•How It Has Produced Over 100 Yoruba Movie Stars
Within the Yoruba movie industry, everybody knows about Odunfa Caucus, a movie group that has trained over 100 movie stars. So popular is Odunfa Caucus that it has produced so many popular actors who now dominate the industry. For years, it has been the tradition that those who want to learn about the A.B.C of acting would go and join Odunfa Caucus to learn a lot about acting, from the Masters like Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan, Abbey Lanre and other veterans. Odunfa Caucus is not the only movie school that exists.
Right from the days of the likes of Ogunde and other legends, the Yoruba movie industry, has always made it compulsory for new cormers into the industry to undergo training with different groups in the industry, so they can learn all the necessary rudiments and different stages of acting, to become an expert in the field. And this today has helped lots of our thespians, who are both good on stage plays and feature films.
The legacy is still being passed to other generation, and this explains why there are different caucus today in the Yoruba movie industry. But out of the lot, the stongest and prominent one today is the Odunfa caucus. Odunfa Caucus was formed in 1987 to train the new entrants into the make belief world. The caucus was also formed to sanitize the industry and to give proper training to those who are willing to make positive impact in the industry. It was formed by veteran stars such as Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan, Abbey Lanre, Rasaq Ajao (Araosan).
The group is known for its ability to produce good movies and till date Odunfa Caucus remains one of the best theatre groups in Nigeria. It is also known for its ability to impart discipline in all their students. The great thespians who came together to form this group all went through training as well and grew as individuals before they eventually came together to form the Odunfa caucus, with their office at Ebute Meta. This caucus has produced the key players in the movie (Yoruba) industry today.
And they are very close, such that they always come out in large numbers to support themselves all the time. And they always feature themselves in different movies. The leadership of the caucus is so strong that the big names that passed through the caucus still hold their leaders in high esteem and remain very loyal to them till date.
The caucus has produced multiple award winning stars like Iyabo Ojo, the tiktok queen and CEO Fespris Enterprises. This beautiful “mother of two is highly recognised and respected in both the English and Yoruba movie industry. She is not only good at what she does but also has a movie Academy where she trains other younger film makers.
Multiple Award winning star Funke Akindele is also a product of Odunfa Caucus. One can’t talk about top 3 film stars in Nigeria, and Funke Akindele’s name won’t come up. She is an actress, producer, director, now politician, who has been able to gain prominence globally with her outstanding movies. Fathia Balogun and Saheed Balogun also passed through Odunfa. These oustanding film makers are highly respected both in the English and Yoruba movie industry.
They are both rated highly among the best in the movie industry, with successful careers of over 3 decades. The ever energetic Wunmi Toriola, is also a product of Odunfa Caucus. Wunmi is a force to reckon with in the Yoruba movie industry. Her talents and skills are reasons a lot of producers like about her. Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan, Abbey, Rasaq Ajao are the founders of Odunfa Caucus. These veteran are among the pioneers of the Yoruba movie industry, and despite their decades in the industry they are still very active, featuring and producing movies.
Sunny Alli, Alesh Onilegbale, Toyosi Adesanya, Aina Gold, Yetunde Wunmi all passed through Odunfa caucus, and till date, they remain very strong and active members of Odunfa. Their love for the group can’t be over emphasised. They always make themselves available whenever a member of the caucus has something to do. Their unity and coperation is another thing many admire about them.
The delectable Bimbo Oshin also passed through this caucus. Pretty star actress, Kikelomo Adeyemi and Lola Ajibola are always at the forefront, when the caucus or its member have anything to do. They always throw their weight behind any event concerning Odunfa Caucus members. Also, Solomon Majekodunmi and his late wife, these two often act as couple in lots of movies before his wife passed away. He is often referred to as “Baba Kekere” in movies. After the wife passed away, he relocated to the U.S.
Toyosi Adesanya is one of the leading ladies of the Odunfa Caucus. She passed through the Caucus, and doesn’t joke with anything that relates to them.
