Tinubu Mourns Death Of Playwright, Prof Akinwunmi

LAGOS FEBRUARY 18TH (NEWSRANGERS)-All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has mourned the passing of playwright, author and culture activist, Prof. Akinwunmi Isola, describing it a huge loss.
In a statement last night by his Media Office, Asiwaju said: “The death of Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola saddens me. It is a huge loss.
“Prof. Ishola earned reputation for his writing and work in the promotion of Yoruba language.
“To his credit are many celebrated works like Efunsetan Aniwura, Oleku, Kosegbe, Saworoide and Agogo Eewo
“Coming not too long after the death of Alagba Adebayo Faleti, we have lost another Yoruba literary scholar and culture icon.
“Though late Prof. Ishola was younger, both of them were like Siamese Twins. Both were playwrights and authors. Both worked relentlessly for the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition.
“Alagba Faleti was born in Agbo-Oye in Oyo State and Prof. Ishola in the capital, Ibadan, both earned their stripes and lived in Ibadan.
“I commiserate with the family of Prof. Ishola for this loss. I mourn with Governor Abiola Ajimobi. May the soul of Prof. Ishola rest in peace.”
Born in Ibadan in 1939, he attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College, and later studied at the University of Ibadan, where he graduated with a B. A. in French.
In 1978, he earned his M.A. in Yoruba literature from the University of Lagos before starting academic work as a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
In 1991, he was appointed a Professor at Obafemi Awolowo University.
Prof Isola wrote his first play, Efúnṣetán Aníwúra, during 1961 and 1962, while still a student at the University of Ibadan, which was followed by a novel O Leku.
The play said to gain popularity at one performance in Ibadan was reportedly watched by forty thousand people.
It was Prof Isola, who, in 1986, wrote and composed the college anthem that is currently being sung at Wesley College, Ibadan.
After the first play, he later wrote a number of plays and novels, and also, he went into broadcasting, and later created a production company which had turned a number of his plays into television dramas and films.
Prof Isola also wrote in English but was later translated to Yoruba, as he said his target audience is the Yoruba.
In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the National Merit Award and the Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters in 2000.
He was also visiting a professor at the University of Georgia, United States.
His popular works include: Efúnṣetán Aníwúra, Iyálóde Ìbàdàn, and Tinúubú, Ìyálóde Ẹgbá – 1970; Madam Tinubu – 1998; Ogún ọmọdé – 1990; Belly Bellows – 2009; and Herbert Macaulay and the Spirit of Lagos – 2009.

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