Akeem Lasisi
No producer or director needed to audition him for the role of a king or wealthy man.
His physique and elegance naturally made him the choice.
What about his effortless talent that smashed any royally role, making the audience or viewers fall in love with him till the end of drama?
Now, that great artistic asset is gone, at least physically, as ever-robust actor, Olusegun Aderemi, aka Chief Kanran, has passed away.
Although his family have yet to issue a statement on the passage, Kanran died at the age of 70.
He has thus joined the expansive club of heavenly talents such as Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Moses Adejumo aka Baba Sala, Tajudeen Gbadamosi aka Jacob, and many more like Baba Suwe, Dagunro, Fadeyi Oloro as well as Sisi Quadri, who had left this shore before him.
On television, he memorably portrayed Alaafin Kanran in a drama aired on Lagos Television on October 1, 1988, thus earning his popular tag.
Kanran’s death was announced by movie executive and producer Seun Oloketuyi.
He, on Friday, wrote in an IG post: “Popular actor Segun Remi popularly known as Chief Kanran died Friday morning. Details soon.”
Before his death, Kanran had stepped aside from limelight.
He was not seen in many productions whether stage or film.
He had spoken about the politics of the profession as part of what affected him.
He had, however, also been a victim of stardom without wealth, which is the bane of much of the Nigerian entertainment industry.
“I stepped aside from film-making because of some reasons. There is politics everywhere and different cliques as well, even in our profession.
“Some people in the industry see people like me as a threat because I will not do anything that is not professional and that has made some people to be upset with me,” he had told THE PUNCH in an interview.
Aderemi began his career on stage before moving into television and film, appearing in numerous Yoruba stage productions and gaining prominence as part of a popular NTA drama series.
His fame grew further with his roles in Yoruba movies.
Over the years, he featured in many notable films, including ‘Ewe Orun’, ‘Aiye’, ‘Efunsetan Aniwura’, ‘Agbaarin’, and ‘Bata Wahala’.
He was widely recognised for portraying authoritative characters, often as a king, chief, or village elder.
Kanran, renowned for often portraying wealthy characters on screen, began his professional acting career in 1975.
He took on the title role in Kurunmi, a play by Prof. Ola Rotimi, and featured in several episodes of Mirror in the Sun, marking his shift from stage to television. He also played a businessman in the soap opera Images.
His major breakthrough came on stage with Langbodo, Nigeria’s drama entry for Festac ’77, performed at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
