PAINFUL EXIT: JIMOH ALIU, MFR AWORO DIES AT 81 by Dauda Awwal,(UK)

DAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS Monday 28th September, 2020 Volume 201

Facts are the lifeblood of Journalism UK ISSN: 2633-2728

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PAINFUL EXIT: JIMOH ALIU, MFR AWORO DIES AT 81

by Dauda Awwal,(UK) I ATTENDED AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR JUST SIX MONTH-JIMOH ALIU -A BUS CONDUCTOR BECAME NOOLYWOOD STAR

A Former ANTP President, Jimoh Aliu, (Aworo),MFR, ECA, JP, Veteran Actor, Playwright, Dancer, filmmaker, scriptwriter, Director, Popularly known as Aworo born in Okemesi 1939, died on Thursday 17 September, 2020 at General Hospital, Ekiti after a brief illness and buried at Okemesi on 18th September 2020. Aged 81 years. Hero of travelling theatre who spent over 61 years in the theatre industry in Nigeria.

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Chief Late Jimoh Aliu (Aworo)

Sleeping is natural but waking up is grace, if you are alive today, a day shall come when you will become a dead person. Life is a journey from God to God no matter how rich you are no matter how the position you are; you can't bribe the angel of death. Pain and Death are part of life; to reject them is to reject life itself. Death does not see your religion, gender, age, character, death is graduation in life.

Jimoh Aliu died at General Hospital Ekiti State I was shocked over the death of the legendary actor, Chief Jimoh Aliu, MFR, ECA, JP Popularly known as Aworo and I asked myself many questions immediately the sad news reached me in London over the sudden death of the last pillar of the Association of TheatreArt Practitioners, ANTP in Nigeria. The vacuum he created by his death would be difficult to fill. The demise of the former ANTP President is a great loss to Ekiti, Yoruba and Nigeria.

As a journalist and also his correspondent in London He granted me many interviews and I asked him many questions during his 70th and 80th birthdays about his life, his family, ideology, his rise to fame, the truth, lies and deception, philosophy and his achievements over 61 years he joined theatre industry in Nigeria.

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Alfa Malik led the prayer in Okemesi Aliu was highly intelligent and focus, dynamic and multi-talented and verse in African Cultural knowledge Jimoh Aliu's movies became first for the unexpected cinema audience in Nigeria. Jimoh Aliu became the first actor who premieres his movie Arelu and Fopomoyo in London 28th of September 1991. He received National Merit Award of a member of the Federal Republic, MFR December 2005 from Nigerian Federal Government.

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Chief Jimoh Aliu,Oba Asa Born on November 11th, 1939 to the family of Obanla in Okemesi-Ekiti in Ekiti West local government area of Ekiti State, and he attended the elementary school for just six months .

His father, Aliu Fakoya, was a Muslim and Ifa priest who hailed from Okemesi-Ekiti but his mother, Seliat was from Iloro-Ekiti, and as an itinerant Ifa Priest and Diviner, his father took him to places like Ijebu-Ode, Ifo, Ota, Odogbolu, Sagamu, Ada, Aagba, Iresi, Otan-Aiyegbaju and Lagos. As per his siblings, Jimoh Aliu had only one junior sister, a prophetess living in Lagos called Mopelola (Mama Kola). Aworo learnt about trading,bricklaying, tailoring and driving in Lagos .

Jimoh Aliu told me in Saudi Arabia 2009

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''I attended an Elementary School for only six months but I improved my English Language through my trips to England, USA,Germany,Ghana,Liberia,Belgium, Liberia, South Africa, Benin Republic, Saudi Arabia and other countries around the world'.

He told me in 2005 in his house at Adebayo Estate, Ekiti during one of his exclusive interviews. ‘’My paternal grandmother was from ile Olokun family in Ibadan, she was selling beads. My father has helped many people traditionally. He was an expert in maternity and he used herbs to solve many spiritual problems and he prays five times daily. He believes in God and he was a Muslim. He didn't attend any school but he enrolled me to St. Peter Catholic primary school but after I started school, I always vomiting blood after six months I joined the school. Later he consulted his ifa and ifa told him that I will die if I continue the school. I was born with long thick hair (dada) anytime my parents cut it off maggots come out of my skin, then my father stopped cutting it. Ifa told my dad to withdraw me from school and he did. My mother-Seliat had six children but only two of us survived: Mopelola and I''.

