Ade Love: Afolayan celebrates dad 20 years after

Events to mark to the 20th anniversary of the death of veteran filmmaker, Adeyemi Afolayan, alias Ade Love, will give movie buffs an insight and experience into the early days of filmmaking in Nigeria and Nollywood’s evolution from celluloid technology and the Yoruba travelling theatre.

To honour him, his family will through a weeklong event, showcase how his style of story-telling which was a major attraction for fans who enjoyed the fusion of romance and music into folktales, political satires, family centric and other forms of drama that appealed to youngsters and the young at heart.

His children, who have also made their mark in the industry, are putting together activities that will bring together film personalities as well as provoke conversations on the old and new ways of story-telling.

According to Kunle Afolayan, who is spearheading the fête, the event will play host to distinguished guests in the society, actors and other film industry stakeholders next Thursday, in Lagos.

Afolayan said there is a documentary in teh offing on the life and times of the legend which will feature some of his contemporaries like Lere Paimo, aka Eda Onile Ola, Mr. Olu Omojola, Moremi Duro Ladipo, Chief Eddie Ugbomah, Dr. Ola Balogun, Professor Adebayo Faleti, and Kareem Adepoju aka Baba Wande among others.

“In the spirit and essence of the celebration of his works, there will be an official premiere of Ade Love’s film, Kadara (Destiny) after 36 years of its initial release,” Afolayan said.

Events lined up include the screening of ‘Kadara,’ ‘Taxi Driver’ 1 and 2.

Born in Agbamu, Kwara State in 1940, Ade Love obtained a Diploma in Secretarial Studies and Performing Arts from at the University of Ibadan. He was a force to reckon with among his contemporaries in the film industry, making newspaper headlines between 1976 and 1996 when he passed on.

He is remembered for his works which earned him the celebrity toga including ‘Ajani Ogun’ (1976), ‘Ija Ominira’ (1978), ‘Taxi Driver’ (1983) ‘Eyin Oku’ (1992) and ‘Kadara’ (1980).

Ade Love had a stint with versatile entertainer, Moses Olaiya, during his early days as a stage performer and first saw the opportunities in filmmaking when he acted in Dr. Ola Balogun’s ‘Ajani Ogun’ which also featured Duro Ladipo, as lead actor.

He shot his first film, ‘Ija Ominira,’ directed by Ola Balogun, two years later.

Ade Love who started filmmaking before Hubert Ogunde and Baba Sala recorded the highest number of celluloid films in Yoruba and was the most travelled Yoruba filmmaker.

His works represented Nigeria at major film festivals in the world including Rotterdam Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival.

His legacy is aglow by his children who have embraced different genres of entertainment – acting, music and filmmaking.

Kunle, an award-winning filmmaker, Gabriel, an actor and singer, Moji, a notable actress and Aremu, an actor and producer.

He passed away on December 30, 1996, aged 56, after suffering a stroke, twice.