By Adesoji OMOSEBI
Tunde Kelani popularly known as ‘Uncle TK’ clocks 70 this week and it was celebrated in a grand style with professionals in the theatre arts in attendance. The royal fathers from the Southwest were not left out.
A National Colloquim on Nollywood took place on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Abere, Osogbo in Osun State of Nigeriai under the Chairmanship of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
The Theme of the Colloquium is: Nigerian Films and Cultural Revival and Propagation in a Globalized World: Past, Present and Future.
Speakers after Speakers spoke on the need to;
• Make our language and our culture a priority in our homes or anywhere we might be including in theatre art productions.
• That we should desist from promoting western culture at our own detriment in Nollywood films.
• That we speak our mother language always to our children at home.
VIDEO:
WHO IS TUNDE KELANI?
Babatunde Kelani was born in Lagos in 1948.
Tunde attended Oke-Ona Primary School and Abeokuta Grammar School all in Abeokuta. From there he developed interest in photography having been exposed to Yoruba culture in the early days of his journey in life.
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Uncle TK as he is fondly called is an intellectual story teller, a talented Director, an experienced Cinematographer, a literary Enthusiast and an accomplished Movie Producer in Television Production in Nigeria.
Tunde Kelani had at a time worked as a Trainee Cameraman with Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) before proceeding to London Film School where he obtained a Diploma in Art and Technique of Filmmaking that made him one of the best African most prolific Filmmakers today. After many years in Nigerian Film industry as a Cinematographer, he established Mainframe Film and Television Productions, an outfit formed to document Nigerian rich culture.
ENTERTAINMENT OF GUESTS
The guests were entertained by the Osun State Cultural Troupe, Olanike Cultural Troupe, Adewale Laoye Drummer of Peace.
One of his best works, “Sidi Ilujinle†adapted from Professor Wole Soyinka’s “The Lion and the Jewel†was shown to the guest from the beginning to the end to appreciate God and the guests. It was an action packed film starring, the Teacher and Sidi as the major characters. The film is enriched with cultural performances and heritage.
TUNDE KELANI FINAL REMARKS
In his final remarks, the celebrant who dressed in simple and a modest attire with humility, Tunde Kelani, said he appreciates and paid homage to those who made him what he is today, the writers, actors, his mentors in theatre arts which includes but not limited to late heroes, Oyin Adejobi, Hubert Ogunde, Ishola Ogunmola, Twin Seven Seven, Duro Ladipo (Obakoso) etc.
Uncle TK has this to say, “Yoruba language is much more important than every other language, it is possible that many people did not see it but I saw it as a child. I didn’t know anything about photography when I was following my mentors.â€
“I don’t know why, Twin Seven Seven, Oyelami, Rufus Ogundele, Debisi Fabunmi, to me, they are not ordinary human beings. It was like they communicated with God directly, same with other artists in Osogbo like Kola “Ogunmola, Duro Ladipo, Oyin Adejobi because I also spent my childhood here in Osogbo. Since then I knew what God endowed them with.
But I thank God, it was like the people in Yoruba land including those who are in Kogi, Kwara, Benin Republic because I made research to all these places, anytime I am in Yorubaland I always have peace of mind.â€
“It was like I am the only one that inherited all our written culture and heritage by our fore-fathers.
In my 70 years of existence, God gave me the opportunity because I am not the only one that did the work. I enjoyed the co-operation of dancers, professionals in theatre arts, drummers and all others. Without these people there will not be anyone called Tunde Kelani today.
“The only thing left for me to do in life now is, those our children and the next generation, how we will hand over our cultural heritage and values to them. They must not follow the Western culture, the whites have enslaved us up to the fourth time in history.â€
“If these children can see what God endowed us with, they will see that there is nothing we can give to the world other than our language and culture. We will now use our knowledge and every modern technology to enhance it so that we can sell and export it to them.
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On a final note, I want thank you all for this honour bestowed on me.â€
He thanked the organizers, the Chairman of the occasion, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Obas, Dr. Kola Oyewo, Dele Odule and many scholars from Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State University, Lagos State University and others.
Tunde Kelani popular works include;
• 1993 – Ti Oluwa Ni Ile (Part One, Two and Three)
• 1994 – Ayo Ni Mofe (Part One and Two)
• 1995 – Koseegbe
• 1997 – O Le Ku
• 1999 – Saworo Ide
• 2000 – White Handkerchief
• 2001 – Thunderbolt (Magun)
• 2002 – Agogo Eewo
• 2004 – The Campus Queen
• 2006 – Abeni
• 2006 – The Narrow Path
• 2008 – Life in Slow Motion
• 2010 – Arugbo
• 2010 – Maami
• 2010 – Dazzling Mirage
• 2017 – Sidi Ilujinle (The Lion and the Jewel)
All on the stable of Mainframe Film Productions
TUNDE KELANI @ 70 – PHOTOS
The Celebrant, Tunde Kelani (Middle) Cutting His Birthday Cake with the Chairman of the Day, Prince Oyinlola and Dr. Kola Oyewo
www.sojworld.com © March 24, 2018
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