Prophetess Mopelola Aliu

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Jimoh Aliu, his parents and his sibling-Mpoelola left Okemesi 1958 sojourned in different towns and finally settled in Lagos. ''One day my dad told me that we have to leave Okemesi to another town, we trekked from village to villages, town to towns till we arrived Lagos. He took me to Ijebuode,Ota, Ifo , Odogbolu, Shagamu, Aagba, Iresi, Otan, Aiyegba and finally settled in Mushin, Lagos, later I moved to Costain and I leant the trade of bricklaying, tailoring, bus conductor, hawking and driving. He also worked as a housemaid at a restaurant in Mushin, Lagos. ''I love watching cinema and stage play until I developed much interest in film production.

When I watched one of the Chief Akin Ogungbe theatre group on stage, I decided to join his group 1959'' We launched his 50 years on stage in Kuto, Abeokuta on 26 February 2005'' I interviewed Chief Akin Ogungbe 2005 in his house in Abeokuta, he taught late Jimoh Aliu theatre. He told me that Jimoh Aliu was the only person he’ trusted so much among his students’. Ogungbe died IN November 2012.

Late Chief Akin Ogungbe (1934-2012) Jimoh Aliu while with Ogungbe Theatre, he toured almost all towns in old Western Region now Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and the Ekiti States. In 1966, he and some of his CoTrainees like- Charles Sanyaolu (Agbako), Femi Adeyemo, Femi No. 1., Ojingolo and five 6

others left Ogungbe Theatre and formed a theatre group named Freedom Theatre, a year after the group was disbanded and Jimoh went to his mentor-Ogungbe seeking his permission and blessing and Aliu formed his own group-named Jimoh Aliu Concert Party in 1967 and based at Ikare Akoko in Ondo State.

He joined the Nigerian Army in 1967 as a Drama play writer. The same year, he was commissioned by Nigerian Army as a dramatist and his group was mobilized to tour the liberated areas, communicating soldiers in the war-affected areas during the civil war. ’’One Gen Adeniyi helped me to excel in the Nigerian Army, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also played a great role positively in my life in the Army in Abokuta,I HAD OPPORTUNITY TO MEET Benjamin Adekunle and Gen.Danjuma and other top military officers in Nigeria’’ Jimoh Aliu used Pidgin English as a means of communication while he was performing for the Nigerian Army in the war fronts, and performed in places like Uyo, Eket, Enugu, Onitsha, Aba, Port-Harcourt, Benin and some areas of the Northern part of Nigeria.

Jimoh Aliu and his group played and acted for the soldiers, the plays are:- Arugbo Soge, Fesoyaiye, and Ojuenimala, Sege Boy, and equally performed for the then 12 States of the federation at the Police College Hall, Kaduna during the Nigeria Army Sports week in 1975.

JIMOH ALIU THEATRE GROUP In 1984, he re-named the group from Jimoh Aliu Theatre Group to Jimoh Aliu Cultural Organisation, and apart from touring many parts of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, and Bendel (now Edo) States, he has performed for Nigerian Television, Sokoto, Minna, Jos and Akure and also produced four series of play for ATOKA the Yoruba photoplay magazine. He also performed for the prominent Yoruba Traditional Rulers, Chiefs, South-West States of Nigeria Governors, Ministers and Nigerian eminent personalities.

Jimoh Aliu gained experiences from many of the legendary actors like Hubert Ogunde.

Ogunde succeeded in the production of his movie-Aiye, every other theatre groups were motivated and produced their optical movies. ‘’Dr.Yemi Faronbi and Chief Afe Babalola played an important role in my life’’.

HIS RADIO &TELEVISION PLAYS Jimoh Aliu also produced many radio and television plays, including Orimoogunje, Afopina, Odu-Ifa, Igba-Oro, Orunmila, Orisa Adimula, Irinkerinde, Iku jare eda, Agba-arin, Laalu, and Kutupuu while his Television play, Igbo Olodumare based on a novel written by D.O. Fagunwa and commissioned by Dr Yemi Farounbi, as General Manager NTV Akure marked a watershed in his career. The programme was such a huge success in Ondo State and represents till today, the most creative programme by any Television Station in Ondo State.

Igbo Olodumare was shown in all the Yoruba speaking states having been on NTA Ilorin, NTA 7

Abeokuta, NTA Akure and BCOS-TV, Ibadan. He starred Ojo Arowosafe as Fadeyi Oloro, Folake Aliu as Orisabunmi and Himself as Aworo.

