Adebayo Salami popularly known by his stage name Oga Bello (born 9 May 1952), is a veteran
Nigerian
Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...
actor, filmmaker, film producer, and director.
Family
Adebayo is married with two wives and Eighteen children (9 sons and 9 daughters)
Career
Although Salami is of
Kwara
Kwara State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Kwárà), is a state in Western Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kogi State, to the north by Niger state, and to the south by Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states, while its western border makes up part of the internatio ...
descent, he was born on 9 May 1953 in
Lagos State
Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 states, it is both the most populous and smallest in area. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Ben ...
where he had both his primary and secondary education.
He began his acting career in 1964, with a group called Young Concert Party, under the leadership of Ojo Ladipo, popularly known as Baba Mero. After a few years, the group changed its name to Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group, and later metamorphosed into Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group. Following the demise of Ojo Ladipo in 1978, Salami took the mantle of leadership of the group, which brought him into the limelight.
He featured in the first Yoruba film, ''Ajani Ogun'', in which the late
Adeyemi Afolayan, the father of
Kunle Afolayan
Kunle Afolayan (born 30 September 1975) is a Nigerian actor, producer and director. He is widely credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies though larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollyw ...
and
Gabriel Afolayan
Gabriel Afolayan, (born 1 March 1985) also known by his musical stage name G-Fresh, is a Nigerian actor and singer.
Education
He studied theatre arts at the University of Ibadan.
Career
He is part of the renowned Afolayan entertainment fa ...
, plays the lead role.
He also featured in a movie titled ''Kadara'' by Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade love). He later featured in the popular Nigerian comedy series ''Comedy half hour'' with the stage name Oga Bello.
He produced his first movie, ''
Ogun
Ogun or Ogoun (Yoruba: Ògún, Portuguese: Ogum, Gu; also spelled Oggun or Ogou; known as Ogún or Ogum in Latin America) is a spirit that appears in several African religions. He attempted to seize the throne after the demise of Obatala, who ...
Ajaye'', in 1985, from the stable of Awada Kerikeri.
Since 1985, he has produced, directed and featured in several Yoruba movies.
He was a pioneer member of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, and also served as president of the association.
Awards
*2014
Best of Nollywood Awards
Best of Nollywood Awards (stylised as BON Awards) is an annual film event presented by ''Best of Nollywood Magazine,'' honouring outstanding achievement in the Nigerian Movie Industry. The first edition was held on 6 December 2009, in Ikeja, Lag ...
See also
*
List of Yoruba people
This is a list of notable Yoruba people.
Film and cinema Nollywood Actors and actresses
Writers and directors
* Biyi Bandele (1967–2022), novelist, playwright and filmmaker
* Kemi Adesoye, screenwriter
* Kemi Adetiba (b. 1980), filmma ...
*
List of Nigerian actors
''This'' is a list of notable Nigerian actors.
Actors
* Ramsey Nouah
* Richard Mofe Damijo
* Osita Iheme
* O. C. Ukeje
* Jim Iyke
* Ebisan Arayi
* Olumide Oworu
* Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
* Bovi
* Olu Jacobs
* Tope Tedela
* Mike Bam ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bello, Oga
Living people
1953 births
Nigerian male film actors
Yoruba male actors
Male actors from Lagos State
People from Kwara State
20th-century Nigerian male actors
21st-century Nigerian male actors
Male actors in Yoruba cinema
Yoruba filmmakers
Yoruba-language film directors
Yoruba actors
Nigerian male television actors
Actors from Kwara State