Kola Oyewo was an iconic Nigerian actor, dramatist, filmmaker, and scholar who left an indelible mark on African theatre and cinema across a career spanning over six decades.
He was born into a royal family on March 27, 1946, in Oba-Ile, Osun State, the legendary actor passed away at 80 on June 12, 2026. He successfully balanced a career in professional acting with a highly distinguished career in academia.
See 10 essential facts about his life and legacy:
1. He grew up heavily exposed to Yoruba traditions while living in the palace with his uncle, who was the king of Oba-Ile. This cultural immersion deeply shaped his mastery of traditional acting.
2. His professional acting journey kicked off in 1964 at just 18 years old when he joined the legendary Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group.
3. He achieved continental acclaim for his powerful portrayal of King Odewale in The Gods Are Not to Blame, a monumental stage adaptation written by Chief Ola Rotimi.
5. Despite his early theatrical success, he did not pursue higher education until later in life. He sat his GCE exams and entered university as a mature student at 46.
5. He famously described himself as a “hybrid” practitioner because he spent decades simultaneously practising theatre on stage and studying its theory in classrooms.
6. In a rare and inspiring experience during his undergraduate days at Obafemi Awolowo University, he actually shared a classroom and took lectures alongside his own biological son.
7. He steadily advanced his education at the University of Ibadan, earning a Master of Arts and eventually a PhD in Drama at the age of 59.
8. Beyond the stage, he successfully transitioned into mainstream Nollywood. He starred in cinematic Yoruba classics such as Tunde Kelani’s Saworoide, Agogo Eewo, Koseegbe, and Sango.
9. He served as a senior lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University until 2011, later becoming the Head of Department for Dramatic Arts at Redeemer’s University, and subsequently lecturing at Elizade University.
10. On his 80th birthday, he was officially honoured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who praised him as a national treasure and a worthy ambassador of Nigerian storytelling.
