New Telegraph

TAMPAM president, others mourn as veteran actor Baba Suwe dies at 63

President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Producers Association of Nigeria, Bolaji Amusan, also known as Mr Latin, has mourned the demise of veteran actor, Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe. Baba Suwe died on yesterday morning after a prolonged illness, aged 63.

 

Speaking with New Telegraph, Mr. Latin expressed shock at the death of the popular actor, known for comic roles in Yoruba movies.

 

‘’It was shocking. It is so unfortunate,’’ the TAMPAN president said. Also, in his reaction, notable artist and writer, Mufu Onifade, described Baba Suwe’s death as painful, unfortunate and a great loss to the creative industry in Nigeria.

 

‘’His death is very painful to the  industry, painful to me personally, because he was somebody that we have worked together on a number of projects.

 

And I know how humouros he was always, especially on set. He would go beyond scripts and then bring his own idea onto the table. For instance, when he took part in Madam Tinubu in 1986, they couldn’t get a role for him in the script, but the director created a role that could suite him.

 

And he interpreted that role fantastically. So, when you have that kind of an actor, and the person is now dead, it is a very painful loss to the creative industry.

 

Also, his sickness took everybody by storm because he was a very strong person, very healthy, always doing things in a way that will even surprise you,’’ Onifade said.

 

He adde, ‘’When he took ill, as a matter fact, some bloggers had actually pronounced him dead, and the industry was shocked. Fortunate  we discovered that he wasn’t dead. And we were happy for that. So, we had thought that he was going to be with us for a long time to come, but unfortunately, he passed on. And that is very painful and unfortunate.

 

I wish the family the fortitude  to bear the loss, and I commiserate with the entire creative industry.’’ Another notable theatre practitioner and filmmaker, Deji Etiwe, also expressed shock over the death of Baba Suwe. ‘’It is very shocking that in the last period of his life he didn’t get much attention as was expected. It is very unfortunate that somebody like that had to go in that manner. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

 

He is one of the best comedians we have in the Yoruba film circle. He was a very jovial person, humble and very creative.’’

 

 

Born on August 22, 1958, Baba Suwe dominated the Yoruba movie industry for decades, featured in several movies, including ‘Iru Esin’, ‘Oju Oloju’, ‘Baba Londoner’, ‘Ko tan si be’, ‘Aso Ibora’. He has also produced films, some of which are: ‘Alfa Nla’, ‘Ayedun’, ‘Baba Jaiye Jaiye’, ‘Baba Londoner’, ‘Eku Meji’, ‘Ojo Ale’, ‘Agbefo’, ‘Oju Oloju’.

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