Famed Nigerian cultural icon Jimi Solanke, recognized as a dramatist, folk singer, playwright, and poet, passed away on Monday, February 5, after a brief illness.
A pioneer member of the Orisun Theatre Group, founded by Wole Soyinka in 1961, Solanke showcased his talent on Western Nigeria Television in the 1960s and participated in international festivals worldwide, including Senegal and Algeria in the 1970s.
His notable performances in works such as “Kurunmi,” “Kongi’s Harvest,” “The Divorce,” “Death and the King’s Horseman,” and “Ovaramwen Nogbaisi” earned him acclaim, awards, and recognition both in Nigeria and globally.
Revered for his stagecraft and theatrical brilliance, he was affectionately known as Baba Agba, a cultural ambassador, and a versatile artist.
Jimi Solanke, the Founder and Artistic Director of Ibudo Asa in Ipara Remo, Ogun State, is survived by his wife, Chief Mrs. Toyin Solanke, marking the end of an era in Nigerian entertainment.