He became famous for his hit TV productions, "Arelu" (1986) and "Yanpon Yanrin",(1988) which bore famous characters like Fadeyi Oloro, Orisabunmi and Aworo. Arelu motivated Adetunji Olurin, Former military Governor of Oyo state from 1992 to 1993. He assisted Jimoh Aliu with N500,000 to shoot Agba Arin.

The other deceased television drama series are Igba Oro produced by Yemi Farounbi Labs Deroy Centre Limited, Ibadan was shown on OSRC-TV Ibadan, NTA Abeokuta, NTA Ikeja, OSRC TV Akure and NTA Ilorin.

He also produced Celluloid films like- AGBA ARIN (1986), OMIRAN, FOPOMOYO and Home Videos like- EWA, EKUN MERAN, EEGUN ELEGUN, OKO ARO, SANGBAFO, OTO GE and host of others and he is a resourceful actor, who featured in many Ogunde, Awada Kerikeri group led by ADEBAYO Salami (Oga Bello), Isola Ogunsola, (I. Sho Pepper, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love), Akin Ogungbe, Moses Olaoya Adejumo (Baba Sala) Bayo Shorunmu (Benton) films as actor, make-up artist, costume designer. Jimoh Aliu starred King Sunny Ade in Fopomoyo 1991. Taiye Matidi introduced King Sunny Ade to the Yoruba traditional theatre. He joined Jimoh Aliu as Secretary 1974.Jimoh Aliu also in a film titled DANDAN L’ESAN 2010 written and produced by Dauda Awwal .Aiu also produced EKO O NIBAJE 2005.

Jimoh Aliu told me ''Tunde Kelani and his colleagues supplied technical experts and equipment for Agbaarin, the main location of the movie was Oshogbo, I created a wonderful set, props, dramatic characters in that epic movie, Alhaji, I will give you Tunde Kelani's telephone number for further information, something happened to that film, could you believe that more than sixty rolls of Kodak Eastman colour 400ft exposed celluloid films with audiotapes of Agbaarin which must be processed in London got missing at the Murtala International Airport, Lagos and we informed the authorities at the Murtala International Airport. I knew it was not an ordinary incident. Mr Wale Fanu reported the incident to us and we informed Dr Yemi Faronbi, Faronbi felt sad and he had to provide funds and we went back to locations to re-shoot the Agba Arin and I succeeded and God rewarded those bad people behind it badly''.

FORMATION OF ANTP Formation of Association of Nigeria Theatre-Arts Practitioners, ANTP was formed in 1977 at University of Ibadan under the watch of Prof.J.A Adedeji, an indigene of Okemesi, Ekiti and an uncle of the late Chief Jimoh Aliu. The Prof. advised the theatre leaders to have an official organization, The late Chief Jimoh Aliu went to the late Hubert Ogunde and informed him about the new development, Ogunde was very happy and welcomed the initiative and he invited other prominent theatre leaders like Oyin Adejobi,Duro Ladipo,Ayinla Olumegbon,Akin Ogungbe,Segun Olubukun,Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala) Adebayo Faleti, this 8

group was called the eight leaders that groomed the formation of Association of Nigeria-Arts Theatre,ANTP Known today. It was Jimoh Aliu who added ‘Arts’ to the name Ogunde was chosen as life president while Tubosun Odusi was appointed as the Secretary.Oyin Adejobi as Chairman,Moses Olaiya as treasurer of the group. Ogunde ruled the Association for 17 years without registration of the group. (It was Chief Jimoh Aliu who registered the Association in Abuja 1995) Ogunde died 4 April 1990,the caretaker was appointed and his administration was dissolved on 26 th April 1990.Adeyemi Afolayan (Adelove) was appointed as new president of the group. He died in 1996 and Late Jimoh Aliu became ANTP President. Victor Ashaolu was appointed as National Secretary-General who instituted a legal action against the illegal dissolution of the Jimoh Aliu’s Executive Council Administration that lapsed 16 years from March 9 th 1998 to January.31st 2014 that led to formation of Theatre and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, TAMPAN. Prince Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami and Dele Odule pulled out from the ANTP and formed TAMPAN. JIMOH ALIU’S ACHIEVEMENT DURING HIS 4 YEARS TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF ANTP 1. Registration of the Association with the name Association of Nigeria Theartre-Arts Practitioners.

