Late Jimi Solanke.
Jimi Solanke, Nigerian legendary actor, folk singer, and story teller, has died at the age of 81.
Solanke reprteedly gave up the ghost while he was taken from his hometown of Ipara Remo in Remo north LGA, Ogun State to Babcock University Teaching Hospital.
The singer was said to have frequented the hospital from December until his demise on Monday morning.
Born on July 4, 1942, Solanke’s journey in the world of arts began at the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma in drama.
Following his graduation, the actor relocated to the United States, where he founded a drama group called The Africa Review, dedicated to promoting African culture.
His story-telling prowess soon gained international recognition, with CNN lauding him as a “master story teller” during his time in Los Angeles, California.
In 1986, he returned to Nigeria with three members of The Africa Review group to work with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Subsequently, Solanke ventured into film and earned lead roles in many of Ola Balogun’s movies.
He contributed to the production of the film adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s ‘Kongi’s Harvest’ and was featured in the 1997 movie ‘Sango’.
His most recent work, ‘Shadow Parties’, was released in 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Solanke voiced his worries about the challenges confronting artistes, just as he slammed the government for its inadequate support of the entertainment sector.
In 2021, Solanke organised training to boost folklore music in Nigeria.
