Another popular Yoruba actor, Folake Aremu, popularly known as Orisabunmi, has passed on. She died at the age of 60.
The Kwara born actress dies four months after the death of her ex-husband, Jimoh Aliu, who was popularly known as Aworo.
President of the Theatre Arts And Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) Bolaji Amusan, known as Mr. Latin, confirmed she died on Tuesday night.
Also, another senior TAMPAN member Tunde Ola-Yusuff stated that “She left without a goodbye” in a post on social media.
She was well known from the 80s for her roles as a priestess, pacifist, or the good witch in movies. She has played some iconic roles like ‘Asabi’ in “Oluwerimagboojo”, and the priestess in “Ayanmo Eda”.
Years after her divorce from her ex-husband, she still had something good to say about him. In an interview with a news media, she said:
“We had fulfilled our time as a couple. Beyond that, he was a father figure to me. He mentored me in the film and theatre industry. All I can say about him is that he was a good father. I cannot forget him and what he stood for. Today, people know me as Orisabumi. That is as a result of the grace of God and the goodwill of Baba Jimoh Aliu. God gave me fame through him.”
The news of the death which threw the Nigeria theatre industry into sadness was also confirmed by a family source.
The veteran actress died at age 60 at her residence in Ibadan, Oyo State. She was said to have died after a brief illness.
Born on October 10, 1960, in Ilu Ola, Kwara State, Orisabunmi went to Ilu Ola Primary School and Secondary Commercial College.
Prince Jide Kosoko, who also confirmed her death to Ton Wednesday, expressed grief and prayed to God for the repose of her soul.
Kosoko, who described her death as a terrible blow to the Nigerian theatre arts industry, also prayed for God to comfort her family members and her loved ones.
He said, “No doubt, Folake was a thoroughbred actress. She was an amazon in the industry and we respected and valued her for her contribution. She gave her all to her career and she was recognised for her worth.”
She was well known since the 80s for her roles as a priestess, pacifist and the good witch in movies.
The Guardian/The Punch
