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Akinwunmi Isola

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Akinwumi Isola
Born(1939-12-24)December 24, 1939
Ibadan, Nigeria
DiedFebruary 17, 2018(2018-02-17) (aged 78)
Ibadan, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma materUniversity of Ibadan
Occupations
  • Playwright
  • novelist
  • actor
  • scholar
Known forWriting in and promoting the Yoruba language
AwardsNational Merit Award
Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters

Akinwumi Isola Listenⓘ(24 December 1939[1][2] – 17 February 2018) was a Yoruba playwright, novelist, actor, dramatist, culture activist and scholar.[3] He was known for his writing in, and his work in promoting, the Yoruba language.[4] As an actor, he was known for Agogo Eèwò (2002), Efunsetan Aniwura (1981) and Efunsetan Aniwura (2005).

Early life and career

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Isola was born in Ibadan in 1939. He attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College. He then studied at the University of Ibadan, earning a B.A. in French.[5][6]

He was appointed professor at Obafemi Awolowo University in 1991. Isola wrote his first play, Efunsetan Aniwura,[7] during 1961-62 while still a student at the University of Ibadan. This was followed by a novel, O Le Ku. In 1986, he wrote and composed the college anthem that is currently sung in Wesley College Ibadan.[8][9][10]

He went on to write a number of plays and novels. He broke into broadcasting, creating a production company that has turned a number of his plays into television dramas and films. Though he claimed, "my target audience are Yorubas", Isola also wrote in English[11] and translated to Yoruba.[4] He spent his lifetime producing works that promoted the Yoruba language.[12]

On May 4, 2015, his book Herbert Macaulay and the Spirit of Lagos was staged at the Performing Arts Theatre of the University of Ilorin in Kwara State. It was directed by Adams Abdulfatai Ayomide for the annual season of plays festival.[13]

In 2000, in recognition of his immense contributions, he was awarded the National Merit Award and appointed a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Georgia.[14][12]

Personal life

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Isola was married and had four children.[15] He died on 17 February 2018 in Ibadan, Oyo State, aged 78.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Nichols, Lee (20 February 1981). "Conversations with African Writers: Interviews with Twenty-six African Authors". Voice of America – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Google Groups". groups.google.com.
  3. ^ "Akinwunmi Ishola: Oyo ANA Ready to Hold Session | PM Parrot". pmparrotng.com. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  4. ^ a b Chima Anyadike; Kehinde Ayoola (2012). Blazing the Path: Fifty Years of Things Fall Apart. African books Collective. ISBN 978-9-78-081-18-46. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  5. ^ Bona, Sheriff (2018-02-17). "Nigerians pay tributes to popular Yoruba playwright Akinwunmi Isola". TODAY. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  6. ^ "Renowned Yoruba playwright, Prof Akinwunmi Isola, is dead » Tribune Online". Tribune Online. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  7. ^ "I misrepresented Efunsetan Aniwura in my book". The Punch. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  8. ^ "FEATURE: Remains of Prof. Akinwumi Isola laid to rest". www.pmnewsnigeria.com. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  9. ^ "Ibadan-born Foremost Playwright, Akiwunmi Ishola, Dies at 79". InsideOyo.com. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  10. ^ "Renowned Yoruba playwright, Prof Akinwunmi Isola, is dead » Tribune Online". Tribune Online. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  11. ^ PEN America 13: Lovers. PEN America Center. ISBN 9780934638326. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Akinwunmi Isola: Life & times of pioneer Yoruba classical literature". Vanguard News. 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  13. ^ NgFinders (2019-10-28). "Akinwunmi Isola: Biography, Age, Career, Family And Movies - Ngfinders.com". Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  14. ^ "Citation on Professor Akinwunmi Isola" (PDF). Nigerian National Merit Award. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Akinwunmi Isola: Life & times of pioneer Yoruba classical literature". Vanguard News. 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  16. ^ "Professor Akinwunmi Isola is dead". Lailasnews. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
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