aliu's production. This Fadeyi Oloro was originally played by another member of the Jimoh Aliu group (in defunct Ondo State) before Ojo Arowosegbe later joined the group. The wife of the original Fadeyi Oloro also played the original Orisabunmi character before the last (widely known chactacter) featured Orisabunmi.

Death

Aliu died at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti on September 17, 2020 after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.BREAKING: Veteran Yoruba Actor, Jimoh Aliu, Is Dead, To Be Buried On Friday
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Filmography

*''Fopomoyo'' *''Yanpan yanrin'' *''Ajalu'' *''Arelu'' * Igbo Olodumare * Irinkerindo Ninu Igbo Elegbeje * rukerudo

Awards

* Member of the Federal Republic of Niger

References

1939 births 2020 deaths Yoruba male actors Male actors in Yoruba cinema 20th-century Nigerian male actors Yoruba dramatists and playwrights Nigerian dramatists and playwrights Nigerian male film actors Male actors from Ekiti State 21st-century Nigerian male actors Entertainers from Ekiti State Members of the Order of the Federal Republic Nigerian film directors 20th-century Nigerian sculptors 21st-century Nigerian sculptors Actors from Ekiti State {{Nigeria-actor-stub