Veteran actor and scholar Kola Oyewo dies at 80

Veteran Nollywood actor, dramatist, filmmaker, and scholar, Kola Oyewo, has died at the age of 80.

His death was announced on Friday by actor Kunle Afod in an emotional post shared on Instagram.

“Tonight, we lost a true legend. Kola Oyewo has taken his final bow,” Afod wrote.

Born on March 27, 1946, in Oba-Ile, Oyewo began his acting career in 1964 with the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group and went on to become one of the most respected figures in Yoruba theatre and Nigerian cinema.

He was widely celebrated for his portrayal of Odewale in The Gods Are Not to Blame, a role that earned him acclaim across Africa’s theatre landscape.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, Oyewo featured in several notable productions, including Saworoide, Sango, Koseegbe, and Super Story, among many other Yoruba-language films.

Beyond the screen and stage, Oyewo was an accomplished academic. He earned a doctorate in Drama from University of Ibadan and lectured at Obafemi Awolowo University, Redeemer’s University, and Elizade University, where he mentored generations of actors, playwrights, and scholars.

In April, the veteran actor revealed his struggle with an enlarged prostate, a condition he said had slowed him down and limited the roles he could accept despite his recovery.

His passing marks the end of an era in Nigeria’s theatre and film industry, leaving behind a legacy of excellence, scholarship, and artistic contribution that will continue to inspire future generations.