Akinwunmi Isola

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Akinwunmi 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
Occupation
  • Playwright
  • novelist
  • actor
  • scholar
Known forWriting in and promoting the Yoruba language
AwardsNational Merit Award
Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters

Professor Akinwunmi Isola (24 December 1939[1][2] – 17 February 2018) was a Nigerian 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 also known for Agogo èèwò (2002), Efunsetan Aniwura (1981) and Efunsetan Aniwura (2005).[5]

Early life and career[]

Isola was born in Ibadan in 1939, attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College. He studied at the University of Ibadan, earning a B.A. in French.[6][7]

He was appointed Professor at the same University in 1991. Isola wrote his first play, Efunsetan Aniwura,[8] 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 being sung in Wesley College Ibadan.[9][10][11]

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 that "my target audience are Yorubas", Isola also wrote in English[12] and translated to Yoruba.[4] The award-winning writer spent his lifetime producing works that promoted the Yoruba language.[13]

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

In 2000, in recognition of his immense contributions, he was awarded the National Merit Award and the Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He was a visiting professor at the University of Georgia.[14] Nigerian playwright, dramatist and actor, Professor Akinwumi Ishola died aged 78.[13]

Personal life[]

Akinwunmi Isola was married and had four children.[15]

Death[]

Akinwunmi Isola died on 17 February 2018 in Ibadan, Oyo State, aged 78.[16]

References[]

  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. ^ "Akinwunmi Ishola". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  6. ^ Bona, Sheriff (2018-02-17). "Nigerians pay tributes to popular Yoruba playwright Akinwunmi Isola". TODAY. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  7. ^ "Renowned Yoruba playwright, Prof Akinwunmi Isola, is dead » Tribune Online". Tribune Online. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  8. ^ "I misrepresented Efunsetan Aniwura in my book". The Punch. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  9. ^ "FEATURE: Remains of Prof. Akinwumi Isola laid to rest". www.pmnewsnigeria.com. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  10. ^ "Ibadan-born Foremost Playwright, Akiwunmi Ishola, Dies at 79". InsideOyo.com. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  11. ^ "Renowned Yoruba playwright, Prof Akinwunmi Isola, is dead » Tribune Online". Tribune Online. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  12. ^ PEN America 13: Lovers. PEN America Center. ISBN 9780934638326. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Akinwunmi Isola: Life & times of pioneer Yoruba classical literature". Vanguard News. 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  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.

Links[]

Retrieved from ""