He is one man many Theatre practitioners love. So also Movie practitioners. They respect him a lot. They hold him in high esteem. He has paid his dues in the industry. He has been around for decades. He started his career in 1964 at the young age of 12. And he has been waxing strong since then. He is still very much involved in the activities of the Movie industry. This year marks his 60 years on stage. He started his career on stage. He was part of the Travelling Theatre generation of those days and he worked closely with the industry giants of those days, like late Hubert Ogunde, the doyen of Theatre in those good old days.
Till today, Oga Bello whose real name is Adebayo Salami is still actively involved in acting. He has been changing with time. He is active on social media. He keeps evolving. He keeps changing with the industry. He still goes to location. He still plays an active part in movies, especially cinema movies. He not only acts, he produces. He also directs. He is a man for all seasons. He recently completed work on a new cinema movie which is ready, but not yet out. He has started work on a new one. He is also working on 10 episodes of a short movie. He is busy, very busy.
To get him to sit for an interview has been difficult, because the pressure on his time is intense. Apart from the pressure, from his acting engagements, he is also actively involved in industry activities. He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustee (BOT) of TAMPAN (Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria). He also has to attend to social events. Everyone wants him to show up at their events and parties. They usually appreciate his presence. He has built up a brand that is very formidable. It is a brand that attracts Respect.
Oga Bello is one of the Movie icons that City People has pencilled down to visit as part of plans to celebrate our 28th Anniversary. City People is 28 and the plan is to visit about 28 Movie & Theatre icons who have paid their dues and who City People has interacted with over the last 28 years.
Recall that several years ago, City People hosted Oga Bello and members of his family who are all involved in the movie industry. It was a Grand event, that was well attended by industry giants. They all gathered to celebrate Oga Bello and members of the Adebayo Salami Family.
When we visited him last Tuesday, 24th September, 2024 we met a man who is at peace with himself. He is content with life. He is fulfilled. He looked refreshingly. He is always well dressed. He is a man of great sartorial elegance. He is always neat. He is always prim and proper. And he is taking life easy. He was happy to receive City People.
He recalled how City People has been part of his successful career and his various interactions in the past with City People. He said for City People to have survive the challenges of the past 28 years is a testimony to the focus and tenacity of purpose of the founder of City People, Seye Kehinde. He prayed for many more years in the service of Journalism.
Let’s tell you more about this great man, Alhaji Otunba Adebayo Salami, who was born on the 9th of May 1952 into the family of Alhaji and Alhaja Abdulkareem Gbogunleri in the Agege area of Lagos State.
He is a native of Ilorin, Kwara State. He attended Ansar-deen Primary School, Oke Popo and Adebogun Commercial School, Mushin. Lagos Drama School and several seminars and workshop including Library Course at the
National Library and Sandwich courses on Stage and Film production He started his career as an actor in 1964 with a group called Youngster concert Party led by the late Ojo Ladipo while in school.
After his education he worked at the Federal Ministry of Works as a Library Assistant and Personal Assistant to the then Federal Commissioner of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu between 1970-1974. He resigned to joinFemi Okunnu Chambers as Personal Assistant between 1974-1916. He started full time acting in 1976 and practiced traveling theatre for several years.
He took up the leadership of Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group in 1978 after the demise of Ojo Ladipo. Some his stage plays include; Baye Banyeni, Efusetan Aniwura. Orisabunmi, Owo Udoji, Ogbon Gbemiga. Olokoba. Egun Alakada.
He participated actively in many T.V series across the country where his stage name Oga Bello became a household name. He has participated in different celluloid movies like Kadara, Taxi Driver, Iya Ni Wura by Adelove an Jaiyesinmi Ayanmo. Aropin’teniyan by Ogunde.
He produced his first Celluloid Movie in 1985 titled OGUN AJAYE. He also produced the Award winning movie OMO ORUKAN in 1981 where he bagged the award of Best African Movie Producer of the year from British Films London. His, last celluloid movie was Eri-Okan produced in the year 1991.
With the advent of Home video, Adebayo Salami played a very prominent role in making home video acceptable with his first home videos ASEWO TO RE MECCA and OKO which became pacesetters and a reference points in the industry. He has since produced several home videos among which are; Romoke Adunnbarin, Morolayo Ajifa, Eni- Olorun Da, Okini, Eni- Afe, Ishola Oba Orin, Ijapa, Agbara Obinrin, Aseyiowu, Ina Ale. The Gardener, Joint Venliure Alagbara (a TV series for Startimes Television) .
He is a Supervising Director for one of the highest grossing movie in 2022, King of Thieves and Jagunjagu.
Many don’t know that he discovered many of the present stars in the Movie industry and is still discovering new talents with his U-Bee School of Performing Arts, a school set up to discover and train young and budding talents. Since inception in 2004 the school has trained ever 50 students, some of whom are now notable stars.
He has over the years made considerable and effective proposals to government both at the state and national levels on the use of Entertainment to promote grassroots understanding and acceptance of government programmes and policies.
He has produced several enlightenment materials which has helped to make government policies acceptance to the grassroots. Such include but not limited to Tax drive for Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Traffic Laws in Lagos State for
Lagos State Government, Government programs for Kwara State, rights of the woman for Ministry of Women Affairs and several more.
Adebayo Salami is a past President of the Association of Nigeria Theatre-Arts Practitioners (ANTP) from 2000-2004. He transformed
the association and changed the fortune of the Yoruba artistes. It was during his tenure that the association and the artistes gained national recognition. After his tenure he became a member of the Board of Trustees of ANTP.
He was also a member of the Steering Committee of Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MOPIPCON) set up by the Federal Government under President Olusegun Obasanjo, to see to the affairs of the movie industry in Nigeria, (Nollywood). He also served as a member of the Committee on the Reformation of Entertainment industry in Lagos State under Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
He is presently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) • Chairman Board of Trustee Video Club Rental Association of Nigeria (VROAN) • Member, Governing Council, Kwara State University • Board Member, Molete Film Village, Kwara State • Board Member, Abuja Film Village • Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of U-Bee Media Network Limited • He is also Chairman of other reputable associations • He also has many awards both locally and internationally.
Adebayo Salami is a successful family man, a father and mentor to numerous industry practitioners.
Many of his children are involved in various aspects of the Movie industry. One of them is Femi Adebayo. There is also Saddique Adebayo and others.
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