2. Accruement of National Secretariat at Room No.68, National Art Theatre Iganmu, Lagos.

3. Creation of local Government, association in Nigeria

Zonal

Chapters in all states that constituted the

4. Arranged and conducted the first quadrennial delegates conference in September 1996 at Akure, ondo state, Nigeria 5. Creation of ANTP WOMEN’S WING 6. He was also the Vice Chairman, ANTP Board of Trustee.

Besides ANTP,jimoh Aliu was A member of Odua Liberation Movement A member of Odua People’s congress Patron Yoruba Community, Saudi Arabia Oba Asa of Yoruba land Deputy Control-General South-West, Vigilante Group of Nigeria.

I am a living witness to many celebration of his birthday in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and London.

Jimoh Aliu celebrated his birthday in different states in Nigeria like Ibadan,Oyo,Ekiti,Lagos States

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‘’I love celebrating my birthday in different states and countries, using it as an avenue to evaluate my standing with prominent Nigerians and also to know more people and know what people would say about my dignity and attitude’’ .

Many tributes continued to pour in on the social media for the legendary theatre actor from the prominent Nigerians such as former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigerian vice President, Prof.Yemi Osibajo, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Femi Falana, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lmidi Adeyemi, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, ANTP President, Adewale Elesho, TAMPAN President, Bolaji Amusan, Former ANTP President, Prince Jide Kosoko, Former ANTP President, Adebayo Salami, Yinka Qadri, Taiwo Hasan, Lanre Hasan, Peju Ogunmola, Nike Peller, Maryam Bakare (Aponbepore), Chief Lere Paimo, Babatunde Omidina, Shita Bay, Foluke Daramola, Nigerian Nollywood Actors and Actresses, Transport Union, Okada Union, Ekiti, Film producers, Journalists, Dr.Daud Awwal, Dupe Oshikanlu, Honourable Members of Ekiti House of Assembly, Traditionalists, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Comedians, musicians, Alh. Kolligton Ayinla, Queen Salawa Abeni, Christian Association, Muslim Associations, All ANTP members from 36 states, Vigilante Group of Nigeria,Dal News,London,BBC News.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT HIM Jimoh Aliu is a legendary Actor and my father. May God rest him in peace-Peju Ogunmola Jimoh Aliu will be remembered-Bola Obot Jimoh Aliu was like my father. May God rest him in peace-Mariam Bakare Aponbepore My husband just died like that, he sick briefly and we took him to Afe Babalola's Hospital and later he was admitted into Ekiti General Hospital, he died on Thursday afternoon 17th September 2020. I have become widow, my husband is a committed husband. He was so nice he was a good husband, caring he has fulfilled his life, he lived well and died peacefully.

May Almighty Allah grant him Aljannah, Jimoh Aliu last wife-Alhaja Bola Suebat Jimoh Aliu He loves all his wives and his children. He was a community leader and icon of theatre in Nigeria. May God rest him in peace, his fifth wife -Shade Jimoh Aliu.

He helped me to relocate to the United Kingdom. May Almighty Allah be pleased with him, A man of many people, he has left us for God, my dad called me at least twice in a week, his son-Mashood Jimoh Aliu Nigerian filmmakers should emulate good characters of my father; no doubt my Dad played a great role in the Yoruba traditional theatre in Nigeria. His name has been written in gold.

He cares for all of us. May Almighty Allah rest him in peace, his son-Muslihu Jimoh Aliu May God rest him in peace-Micheal Jmoh Aliu

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My Dad is a man of people and Former ANTP President; He cared for us and prayed for us.

May God rest him in peace,his son-Razaq Jimoh Aliu I joined Chief Jimoh Aliu 1973 as secretary. Jimoh Aliu is dynamic and multi-talented leader; he has an in-depth knowledge of theatre theory and practical without graduating from film school. Aliu was very intelligent and he loved community. May his soul rest in peace, his staff-Taiye Matidi.

Jimoh Aliu was a big star, the fall of a big star from the galaxy of Nollywood industry, it may be very difficult to see someone who loves ANTP Again because of his uncommon compassion and his influence among the leaders of the Nollywood stars in Nigeria. He played a strong and great role in the Yoruba traditional theatre.

