Jimi Solanke, a veteran actor, playwright, folk singer, poet, and dramatist, has passed away.
He died at 82 years old.
It was accumulated that the notorious figure, known for his diverse gifts, died on Monday morning after a concise sickness while on the way to the Olabisi Onabanjo College Instructing Clinic.
He was also said to have been seen meeting with some stakeholders last night in Remo before he died the next day.
Brought into the world on July 4, 1942, in Ipara Remo, Jimi Solanke’s creative excursion started as a trailblazer individual from the Orisun Theater Gathering, established by the prestigious Wole Soyinka, in 1961.
His commitments to the worldwide media outlet crossed seventy years, making a permanent imprint on different stages, from the Western Nigeria TV during the 1960s to global celebrations in Senegal and Algeria during the 1970s.
Epic performances like “Death and the King’s Horseman,” “Kurunmi,” “Kongi’s Harvest,” “The Divorce,” and “Ovaramwen Nogbaisi” demonstrated Solanke’s versatility.
His charming showmanship and dramatic brightness procured him honors and acknowledgment, both locally and globally.
The Oxford Times hailed him as a “Gifted Nigerian Entertainer,” and the New York Times remembered him as the star of an “Fantastic Group” during an exhibition of Wole Soyinka’s “Kongi’s Collect.”
Solanke, who was affectionately referred to as Baba Agba, was more than just an actor; he was a quintessential lyricist, entertainer, visual craftsman, and narrator professional.
Portrayed as “a preferred vocalist over an entertainer” by the individuals who saw his charming exhibitions, he frequently alluded to himself as an “entertainer vocalist,” consistently blending his acting ability with melodic conveyance.
His effect stretched out past the stage and screen, as Solanke was the Pioneer and Imaginative Head of Ibudo Asa in Ipara Remo, Remo North Neighborhood Government, Ogun State, Nigeria.
He abandons a heritage that rises above borders, resounding in the hearts of the people who had the honor to observe his masterfulness.
Jimi Solanke is made due by his significant other, Boss Mrs. Toyin Solanke, and his good grades the conclusion of an important time period in Nigerian diversion, leaving a void that will be felt long into the future.
The extraordinary cultural ambassador will be remembered for his contributions to the enrichment of the nation’s cultural heritage and for his indomitable mark on African art history.
