Barely one week after the remains of popular actor and king of Oja Village, Dejumo Lewis, was committed to mother Earth, the arts community was thrown into another mourning mood on Monday, as it lost the veteran actor, dramatist, folk singer, poet, and playwright, Jimi Solanke, at the age of 81.
The artiste was said to have died during a brief illness. Since his demise, writers, directors, actors and others in the arts community have continued to pay tributes to one of the greatest actors Nigeria has produced.
He was an acting ‘genius’, who stoked patriotism with his unswerving songs of hope. They noted that the culture ambassador extraordinaire has left an indelible imprint on the history of African arts and will be remembered for his contributions to the enrichment of the nation’s cultural heritage.
Mourning the late actor, Prof Segun Ojewuyi of Southern Illinois University, said: “He gave us music with the colours of the earth. He danced, the faces of the gods etched in dust. Then, he rose like a giant on the stage.”
The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) has also extended its deepest condolences to the family, friends and the entire arts community in Africa on the passing of one of the esteemed veterans and arts practitioner.
The statement by CBAAC said: “Uncle Jimi’s passions and contributions to the Arts transcended mere craftsmanship. They were sources of inspiration and enlightenment that ignited a spark in others which thereby fostered a creative spirit that will continue to resonate for generations to come.
“Among our several fond memories of the late thespian at CBAAC was when he served as Chairman at our 2021 Public Lecture on ‘African Hairstyles, Dress Culture and Fashion in Contemporary Times’ held in Ibadan, Oyo State -October, 2021.
“He was also a lead presenter at our 2021 International Conference titled: ‘The Renaissance of African Culture: Music, Crafts, Language, Literature and Folklore’, which held in Lagos – December, 2021. His paper, titled, ‘African Folklore and its significance in Contemporary Times’ was arguably the most interesting session we had at the conference. At the insistence of the participants, he had to re-present the paper on the second day of the conference.”
The statement said, “we are, indeed, grateful to have experienced his artistic prowess first hand and this has in no small way enriched our Cultural landscape with his unique perspectives and talents.
“As we reflect on his life, we honour the impacts he has had on the arts community and express gratitude for the invaluable gifts he shared with the world. May his artistic legacies live on as a testament to a life well-lived,” the statement concluded.
The Managing Director, Evergreen Musical Company, Bimbo Esho, said, “Solanke was one of Africa’s most accomplished performing artistes. He was a man of different parts: a musician, poet, thespian, educationist, producer, cultural ambassador, etc.” She said: “One can’t take away baba’s gentle mien, humility and his omoluabi trait, which many of us have imbibed today.
“For those of us who understand what it means to lose an icon in our society, Pa Jimi’s death can be likened to a whole Museum of Art and Music been set ablaze.”
Describing her best moment with the late artiste, said it would be called a ‘Last Super’ and this was in 2022, when he clocked 80 years. “Together, our company, Evergreen Musical Company, and Ogun State government, under the leadership of Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun decided to give him a state banquet celebration to appreciate baba’s contribution to the promotion of arts and culture. The event, which had in attendance most top government functionaries and friends of baba remains till date, unforgettable moment. I join millions around the world to celebrate this great man and pray that he finds peace at the bosom of his creator.”
Recalling Solanke’s sonorous voice, impressive gesticulations, near perfect mimicry and electrifying dances, a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, voice-over artist and writer, Ropo Ewenla, said: “he was an icon in every sense of the word. He was an enigma. He was an institution. There goes a library; a heritage.”
Ewenla continued, “Uncle Jimi Solanke was a rare breed in his simplicity and accommodating nature. He would forever be present in our memories – in his songs that speak to our everyday reality, in his body of visual arts (something most people are not aware of), in his stage crafts, in his written works. I am honoured to have ever worked with him before. He was an actor’s actor. He was a jack of all trades and master of all.”
The actor and media personality said, “I feel honoured that he made me feel like an equal most of the times we spent together. In fact, I call him ‘A-Jimmy Show’ and maintain that he is ‘my boy’. And he would retort, “Omo ake ni iwo boy yi” (you are a rascal, you this boy). I will miss him dearly.”
For the comedian, Seyi Law, “life truly is a journey that ends. The beginning and its end we don’t know. Goodnight, Uncle Jimi Solanke.”The musician, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, wrote in his X handle, @Femiakuti, “a great wonderful soul has departed. He brought love and joy wherever he went. We pray for peace love and strength for his family and loved ones.”
While saying that he is not bold enough to announce Solanke’s passage, the chief executive of Concrete Communications Limited, Sir ‘Semoore Badejo, said: “I am earnestly waiting for a refutal. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
Badejo said, “the world has lost a golden, unique, distinct voice!”
According to Dr Abiodun Wahab Ogidan of Radio Nigeria, Ibadan, “he was an icon of Nigerian creative arts, of folklore and Yoruba musicals… He was such a rare lively personality.”