The highly talented actor, Mustapha Sholagbade is also a product of Odunfa. Yomi Fabiyi and Kemi Afolabi shares a special bond, and many have wondered, at what point, did they both get so close? Though they may not all have joined at the same time, but these great movie stars passed through Odunfa Caucus. Popular U.S based actress, Lola Faduri, Bimbo Akinsanya, Tayo Odueke a.k.a Sindodo, Yomi Gold are among the stars that passed through Odunfa.
Lets not forget, the multi-talented Ope Aiyeola, she has not only featured in movies, she also produces movies. She has equally trained a lot of younger ones who are stars today. Kehinde Adeyemi, Yetunde Akilaja, Adenike Animashaun, Juliet Jatto, Ola Sarumi, Sherifat Adenike (a.k.a. Cherry Ayilara, Lanre Temboye, Babatope Bayode (Biggy), Oluwaseyi Oluwabunmi, Odubela Arinola.
The very beautiful Olabisi Obe popularly known as Bisi Omologbalogba, one of the finest faces in the movie industry, has been in the industry for over 2 decades.
Iyabo Momoh popularly known as Mama Ajasco, she features in both Yoruba and English series.
Keji Yussuf, she is one of the highly respected veterans in movie industry. She features in movies back to back, and despite spending decades in the industry, she maintains a low profile and stays off scandals.
Ireti Osayemi is another delectable star actress who features in both English and Yoruba movies.
Happily married to filmmaker, Bakky Adesoye and wife are also from Odunfa and their union is blessed with children. Dayo Amusa is a multi-talented actress, producer and musician who has remained a force to reckon with in the entertainment industry. The beautiful queen, Bewaji is also a product of Odunfa caucus.
There is no how, one will talk about Odunfa Caucus and not mention the late actress, Bimpe Adekola popularly known as Ireti and the late Bisi Komolafe.
These two contributed immensely to the growth of the caucus, most especially Bimpe Adekola who joined the caucus 7 years after it was founded. She was one of the pioneers of the Yoruba movie industry. Also Bisi Komolafe though younger, but before her untimely death she was the rave of the moment, every movie producer wanted to feature the very talented and beautiful Bisi Komolafe in their movies. Unfortunately, she passed away at her prime, and a lot of movie lovers were really heartbroken with the news of her passing.
The late Moji Olaiya was also among the super stars that passed through Odunfa Caucus. Her contemporaries in the industry were the likes of Fathia Balogun, Bimbo Oshin, Foluke Daramola amongst so many others.
The very beautiful Shakirat Olawunmi Taiwo popularly known as Kira, is the daughter of veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan Ogogo, who learnt everything about acting from her father. She shares a very striking resemblance with her father, and that has also helped in her growth in the industry. She had her first appearance in her father’s movie titled “Idajo Olorun in 1998, and ever since, she has been making outstanding performances in movies.
Taiwo Opeyemi is among the young and versatile actor currently making waves in the Yoruba movie industry. He joined the Odunfa Caucus in 2008/2009, he was trained by Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan, Abbey Lanre, Sunny Alli amongst others. He has been featuring in movies alongside A-list stars in the industry.
Ganiu Sodiq Olajide, the very talented and versatile Ganiu is among the young stars currently dominating the Yoruba movie industry, starring in movies back-to-back. He also got trained under the Odunfa Caucus. Saheed Bayonle is not just a talented actor but also a creative writer and one of the products of Odunfa Caucus.
His creativity is one thing a lot of people admire in him. He is also a fashion designer and he interpretes every role so perfectly. He is very passionate about what he does, and this stands him out amongst his contemporaries.
What about Omolara Kasali, she is the very beautiful and multi-talented actress cum producer who has featured in blockbuster movies back-to-back.
The name Sir Kay Kamoru always rings a bell in the Yoruba movie industry, especially with the way his son is trending with skits on social media.
He is among the big names that passed through Odunfa Caucus. He is a veteran actor who is popular for making people laugh with his load of lamba slangs in movies. Though, he doesn’t feature in movies anymore, but many will never forget all his comic roles in movies years back.
– Biodun Alao
