Have you seen the recent Nollywood hit, “Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre”? If so, you might be curious about the talented actor who stole the show as Bashorun Ogunjimi. That’s Owobo Ogunde, a rising star in the Nigerian film industry and the son of a legendary figure in Yoruba theater.
Owobo’s journey in the world of entertainment is both inspiring and intriguing. In this blog post, we’ll unveil the man behind the character. We’ll delve into his life story, uncovering his early days, educational background, and even peek into his personal life.
Let’s explore the fascinating world of Owobo Ogunde!
Table of Contents
Owobo Ogunde’s Early Life and Background
Owobo Ogunde was born into a family deeply rooted in Nigerian theater. Coming from a close-knit family, Owobo learned the importance of tradition and family values, which still guide him today. He was born in England in 1978 and comes from Ijebu Ososa, Ogun State, Nigeria. He grew up in Lagos, and went to Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos.
He’s the youngest son of Hubert Ogunde, a famous name in Nigerian theater. Hubert Ogunde started his own theater group in 1945 and is known as “the father of Nigerian theatre.” Growing up, Owobo was always around the theater, thanks to his father.
In the 1970s, Owobo showed off his acting skills by playing Oriadekigbe in his dad’s play called “Aropin T’Enia” at Glover Hall in Lagos. This early experience probably made him love acting even more and continue his family’s amazing legacy in entertainment.
Owobo Ogunde’s childhood and education set him up for success later in life. The way he was raised, taught, and the values he learned made him ready to achieve big things in his career.
There’s more to Owobo’s story than just acting! He’s married to a wonderful woman named Adetutu Ogunde, who is a human rights lawyer. Together, they have two children, which makes Owobo’s life even more fulfilling.
Owobo Ogunde’s Career
Owobo Ogunde started acting when he was young, and he learned a lot from working with his dad in Ijebu. But when his dad passed away in 1990, Owobo lost interest in acting and show business. Looking for a new beginning, Owobo moved to England, where he stayed for thirty-two years. While there, he tried out different things and concentrated on other parts of his life.
But fate had a surprise in store for Owobo. Not long ago, while he was in London, he bumped into Kunle Afolayan, a big name in Nigerian movies. They had a chat, and Kunle told Owobo about a new project he was working on. He even said he thought Owobo would be perfect for a role in it. This chat got Owobo excited about acting again and made him think about giving it another shot.
Owobo mentioned in an interview with HipTV that he was nervous about taking on the role of Bashorun initially. He was worried about letting himself down, as well as Kunle Afolayan and his late father.
“Anikulapo: Rise of the Sceptre” marked his return to an industry he grew up in. He mentioned that he’ll be pursuing major projects from now on. Owobo also has plans to bring back Ogunde Productions, his dad’s theater company.
Owobo Ogunde’s Legacy and Impact
Owobo Ogunde’s legacy in acting is strongly tied to his family’s theater tradition, especially his father’s role in Nigerian theater. Owobo looks a lot like his dad, Hubert Ogunde, and he learned how to tell stories, understand different cultures, and work hard, just like his famous dad.
One surprising thing about Owobo Ogunde is his fluency in Yoruba even after spending so much time away from home. He picked up the Ijebu dialect while working with his late father and he’s still able to speak the dialect today. He believes it’s crucial to keep cultural traditions alive and to accurately represent characters in local movies.
Owobo embraced his father’s legacy by adding elements of his father’s style to Bashorun’s appearance. This made Bashorun’s character feel more real and meaningful to him. This became his favorite part of the whole experience.
Owobo told HIPTV how excited he got when he heard about Kunle Afolayan’s film village. Since his dad was the first to build a film village in Nigeria, it meant a lot to him to see Kunle’s vision. He was impressed by Kunle’s ideas for running the film village smoothly.
Owobo’s story shows how important family and passion are in pursuing dreams.
Conclusion
Owobo Ogunde’s story is like a good example of following in your family’s footsteps. The son of a Nigerian theater legend, Owobo seems to have been born to entertain! From his early acting days alongside his dad to his recent hit role in “Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre,” Owobo has proven he’s a talented actor in his own right.
His performance in “Anikulapo: Rise of the Sceptre” was awesome! He’s clearly got the skills and charisma to become a big star. Owobo’s story shows how much family and culture can shape someone’s passion and career in the arts.
We are excited to see what he does next.