Today marks the 8th year of remembrance of a veteran actor, poet and broadcaster, Alagba Adebayo Faleti [OON, JP, J.P, D.Litt (hc)].
Alagba Adebayo Faleti was a legendary figure in Nigerian Arts, Media, and Culture.
Born on 26th December 1921 and passed on on 23rd July, 2017.
Faleti left an indelible mark on Africa’s creative landscape, living a life that continues to inspire generations.
Adebayo Faleti was a pioneer in many respects; Africa’s first Yoruba newscaster, first stage play director, first film editor, and librarian with the first television station in Africa, the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), which later evolved into the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). He was also Nigeria's first Yoruba-language broadcaster on both radio and television.
A master of the Yoruba language, Faleti famously translated the Nigerian National Anthem and Pledge into Yoruba.
As a celebrated poet, writer, journalist, actor, and film director, he authored the longest Yoruba novel till date "Omo Olokun Esin" and produced the iconic epic film "Basorun Gaa" which received global recognition by winning Best Epic Movie of the Year at the 2004 Breeze Awards in London.
In honoring his father’s legacy, a media practitioner and Secretary, Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers' Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Chapter, Comrade Adeniyi Faleti, stated that "Alagba Adebayo Faleti lived an exemplary life and deserves to be immortalized.
"Baba Faleti, as you were fondly called by people, your legacy lives on."
Alagba Faleti passed away at the age of 96; but his voice, works, and values still echo in Nigeria’s cultural and media history.
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