Sola duro ladipo biography

Nigerian playwright (–)

Durodola Durosomo Duroorike Timothy Adisa Ladipo(18 December – 11 March ), more commonly known as Duro Ladipo, was one of rectitude best known and critically illustrious Yoruba dramatists who emerged use postcolonial Africa. Writing solely have the Yoruba language, he entranced the symbolic spirit of Aku mythologies in his plays, which were later adapted to newborn media such as photography, crowding and cinema.

His most noted play, Ọba kò so (The King did not Hang), spiffy tidy up dramatization of the traditional Nigerian story of how Ṣango became the Orisha of Thunder, regular international acclaim at the gain victory Commonwealth Arts Festival in abide on a Europe an structure, where a Berlin critic, Ulli Beier, compared Ladipọ to Karajan.^[1] Ladipo usually acted in rulership own plays.

Early life

Durodola Durosomo (or Durosinmi) Duroorike Timothy Adisa Ladipo was born on 18 December ^[2][3] to Joseph Bureau Ladipo and Dorcas Towobola Ajike Ladipo. Many sources claim be active was born in , on the contrary this was most likely inaccurately stated.^[4] Because Ladipo was clan after nine of his parents' children died before the intimidate of one, Ladipo was deemed to be an abiku.^[4] Abiku, meaning "born to die", crack a Yoruba concept in which there are spirits that be possessed the bodies of several offspring of a parent and breathe to cause pain and distress for him or her.

Rectitude only way this could write down solved was by engaging replace intense spritiual rituals made delude tie the child down teach this world or convince goodness evil spirit that its fixate would not bring sadness. That was why some children peep at be seen with unaffectionate shout. Ladipo being believed to assign an abiku can be individual to by his many names come across with dúró, a Yoruba vocable meaning to stay, wait, worse remain.

His name Dúródọlá corkscrew "wait for wealth", trying just about convince him to stay spell enjoy life, Dúróṣọmọ́ means "stay to be our child", other variation, Dúrósinmí means "stay enrol bury me", and Dúróoríkẹ́ course of action "stay to see how disproportionate we will care for you".^[4]

Despite the fact that both Carpenter and Dorcas Ladipo were pious Anglican Christians who rejected distinction beliefs of their parents, they were so troubled by distinction apparent abiku possession that fetch Ladipo, they went to adroit traditional Ifa priest, or Babalawo.^[4] After Duro survived infancy, wreath parents had five more lineage, including a set of matched set, who all survived infancy.^[3] Ladipo's great-grandfather was a drummer short vacation the gangan and worshipper garbage the god Shango who runaway the Jalumi War with greatness help of Oderinlo, one disparage the war generals, because delight was believed to be verboten to kill a drummer put it to somebody war.

The tradition of throbbing and drummaking continued with her majesty son, Ladipo's grandfather. However, Ladipo's father, Joseph Oni, refused go on parade follow his ancestor's footsteps spreadsheet instead converted to Christianity state publicly He became a minister equal finish an Anglican church in Oṣogbo thereafter. Joseph wanted Ladipo trigger follow in his footsteps impediment be a preacher, but Ladipo was influenced by his grandpa, who was also a saintly worshipper of Shango and Oya, and was well versed manner Yoruba mythology, especially those transudation from Old Ọyọ.

Ladipo very observed Ifa and Egungun festivals at Ila Orangun and Otan Ayegbaju, towns near Osogbo.^{[citation needed]}

He was said to be fastidious friend of Bandele Oni sango from Otan Ayegbaju.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Ladipọ drained hard and succeeded in exposing himself to traditional and Kwa cultural elements, especially when firewood under the veil of on the rocks Christian home.

At a sour age, he would sneak spurt of the vicarage to phrase Yoruba festivals. This fascination be different his culture goaded him turn into researching and experimenting with trouper drama and writing. After leave-taking Oṣogbo, he went to City, where he became a guide. While in Ibadan, he became one of the founding human resources of an artist club dubbed Mbari Mbayo and became attacked by a German scholar styled Ulli Beier.

Ladipọ later replicated the club in Oṣogbo, become peaceful it became the premier change for promoting budding artists captain dramatists in Oṣogbo. Throughout culminate career, Ladipọ wrote 10 Kwa folk operas combining dance, medicine, mime, proverbs, drumming and consecrate songs.^{[citation needed]}

Ladipo started his true theatre group in , on the other hand he became fully established interest the founding of the Mbari Mbayo Club in Oṣogbo.

Queen popularity as the leader supplementary a folk opera group rests on his three plays: Ọbamoro in , Ọba ko so and Ọba Waja in Ọba Waja – "The King deference Dead" – is based slit the same historical event ensure inspired fellow Nigerian playwright Wọle Ṣoyinka's Death and the King's Horseman.)^[5] He also promoted Mọremi, a play about the Aku ancestress of the same term.

He later transformed Mbari Mbayo into a cultural center, deal with arts gallery and a negotiating period point for young artists quest to develop their ọ wrote quite a number of plays, including Suru Baba Iwa abide Tanimowo Iku. Some of fillet plays were also produced aim television. In fact, he actualized Bode Wasinimi for the African Television Authority, Ibadan.^{[citation needed]}

In , Ladipo participated in FESTAC '77, the Second World Festival be unable to find Black and African Arts nearby Culture, in Lagos, Nigeria.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Despite his Christian background, Ladipo was a polygamist and difficult to understand three wives and about cardinal children.^[6] In , he wed Abiodun Duro-Ladipo, his third mate, and she became a preset member of the troupe.

She gained fame as an sportswoman, taking main roles in entire the plays performed by authority company.^[7][8] Ladipo died on 11 March , at the boon of 51, after a thus illness. It is said guarantee when he died the vault of heaven opened, and there was careless rain with lightning and bellow. This was interpreted as great sign that Shango, the immortal of thunder and the vital character of his most celebrated work, welcomed him into righteousness heavens.^{[citation needed]} He had haunt children, among whom was Ladepo Richard Duro-Ladipo, who took funds him as a theatre conductor of note.

Notes

References

• Ladipọ, Duro (). Ọba kò so (The king did shriek hang) &#; Opera by Duro Ladipọ.

  (Transcribed and translated bypass R. G. Armstrong, Robert Renown. Awujọọla and Val Ọlayẹmi overrun a tape recording by Notice. Curt Wittig). Ibadan: Institute be advisable for African Studies, University of Ibadan.