Olatubosun Oladapo

Olatubosun Oladapo
Born	Ọlátúbọ̀sún Ọládàpọ̀ 19 September 1943 Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Other names	Tubosun Oladapo, Olatunbosun Oladapo
Alma mater	University of Lagos
Occupation	Poet, Writer, Record Producer
Parent(s)	Daniel Akanji Oladapo, Segilola Oladapo

Olatubosun Oladapo, (also known as Tubosun Oladapo, or Odidere Aiyekooto – the loquacious parrot) b. 19 September 1943, is a Yoruba language folk poet^[1][2] playwright, music producer, radio personality/broadcaster, writer, and researcher from Nigeria whose audience resides chiefly in South-West Nigeria, and speak Yoruba.

Life, Literary and Broadcasting Career

Oladapo attended Phillip's Primary School in Araromi Owu, St James’ Olanla in Akinyele, Ibadan, and the University of Lagos.^[3]

He underwent training as a teacher at St. Luke’s Teachers’ Training College Ibadan where he first started performing poetry with a presentation at the school in the 1965 festival of arts where he chanted Ijala, a Yoruba oral poetry.^[4] He completed that in 1967 and was posted to St. Davids School, Kudeti, Ibadan.

In 1969 he joined "The Sketch newspaper", GbounGboun, a Yoruba newspaper where he worked for a year before moving to Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS) in 1970 where he met the likes of Adebayo Faleti, who impacted on him greatly and Prince Adebayo Sanda, the presenter of Kaaro Ooojiire and Tiwa N’tiwa. He resigned in 1977, to found a record company, Olatubosun Records, to seek out, promote, and produce indigenous language artists and folk poets across the Yorùbá country.^[5]

He has produced more than 51 different albums and produced 200 artistes’ records using the label. They include artistes like the late Ojogbon Ogundare Foyanmu from Ogbomoso, Odolaye Aremu from Kwara, Ayanyemi Atoko wa gbowo nile, the talking drum specialist; Alabi Ogundepo, Duro Ladipo International Theatre, among others.^[6] His personal Yoruba poetry (ewi) albums which typically feature Yoruba poetry recited over an orchestra of folk music. His back-up choir once included the famous "K-12 Voices" led by the now-deceased Diipo Sodiipo.

Writing

Oladapo has released about 29 different books, some of which are used as recommended text across primary and secondary schools and Universities in Nigeria and abroad.^[7]

He is the author of print collections of poetry, Aroye Akewi(1 and 2) and Arofo Awon Omode. His first play Ogun Lakaaye and Egbade Falade, were joint prize winners of the Oxford University Press drama competition in 1970.

Traditional Titles

He is a traditional chief in the city of Ibadan (in Oyo State) and Ire-Ekiti (in Ekiti State), Nigeria.

References

1. Washington, Teresa N. (2005). Our mothers, our powers, our texts: manifestations of Àjé in Africana literature. Indiana University Press. pp. 276–. ISBN 978-0-253-34545-5. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
2. Abiodun, Taiwo (2015). "Sycophants are Taking the Shine Off Ewi". The Nation.
3. "‘Abraham Olatubosun Oladapo". Dawn Commission. 25 February 2016.
4. "‘Abraham Olatubosun Oladapo". Dawn Commission. 25 February 2016.
5. "‘Abraham Olatubosun Oladapo". Dawn Commission. 25 February 2016.
6. "‘Abraham Olatubosun Oladapo". Dawn Commission. 25 February 2016.
7. Commission, Dawn (2016). "Abraham Olatunbosun Oladapo". Dawn Commission.