OGA BELLO: THE OLD WINE THAT TASTES BETTER
By Bukola Lasisi 
Some entertainers have refused to fade away with time and rather than compete with their younger colleagues, they have simply been promoted to the status of living legends. Like a fine wine, they simply keep getting better. Adebayo Salami is one such actor. Since he took on the role of ‘Oga Bello’ a flamboyant office executive in the 15 minutes comedy sketch of the long-rested comedy variety show ‘The Bar Beach Show’ on national television, the sobriquet has stuck to Adebayo Salami like stubborn eczema.
The name, as many have said, is possibly more prominent than the birth name of the chubby thespian. In his early seventies, Oga Bello is without a doubt, one of Nigeria’s living screen legends. He is gifted, skillful, talented, and creative in acting and interpretation of movie roles. He can fit in any character given to him by a movie director. He is popularly known for playing the role of father, husband, father-in-law, and chief in several movies.
The veteran actor began his acting career in 1964, at the early age of 12 with a group called Young Concert Party, under the leadership of Ojo Ladipo, popularly known as Baba Mero. He was inspired to try out acting after watching several episodes of a long-rested television programme ‘Village Doctor’.
Oga Bello joined the group without the consent of his parents. They won’t allow him if he had sought their consent because back then actors were seen as wayward and easily influenced people. So, he registered as a member despite threats from his parents to disown him. His uncle whom he lived with even threatened to curse him with the Quran if he didn’t give up his interest in acting.
In between pursuing his passion and dealing with his parents’ disapproval, he took up paid employment as a library assistant in 1970. He resigned in 1974 but was later appointed Personal Assistant to the Federal Commissioner of Works Alhaji Femi Okunnu. When Alhaji Okunnu left government service, he recruited Oga Bello to work in the law chambers he set up.
A devoted Muslim to the core, at some point, he ran away from home to live with a Christian friend. After some weeks of staying with his friend, he was forced by his friend’s family to attend church services which he did because he didn’t want to be chased out and back to his parents’ house. He was at his friend’s house till his parents found him and finally gave their blessings.
Adebayo Salami gave up his paid job in 1976 for a full-time career in acting. In no time, he was appointed to assist Chief Ladipo in running the group. After a few years, the group changed its name to Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group. Following the death of Ladipo in 1978, the mantle of leadership fell on Salami, who led the group briefly until he teamed up with Sunday Omobolanle – Aluwe, and Madam Lanre Hassan – Iya Awero, to establish the Awada Kerikeri Organisation (AKO). This brought him to the limelight.
The Kwara State indigene, who is blessed to have some of his children toeing his path and doing so well in the motion picture industry, has produced and featured in so many television dramas and home videos. He was born in May 1952 and raised in Lagos. He had all his early life and secondary school education in Lagos Island, before undertaking sandwich courses within and outside the country.
His first stage production was a role as a herbalist in Baba Ba Nyeni in 1977 at the Glover Memorial Hall. His acting debut came with a role in the first Yoruba film titled Ajani Ogun. With AKO, Salami continued on television, but in 1985, the group produced a film on celluloid, titled Ogun Ajaiye, followed by films and videos, such as Omo Orukan and Eri Okan, as well as Asewo to re Mecca, which brought Sola Sobowale and Toyin Adegbola to prominence. Other notable films he featured in and directed include but are not limited to:
King of Thieves (2022), The Cokers (2021), Esìn2021, Omo Ghetto: The Saga, (2020), Sanitation Day (2020), Survival of Jelili (2019), ILU America (Land of America) (2019)
Diamonds in the Sky (2019), Sidi Ilujinle (2017), Iman (2016) Ayitale (2013) Omo Ghetto (2010) Alakada (2009) Àsírí owó (2009) Igberaga (2009), Tim ba t’aiye wa (2003) Àkóbí gómìnà (2002), Èèkù-idà (2002).
Gentle, jovial, and accommodating, a pioneer member of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners and a one-time president of the association. Oga Bello was instrumental in forming the breakaway Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN). Salami runs an entertainment company UBEE Media Network and School of Performing Arts, in Lagos. He is married to two wives with 18 children. Oga Bello’s children Femi, Sadiq, Tope, and Rilwan are all in the business of movie production. They are notably one of the best hands in acting, marketing, and editing in the industry. Sadiq is a production manager and producer while Tope writes, produces, and directs. Femi is an actor and writer, and Rilwan is a production editor.
An adherent of the stage and screen, Salami is still very active in acting, producing, and directing. He does not intend to retire anytime soon as he believes that there is no retirement for an actor. Salami’s success in the film industry has served as the catalyst and indirect launchpad for the careers of many of his subordinates and peers. That his children, Femi, Kemi, and Tope Adebayo, are following in his footstep, is a source of accomplishment to the actor.
Ever since on stage performing, Adebayo Salami has won several awards and laurels in performing theatre arts and film. For recognition of his career’s worth, in 2017, he bagged the chieftaincy title of ‘’Seriki Amuludun of Yorubaland’’ in his hometown Ilorin.
Equally, in 2014 he was awarded the Best of Nollywood Awards (stylized as BON Awards) which is an annual film event presented by Best of Nollywood Magazine honouring outstanding achievements in the Nigerian Movie Industry
Also in 2014, he was awarded by the Nigeria Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) for his immense contributions to promoting Yoruba culture
Again, in 2014, he was a recipient of the 2014 edition of the Legend of Nollywood Award (LNA)
Then, in 2021, Dallas International Yoruba Movies Awards (DIYMA) celebrated top Yoruba Nollywood stars for their creativity and relevance in the industry. Oga Bello was awarded a Legendary award.
Shoots.ng joins the world to celebrate this Septuagenarian, an actor of vast credit, Baba Onibaba a happy 70th birthday. Cheers to many more years of being active in the film world.
Picture credits: @adebayo.salami on IG
