By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu
I used to believe acting for no reward was fun. That belief changed in 1981 when I was introduced to commercial acting.
My introducer was Laolu Ogunniyi, the pioneer Director of Programmes, Television Service of Oyo State (TSOS) in 1981. He was a man who always went straight to the point because he was always busy. He worked like a machine!
He was in the process of creating new programmes for the TSOS when I got introduced to him. He brought up the idea of a drama comparing lives in monogamous and polygamous families. He wanted a new artiste who was yet unknown. Then Remi Olabode, who introduced me to him, mentioned Oyewole Olowomojuore, a former editor of _Atoka_, a defunct popular Yoruba magazine.
So, he sent for Olowomojuore. Ogunniyi asked for suggestions for an appropriate name for the monogamy/polygamy comparative drama. We suggested all sorts of names, then he said: ALAJOPIN. That was how the _Alajopin_ weekly serial drama was born.
Alajopin_ was recorded in Iwo. Most days, we returned to Ibadan late, between 11:30pm and 12:30am. Dr. Ogunniyi’s car would follow the buses conveying the artistes. He would ensure they dropped everyone off safely in his or her house before going home himself.
I got the role of ‘Funke’, Bode’s wife. Bode and Funke were a conventional couple living their one-man-one-wife life in Baba Gebu’s house, their landlord. In the series, Baba Gebu had three wives — Iya Gebu (Remi Olabode), Foyeke, and one other…
Ogunniyi also cast me as the Principal’s Secretary in the play _Better Days_, written by him and acted for three nights at the Cultural Arts Centre, Mokola, Ibadan as the commissioning play for the TSOS in October 1982. Mrs Adeola Alagbe (formerly Adeola Adeleke-Adedoyin) played ‘the Principal.
Ogunniyi invited the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor, Yemi Farounbi, to watch our rehearsals. That was how I also knew Dr. Yemi Farounbi.
Dr. Ogunniyi also created _Ile Iwosan_, written and produced by Oyin Adejobi for the TSOS. Also _Ogun Abele_ by Tubosun Odunsi, who later became my boss as I joined his drama group.
A new theatre group leader, however, tried to swindle Laolu Ogunniyi and met a stiff resistance in me. He tried to use me to steal some recorded tapes from Ogunniyi’s studio to blackmail him for more money after he had been duly paid for his service. I ensured the tapes were removed for safe keeping. The man later sent someone else to the studio to steal the tapes, they couldn’t find them. So he came for me! Dr. Laolu Ogunniyi must be laughing now reading this.
The man brought police to arrest me in the office. Our Public Relations Manager, Bayo Fasoro, informed the General Manager, Alagba Adebayo Faleti, who was angry that a theatre leader who had passed through his tutelage could bring policemen to arrest a staff member of his own radio station. I told Baba Faleti and Mr. Fasoro not to worry. I went with the policemen to their station at Agodi-Gate.
After listening to me, the DPO turned on my accuser. He blasted him and released me.
The fight continued in Ilesha, one of the locations of Baba Sala’s _Aare Agbaye_ film. Apostle Moses Olaiya Adejumo (Baba Sala) had personally come to his friend, Alagba Adebayo Faleti, to seek permission for me to be at the location to play a role in the film. I played the role of Adisa’s Secretary. My old ‘enemy’ was in charge of accommodation in Ilesa. He allocated rooms to everyone but me. When I confronted him, he said there were no more rooms but I could sleep in his own room. Imagine a 22-year-old wife of someone sleeping in another man’s room! As usual, I created a scene by reporting him to my boss, Tubosun Odunsi. My friend, Folake Jonah’s fiancé, later left the bed in their room for Folake and me to sleep. He spread a big towel on the floor and slept on it.
Dr. Laolu Ogunniyi and his wife, Mama Jola, then a teacher at Eyinni High School, heard about all this and told me not to worry. They were both so good to me. May God grant Mrs. Ogunniyi of blessed memory a peaceful rest, as I wish my mentor and boss, Dr. Laolu Ogunniyi, a very happy 80th birthday in advance.
Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu
September 19, 2026
