Obafemi Lasode, ace musician and film executive, has passed away at the age of 69.
Cross over king, Rotimi Martins aka Alariwo of Africa who announced his demise wrote: Obafemi Lasode is no more
The man who discovered Alariwo of Africa
The man who gave me the opportunity to be known
The man who supported 99% of my generation without asking for anything in return
Rest in Perfect Peace Boss
Omatshola ‘Tee Mac’ Iseli, former President of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), also confirmed Lasode’s death .
According to Tee Mac, a close family member notified him that Lasode passed away in the early hours of Friday, 25 July, 2025, after a prolonged illness.
“Yes I got a message from a close family member of Mr Lasode that he has joined his ancestor’s today. Obafemi had been sick for quite some time,” he said.
Born on December 4, 1955, in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Lasode hailed from Abeokuta, Ogun state.
He was a versatile creative — film director, producer, songwriter, music producer, and playwright — best known as the CEO of Even-Ezra Nigeria Limited, the production company behind the award-winning 1997 film ‘Sango’.
Lasode attended St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, for his secondary education before earning a BSc in Business Administration from Kogod School of Business, Washington, D.C., and an MSc in Communication Arts from City University of New York.
He began his professional journey in the U.S., working as a promotions coordinator for Inner City Broadcasting Corporation in New York. In 1984, he made history by hosting Nigerian music legend Sonny Okosun at the iconic Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
Upon returning to Nigeria, Lasode produced Afrika in Vogue, a pioneering African music programme on Radio Nigeria 2, which aired from early 1989 for a year. In 1995, he founded Afrika ‘n Vogue/Even-Ezra Studios, further cementing his legacy in entertainment.
He also authored Television Broadcasting: The Nigerian Experience (1959–1992), a seminal book adopted by Nigerian universities.
Tributes have poured in from colleagues and fans, celebrating his immense contributions.
