Jimi Solanke, the ace Nigerian actor and folk singer, has passed away at the age of 81.
Solanke was said to have passed on while he was taken from his hometown of Ipara Remo in Remo north LGA, Ogun to Babcock University Teaching Hospital.
The ace singer was said to have frequented the hospital from December until his demise on Monday morning.
Born on July 4, 1942, Solanke’s journey in the world of arts began at the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma in drama.
Following his graduation, the actor relocated to the United States, where he founded a drama group called The Africa Review, dedicated to promoting African culture.
His storytelling prowess soon gained international recognition, with CNN lauding him as a “master storyteller” during his time in Los Angeles, California.
In 1986, he returned to Nigeria with three members of The Africa Review group to work with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Subsequently, Solanke ventured into film and earned lead roles in many of Ola Balogun’s movies.
He contributed to the production of the film adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s ‘Kongi’s Harvest’ and was featured in the 1997 movie ‘Sango’.
His most recent work, ‘Shadow Parties’, was released in 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Solanke voiced his worries about the challenges confronting artistes.
He also slammed the government for their inadequate support of the entertainment sector.
In 2021, Solanke organised training to boost folklore music in Nigeria.
Listen to one of Solanke’s songs below: