By Suara Sherif
His Royal Highness Oba Gbenga Gbadebo Sonuga, the Fadesewa of Simawa in Ogun State and a transformative figure in Nigeria’s cultural administration, has passed away at the age of 82. Affectionately known as “Baba Culture” and “Oba Art & Culture,” his death was announced in a tribute by artist Mufu Onifade, PhD.
Before his coronation, Oba Sonuga served as Director of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, where he ran what is widely described as a “golden era” from 1984 until 1994. He is credited with restructuring the council from a body known primarily for dance performances into a multifaceted institution with specialized departments covering Design, Performing Arts, Architecture and Monuments, and Festivals. Under his leadership, Lagos State won the overall first prize at the 1994 National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST).
His path to cultural leadership was unconventional. After graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1971 with a degree in Theatre Arts, he spent a decade training under the renowned architect and artist Demas Nwoko at the New Culture Studios in Ibadan. This apprenticeship, coupled with his time under the tutelage of Prof. Wole Soyinka, whom he fondly called “Mon Prof,” prepared him for a career that would leave an indelible mark on the sector.
Beyond administration, Oba Sonuga was a hands-on producer. In 1986, he led the state troupe on an international tour of ORI, written and directed by Funmi Odusolu, to the United States. He also wrote and produced SALT for the UNESCO-declared World Decade for Cultural Development in 1989, a play performed for one night only at the National Theatre Main Bowl. Following his departure from public service, he founded the International Centre for the Arts, Lagos (ICAL), through which he led cultural advocacy and took troupes to Austria, Mozambique, the UK, and the USA.
A prolific writer and advocate, Oba Sonuga authored Deep As The Ocean: An Auto-Photo-Biography in Three Cycles and Introduction to Cultural Activism in Nigeria, consistently arguing that culture producers must engage with politicians to realize the sector’s potential. He was crowned the Fadesewa of Simawa, Ogbodo I, and was recently honored as a cultural icon by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) at the 2025 Lagos Book & Art Festival, marking his 80th year. He is remembered as a mentor, a pioneering administrator, and a royal custodian of Nigerian heritage.
