Duro Ladipo
Encyclopedia
Duro Ladipo was one of the best known and critically acclaimed Yoruba
dramatists that emerged from postcolonial Africa. Writing solely in the Yoruba language
, he captivated the symbolic spirit of Yoruba mythologies in his plays which were later adapted to other medium such as Photography, Television, and Cinema. His most famous play, Ọba kò so (The king did not hang), a dramatization of the traditional Yoruba story on how Shango
became the God of Thunder, received international acclaim at the 1961 Commonwealth Arts Festival and on a Europe
an tour, where a Berlin
critic, Ulli Beier
, compared Ladipọ to Von Karajan. Ladipo usually acted in his own plays.
. However, Duro may have been influenced by his grandfather, who migrated to Osogbo after the Jalumi war. His grandfather was well versed in Yoruba mythology, especially those emanating from Old Oyo
, and was known to have worshipped Shango
and Oya
.
, where he became a teacher. While in Ibadan
he became one of the founding members of an artist society or club called Mbari-Mbayo and became influenced by Beier. He later replicated the club in Osogbo and it became the premier group for promoting budding artists and dramatists in Osogbo. Throughout his career, Duro Ladipo wrote ten Yoruba folk operas combining dance, music, mime, proverbs, drumming and praise songs.
He started his theatre group in 1961 but he became fully established with the founding of the Mbari Mbayo Club in Osogbo. His popularity as a folk opera group really rests on his three plays: Obamoro In 1962, Oba ko so and Oba Waja in 1964. (Oba Waja - "The King is Dead" - is based on the same historical event which inspired fellow Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka
's Death and the King's Horseman
.) He also promoted Moremi. He later transformed the Mbari Mbayo into a cultural center, an arts gallery and a meeting point for young artists seeking to develop their talents. Duro Oladipo wrote quite a number of plays. e.g.; Suru Baba Iwa, Tanimowo, Iku. Some of his plays were also produced for television. In fact he created Bode Wasinimi for N.T.A Ibadun.
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
dramatists that emerged from postcolonial Africa. Writing solely in the Yoruba language
Yoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
, he captivated the symbolic spirit of Yoruba mythologies in his plays which were later adapted to other medium such as Photography, Television, and Cinema. His most famous play, Ọba kò so (The king did not hang), a dramatization of the traditional Yoruba story on how Shango
Shango
In the Yorùbá religion, Sàngó is perhaps one of the most popular Orisha; also known as the god of fire, lightning and thunder...
became the God of Thunder, received international acclaim at the 1961 Commonwealth Arts Festival and on a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an tour, where a Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
critic, Ulli Beier
Ulli Beier
Horst Ulrich Beier was a German editor, writer and scholar, who had a pioneering role in developing literature, drama and poetry in Nigeria, as well as literature, drama and poetry in Papua New Guinea...
, compared Ladipọ to Von Karajan. Ladipo usually acted in his own plays.
Early life
Duro was raised in a Christian family, his father was a minister at an Anglican church in OsogboOsogbo
Osogbo is a city in Nigeria, the capital of Osun State and a Local Government Area.The Local Government Area has an area of 47 km² and a population of 156,694 at the 2006 census; the postal code of the area is 230.-Infrastructure and demographics:Osogbo lies on the railway line from Lagos to...
. However, Duro may have been influenced by his grandfather, who migrated to Osogbo after the Jalumi war. His grandfather was well versed in Yoruba mythology, especially those emanating from Old Oyo
Oyo Empire
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...
, and was known to have worshipped Shango
Shango
In the Yorùbá religion, Sàngó is perhaps one of the most popular Orisha; also known as the god of fire, lightning and thunder...
and Oya
Oya
In Yoruba mythology, Oya , is the Undergoddess of the Niger River. Oya has been syncretized in Santería with the Catholic images of the Virgin of Candelaria.-Aspects:...
.
Career
Ladipo tried hard and succeeded in exposing himself to traditional and Yoruba cultural elements especially when living under the veil of a Christian home. At a young age, he would sneak out of the vicarage to watch Yoruba festivals. This fascination with his culture goaded him into researching and experimenting with theatrical drama and writing. After leaving Osogbo, he went to IbadanIbadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, where he became a teacher. While in Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
he became one of the founding members of an artist society or club called Mbari-Mbayo and became influenced by Beier. He later replicated the club in Osogbo and it became the premier group for promoting budding artists and dramatists in Osogbo. Throughout his career, Duro Ladipo wrote ten Yoruba folk operas combining dance, music, mime, proverbs, drumming and praise songs.
He started his theatre group in 1961 but he became fully established with the founding of the Mbari Mbayo Club in Osogbo. His popularity as a folk opera group really rests on his three plays: Obamoro In 1962, Oba ko so and Oba Waja in 1964. (Oba Waja - "The King is Dead" - is based on the same historical event which inspired fellow Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka
Wole Soyinka
Akinwande Oluwole "Wole" Soyinka is a Nigerian writer, poet and playwright. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, where he was recognised as a man "who in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence", and became the first African in Africa and...
's Death and the King's Horseman
Death and the King's Horseman
Death and The King's Horseman is a play by Wole Soyinka based on a real incident that took place in Nigeria during British colonial rule: the ritual suicide of the horseman of an important chief was prevented by the intervention of the colonial authorities...
.) He also promoted Moremi. He later transformed the Mbari Mbayo into a cultural center, an arts gallery and a meeting point for young artists seeking to develop their talents. Duro Oladipo wrote quite a number of plays. e.g.; Suru Baba Iwa, Tanimowo, Iku. Some of his plays were also produced for television. In fact he created Bode Wasinimi for N.T.A Ibadun.