Before the era of Nollywood, Nigerian actors have been representing well in the global theatre industry and they were no push over. They tell the real Nigerian story through their films. As far back as 1964, a Nigerian theatre group led by Duro Ladipo beat other countries of the world to bring home a trophy for their act.
Late Duro Ladipo was a director, playwright, composer, principal actor of the theatre company Duro Ladipo Travelling Theatre of Osogbo. Their stories were told to the world in Yoruba dialect yet they won trophies on the international stage.
Childhood:
Duro Ladipo was born on December 18, 1931, in the ancient town of Osogbo to a catechist of the Anglican Church. He grew up in the church environment and his love for music which eventually played a major role in his chosen career as a dramatist was well honed.
Another major influence to his becoming one of the best known and critically world acclaimed dramatists to have come out of Africa was his grandfather who had migrated to Osogbo after the Jalumi war. His grandpa, a known traditionalist and Sango and Oya deities worshiper, was well versed in Yoruba mythology, especially of the Old Oyo Empire and hetold his grandson about them all.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Nigeria
Late Duro Ladipo won the first Commonwealth Arts Festival in 1965. Photo credit: The Guardian
How his grandfather affected his plays
Though the son of a catechist, he was also the grandson of a culturally inclined grandfather. Young Ladipo was alleged to always sneaked out of the vicarage to go and watch masquerade and other traditional festivals going on in town.
Thus, Ladipo’s productions made use of innovative folk operas incorporating ritual poetry and traditional rhythms learnt from his grandfather and the traditional festivals.
The trendsetter:
Duro introduced native drums to church music which eventually made them send him out of the church because he was seen as having committed a sacrilegious offence. The same singular act reviewed yuletide celebrations in Nigeria with the production of Christmas cantata at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos in 1963. The show earned him a trophy which was presented to him by Nigeria’s first president, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.
READ ALSO: Actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde’s 20 years journey to Nollywood legend status
Duro Ladipo on the stage of Oba Ko so while his wife Biodun Duro-Ladipo acts as Oya
Road to international success:
Having garnered the raw talent from Osogbo, Ladipo went to work as a teacher in Ibadan in 1960 where he met with Ulli Beier, a German lecturer at the University of Ibadan who developed interest in traditional Yoruba culture and arts. Ladipo later joined forces with Beier then went on full-time play writing and stage production.
And in 1962, Ulli Beier co-founded Mbari-Mbayo with Duro Ladipo in Osogbo by converting the latter's popular bar to a theatre art club.
Meet Duro Ladipo, the first Nigerian actor to win international award
Duro Ladipo alter ego of Sango:
One of the most prolific performances of late Ladipo was his playing the lead role as Sango, the god of thunder, in his play, Oba Koso. The late actor was so close to reality in his delivery of the role that he was assumed to be a second Sango.
In his summation of Duro Ladipo’s role as Sango in Oba Koso, one of the sons of the legendary actor Wole Duro-Ladipo said: “My father was more spiritual than human being to the extent that it is going to be a waste of time to attempt to replicate his exploits. As a matter of fact, some Sango worshippers attest to the fact that he was another Sango of his generation. I have no reason to doubt these people because, apart from their depth in tradition, what my father used to display on stage could frighten anyone.”
Also reminisces on seeing his father on stage playing the role of Sango, Wole said: “I can recall vividly the day I saw my father on stage spitting fire. It was at a show at the Glover Hall, Lagos. When I saw him, I ran out of the hall because I could not just believe what I was seeing. I shivered! He looked entirely different from whom I know. His eyes were red as if he was possessed with a spiritual power. That day remains fresh in my memory and is instructive on the reason he was referred to as Sango of his generation.”
READ ALSO: Nigerian currency and the story of the people on them
Duro Ladipo's wife Abiodun Duro-Ladipo who acted alongside the late theatre icon
His works and contemporaries:
The late dramatist belonged to the talented group of pioneers and doyens of Nigerian theatre such as, Hubert Ogunde, Oyin Adejobi, Wole Soyinka, Ola Rotimi, Segun Olusola, Sam Akpabot, Sonnny Oti, Kola Ogunmola and Akin Euba among others.
Duro Ladipo’s works include classical operas and plays such as Oba Moro, Oba Koso, Ajagun Nla, Eda which starred Lere Paimo and earned him his sobriquet Eda Onileola, etc. Before his untimely death on March 11, 1978, Duro Ladipo wrote and produced 36 plays, published 10 plays, produced 9 gramophone records and acted in four films.
His awards:
Duro Ladipo and his group stamped their authority across the globe with capacity-filled presentations in Scotland, France, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Italy, Iran, USA, Brazil, Belgium, Austria and Holland. He received two national and three international awards. He won the first prize at the Berlin Arts Festival in Germany in 1964 and the first Commonwealth Arts Festival in 1965.
His death:
March 11, 2018, marked 40 years of the departure of the legendary actor Duro Ladipo. Like Sango’s alter ego that he was known as, the day of his death, March 11, 1978, was greeted with an unusually heavy rain with equally heavy thunderstorms which eventually heralded the passage of Duro Ladipo at 45. This was believed by many to be Sango’s way of welcoming his alter ego to heaven.
Though he is late, his wife Biodun Duro-Ladipo who played a major role in his theatre organisation as an actress has been carrying on alongside some of his children among them Wole Duro-Ladipo, who is alleged to be a replica of the late actor; Solabomi Duro-Ladipo Akinsola, have been carrying on with the legacy left behind by the late legendary actor.
What Mercy Aigbe, Fathia Balogun had to say about late Moji Olaiya on NAIJ.com TV below:
Source: Naija.ng