You can be somebody important in life without knowing anybody as far as you are determined and focused on prayer and hardworking. Chief Jimoh Aliu was a hardworking person and prayerful. Everyone has a weakness and strength. No one is perfect in this world.

I condole with the family of the deceased with them the emotional strength to overcome this great loss. May Almighty Allah grant his gentle soul eternal peace, his London Correspondent -Dr Daud Awwal I am very sad, my father was a good father, caring, a good Muslim, prayerful, fear God,his daughter-Monsurat Jimoh Aliu

HIS MARBLE WORDS Please, don’t be involved in hypocrisy; you are seeing now, a time shall come when we shall never meet again-Jimoh Aliu I fear God all the time,the only house remaining for me to build is coffin-Jimoh Aliu I was a bus conductor and hawker in lagos,I never thought I will become famous globally, Alhamdulillaahi-Jimoh Aliu Today I dine with Presidents,Governors,Ministers,rich,kings,prominent people in Nigeria,God is great-Jimoh Aliu Oh Lord, please appoint one or two of my children Alfanla (Prophet) -Jimoh Aliu May God forgive Chief Jimoh Aliu-His Ex-wife-Lola Aliu Jimoh Aliu was married with children.

His Wives were both alive and deceased:LUZIA, SIMIAT, ISIWAT, IDOWU, GRACE, TAIBAT, SADE, MOJISOLA, ADUKE, LOLA, BOLA. 11

His Children both alive and deceased.

1.ABADA JIMOH ALIU, 2.WALE JIMOH ALIU 3.MASHOOD JIMOH ALIU 4. IYABO JIMOH ALIU, 5.MUSILIU JIMOH ALIU, 6.SIDIKAT JIMOH ALIU, 7.SAKIRAT JIMOH ALIU, 8.SERIFAT JIMOH ALIU, 9.MONSURAT JIMOH ALIU, 10. RASAQ, JAMIU JIMH ALIU, 11.MONSURUDEEN JIMOH ALIU, 12. FATIMO JIMOH ALIU, 13.TUNJI JIMOH ALIU, 14.MARIAM JIMOH ALIU, 15.BIDEMI JIMOH ALIU, 16.ENITAN JIMOH ALIU, 17.TAIWO JIMOH ALIU (Male) 18.KEHINDEJIMOH ALIU (Male), 19.TAIWO JIMOH ALIU (Female) 20.KEHINDE JIMOH ALIU (Female), 21.IDOWU JIMOH ALIU, 22.JIBRIL JIMOH ALIU, 23.GANIYU JIMOH ALIU, 24.TAWAKALITU JIMOH ALIU, 25.TAJIDEEN JIMOH ALIU, 12

26 AKEEM JIMOH ALIU, 27.FAUSAT JIMOH ALIU, 28. RASHEED JIMOH ALIU, 29.KUDIRAT JIMOH ALIU, 30.REMILEKUN JIMOH ALIU, 31.ADIJAT JIMOH ALIU, 32.MICHAEL JIMOH ALIU, 33.OLASUNKANMI JIMOH ALIU, OLUWASEGUN JIMOH ALIU BARAKAT JIMOH ALIU, .

Jimoh Aliu has many friends, to mention, but few within the Artistes circle: Late Ojo Ladipo (Baba Mero), Isola Ogunsola (Isho. Pepper), Adeyemo Afolayan (Adelove), Chief Wole Ogundipe of the blessed memories and Chief Lere Paimo (Eda Onileola).

AWARDS Legendary Actor, Chief Jimoh Aliu popularly known as Aworo has received more than 300 awards from various organizations local and international . A Former Nigerian President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo recognized his talent and awarded him Member of Federal Republic, MFR. He was honoured with many National, State and corporate awards, but the prominent ones areMEMBER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC (MFR); EKITI CULTURAL AMBASSADOR (ECA).

MEMORY PICTURES

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L-R Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti with Aliu’s family

ANTP President,Adewale Elesho in the middle FIDAU PRAYER PICTURES

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Sympathizers

MEMORY PICTURS

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Late Jimoh Aliu with Ooni of Ife,Oba Ogunwusi Enitan

Jimoh Aliu with Noolywood Actors and Actresses

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Jimoh Aliu with Noolywood Stars

R-L:Kanran,Aliu and Dupe

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L-R:Aliu,Dr.Daud Awwal,Dupe Oshikanlu,Moshood Jimoh Aliu May Almighty Allah grant his gentle soul Aljannah.Amen.

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