Adebayo Faleti, a Nigerian playwright and veteran broadcaster, was born on the 26th of December 1930 in Agbooye, Oyo State but he lived in Obananko, Kuranga near Oyo State.
Adebayo is the first son of his father, Joseph Akanbi Faleti and the only child of his mother, Durowade Ayinke Faleti.
Adebayo Faleti, from an early age, was passionate about drama. He could not pursue his dream at that time due to lack of funds.
As a result of this, he decided to suspend his primary education.
In order to actualize his dream, Adebayo proudly founded the First Operatic Acting Group in Oyo in 1949, with the support of his colleagues who shared the same dream.
Alagba Faleti later found his way back to school by getting a job in a primary school in which he worked for six years. During this period, he was able to raise enough funds for his secondary school education coupled with financial support from his father.
He was a pioneer teacher at Ife Odan near Ejigbo.
In 1966, Adebayo attended the University of Dakar in Senegal and obtained a Certificate of proficiency in French Language and Civilization. Two years later, he graduated from the University of Ibadan with an honours degree in English Language.
In 1971, he attended Radio Netherlands Training Centre, Holland and received a certificate in Television Production.
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He was one of the pioneer staff members at the First Television Station in West Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), now known as Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan, where he worked as a newscaster and a television producer until the split of the cooperation after the creation of Ogun, Ondo, and Oyo States out of the Western Region in 1976.
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Adebayo Faleti, an 83 year old poet, translated the Nigerian National Anthem from English to Yoruba when he was the General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).
He initiated the broadcast of Islamic programmes during Ramadan period and and came up with the idea of having Mobile Father Christmas from village to village.
Adebayo, a custodian of the Yoruba culture, coined the Yoruba translation of Father Christmas to Baba Keresi. He is a successful Yoruba translator who helped to translate the speeches of military President Ibrahim Babangida, and Chief Ernest Shonekan, head of the National Interim Government from English to Yoruba.
Alagba Faleti, a brilliant and seasoned actor, has produced a number of Yoruba folklore length plays. He has also acted, produced and written several popular Yoruba plays. He has featured in landmark Yoruba movies like Saworoide, Agogo Eewo, Thunderbolt (Magun), Ite Oba, Basorun Gaa etc.
Adebayo is also known for famous poems he has published. His poems include Ijamba Odo Oba, Alagbara Ile ati Alagbara Oko, Adebimpe Ojedokun and many more.
Adebayo, a man who is extremely knowledgeable about the Yoruba Culture, published a Yoruba dictionary showing the proper use of Yoruba names
The Yoruba Legend, who has a unique way of wearing his cap (Fila), has received several awards, both locally and internationally. His awards include the National Honour, Officer of the Order of Niger (OON), the Festival of Arts awards with Eda Ko L’aropin 1995 and the afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts in 2002, to mention a few.
He died on the 23 July, 2017.
Continue to rest in peace Baba.
Credit: Heavydence