For Abiodun Ifafore, a University of Ibadan-trained theatre artiste, “gradually the titans are answering the call. May his soul rest in peace.” Solanke’s storytelling prowess was well celebrated. His performances were marked by passion and excellence, earning him recognition far and wide. Passionate about the dearth of folk songs, he organised training to boost folklore music in Nigeria in 2021.
“In all the arts that l have taken as my profession, music, theatre, dance, I make sure that l interpret roles painstakingly. That is the job of an actor. The reason why l am teaching and training stage actors is so they will be able to play with me. We have different schools of acting in Nigeria today. I believe they are rolling out actors in large numbers. We have customised acting in this land and our special acting style has come to stay,” he said in an interview to celebrate his 78th birthday.
Baba Agba, as he was widely known by his numerous fans across the country, Solanke was born July 4, 1942, in Lagos. From his early age, he had begun to hold audiences bound by his theatrics, starting from his school performances during Parents and Teachers’ Day. He was sneaking into Abalabi Nite Club, Olorunsogo to sing with Roy Chicago’s Band.
Between 1961 and 1963, when he entered the School of Drama, he was just enjoying himself singing with any band available, Victor Faulkner’s band, Zen Phillip and the Blue Nine at the Central Hotel, the Eddy Okonta band at Paradise Club in Gbagi area of lbadan. Finally, he ended up with Chris Ajilo and the Cubanos at the Gangan Nite Club.
He also worked with many global musicians, including Chubby Checker of Twist fame and Millicent Small of Rock Steady years later. He was with Ralph MacDonald, the lead voice in the chartbuster, Ona La, The Path.
He was one of the first set of graduands of the School of Drama, University of Ibadan, which later became the Department of Theatre Arts. Solanke obtained a diploma in drama at the University of Ibadan
Mentored differently by theatre experts such as, Wole Soyinka, Ola Rotimi, Akin Euba, Peggy Harper, Dapo Adelugba and Demas Nwoko, upon graduation from Ibadan, he relocated to the United States, where he founded a drama group called The Africa Review, dedicated to promoting African culture.
He was to later join the Department of Dramatic Arts, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University OAU) in 1969. Many of his admirers still recall with nostalgia, his epic performances at the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV, Ibadan) in the 1960s, his unforgettable stagecraft at the World Festival of Negro Arts in Senegal and the amazing skills he exhibited at the Pan-African Cultural Festival in Algeria, all in the 1970s.
Also to his credit were brilliant performances in such plays as Death and the King’s Horseman, Kurunmi, Kongi’s Harvest, The Divorce and Ovaramwen Nogbaisi.
He also starred in several shows on Nigerian Television (NTA) including The Bar Beach Show, For Better for Worse, Village Headmaster, Family Scene on Lagos Television (LTV), Children’s Half Hour, Storyland, African Stories on Africa Independent Television (AIT), Sango – The movie and many others.
He was at different times described by the Oxford Times and the New York Times as a ‘Skilled Nigerian Actor’ and an ‘Excellent Troupe’ respectively, owing to his performance of Wole Soyinka’s Kongi’s Harvest, during a tour of Europe.
“I am grateful for the gift of voice: When l sing, those who recognise me will say ‘that is Jimi Solanke.’ I select the songs l sing, l choose the roles l play. I am not that interested in counting how many roles one has played. I lived in Hollywood before and you do not count your rating based on how many roles one has played. One first time role can turn your life around. As for dance, this whole body of mine has created dance expressions both at home and abroad. These days my fear with dance is that the bones inside my body are already complaining. Then l dance like an elder, yet l can dance,” he had said in an earlier interview granted the media.
In his over six decades on stage, he continued to examine Nigerian values and moral decay with extraordinary structure and riveting dialogue — right to his last months.
Easily recognised by many for his unique style of reciting folktales with his booming golden voice backed up with guitars, Jimi Solanke sang in different tones, using passionate gesticulations and mimicry to drive the message home to his young and not so young listeners. He was a songwriter, actor, performer, visual artist, poet and storyteller extraordinaire.
As a singer, he wrote songs that the listener could find a message in or an aspect of our culture. “Any type of music I play, some cultural seed must be sewn into it. People started complimenting me a long time ago. I respect my audience, and l do not want to disappoint them. In cases like us, l mean artists in our genre, we remain in the memory of our fans and friends and that is special. Till tomorrow I must maintain high-quality integrity. Dollars do not make an artist. All aspects of humanity that surround him are important,” he said in the interview.
Some of his evergreen folksongs include Ojoje, Baba Agba, Osupa, Bare Ni Joye, Bi a Ba Jeko, Oil Boom Palava, Omiyale, Onile Gogoro, Eje ka jo, Jenrokan, Na today you come and he was a consultant for Theatre for Development, UNICEF, UNFPA, Women and Children’s Health.
Pa Solanke, who has inspired many artists and performers, was still performing on stage towards the end of last year, and had been a recurrent performer at the EnioBanke Festival, organised by Beautiful Nubia.
He is survived by his wife, Toyin Solanke, children and grandchildren, and his passing marks the end of an era in Nigerian entertainment, leaving a void that will be felt for years to come.
