Veteran Nigerian actor, dramatist, filmmaker, and scholar, Dr. Kola Oyewo, has passed away. He died at the age of 80.
News of his death was announced yesterday by fellow actor Kunle Afod, bringing an end to a remarkable career that spanned more than six decades and touched virtually every corner of Nigerian performance culture.
Born on March 27, 1946, in Oba Ile, Osun State, Oyewo began his acting journey in 1964 with the renowned Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group. What started as a young man’s passion for performance evolved into one of the most influential careers in the history of Yoruba theatre and Nigerian storytelling.
For many Nigerians, Oyewo’s name became synonymous with excellence on stage. His portrayal of Odewale in Ola Rotimi’s classic drama The Gods Are Not to Blame remains one of the defining performances in African theatre.
The role elevated him beyond the boundaries of Yoruba theatre and established him as a respected figure across the continent’s dramatic landscape.
Armed with a doctorate in Drama from the University of Ibadan, he taught at Obafemi Awolowo University, Redeemer’s University, and later Elizade University. Through decades of teaching, research, and mentorship, he helped shape generations of actors, playwrights, scholars, and cultural practitioners.