Popular Yoruba actor, Dagunro, is dead.
He died in Lagos on Wednesday at the age of 70.
Although details of the incident have not been known, his colleagues have committed this in some online posts.
Another seasoned actor, Said Balogun, noted in an IG post:
‘So Sad. Good night, Dagunro. May your soul rest in peace.’
Although he was based in Lagos where he passed away, he was a native of Osogbo, Osun State.
This indicates that he shared a root with several acclaimed creative personalities the town and other adjoining places that constitute the Osogbo Art School have produced.
Some top members of the school, who have also passed on, are Duro Ladipo – whom Dagunro acknowledged to have taught him at a point – Oyin Adejobi, also a dramatist; Yekini Ajileye, a producer; and Twins Seven-Seven, a visual artist.
Among the living legends from the Osogbo Art School, however, are Muraina Oyelami (visual artist and drummer); Jimoh Buraimo (visual artist) and Karimu Adepoju, a veteran actor popularly called Baba Wande.
Dagunro was famous for cultural films that often project Yoruba traditional powers.
Some of his films are ‘Osa Eleye’, JJC (Sesede) and ‘Maalu Funfun’.
On how he got into the industry, Dagunro had noted in an interview with ‘Gbajumo’, “When you look up to someone as a role model and you like what the person does and you want to do it, God can give you the permission to do it. I looked up to the late Duro Ladipo. He was my teacher in school.
”I started acting before I finished primary 6, I used to do ‘Ajiwere’ during fasting. The children I used for ‘Ajiwere’, I also use them for theatre. I will take them to school, meet the headmaster, who collects money on our behalf and we perform for them. Though, I learnt a trade – mechanic. After my freedom, I came to Lagos, but, I was still interested in theatre. I met a man called Sulaimon, he used to dance with his troupe, I asked him to let me add theatre and I did.
“Some younger practitioners have seen me as an example and they are now at the top of their career. People like Murphy Afolabi, Muyideen Oladapo (Lala), Lukmon Raji, Kamiliu Compo, Ademola Tijani and many more learnt from me. They are all on the field now, upholding theatre and, when they work, people do appreciate it.”
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