Yemi Ajibade

Adeyemi Olanrewaju Goodman Ajibade was born on July 28th, 1929 in Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria into the royal family of Orangun in Ila Orangun, Ila local government area of Osun State.

Yemi Ajibade Age

Yemi Ajibade would have been 95 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Yemi Ajibade Early Life

Known simply as Yemi Ajibade, he attended Abeokuta Grammar School. The foundations of his love for theatre and the arts were laid at Abeokuta grammar school. In the mid-1950s Yemi travelled to the UK intending to become a journalist, but read a book on Stanislavsky and thought: "This is it." Yemi joined the Actors' Workshop in 1960 and the London School of Film Technique (now the London Film School) in 1966. Later, he took a master's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Yemi Ajibade Career

From early in his stay in the UK, Ajibade acted in radio drama for the BBC African Service. When the BBC producer John Stockbridge was approached by the World Service in the 60s to create a drama for African listeners, he chose Ajibade, who was then a promising young actor, for the lead role. The series was never made, but from then onwards Yemi regularly featured on radio. His talent was spotted, too, by television producers and he appeared in series including Danger Man (1965), Dixon of Dock Green (1968), The Black Safari (1972) and The Fosters (1976).

Yemi's play Parcel Post (1976) explored the clash of traditional African virtues with the values of modern Britain. It was directed by Donald Howarth at the Royal Court in London and, during the theatre's 50th birthday celebrations in 2006, Howarth recalled that the play had a "reconditioning" effect on audiences. Among Yemi's other stage plays were Fingers Only (1982), Waiting for Hannibal (1986), Para Ginto (1995) – Peer Gynt transposed to African soil – and A Long Way From Home (1991).

In 1995 Jude Kelly, as artistic director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, invited Yemi to join the cast of Wole Soyinka's Beatification of Area Boy as part of the Africa 95 celebration. His final stage appearance was on the Olivier stage at the National theatre in Thea Sharrock's 2007 production of Emperor Jones.

Yemi Ajibade Personal Life

Yemi died in the UK on January 13th, 2013 at the age of 83. He was married to actor and poet Ebony White, and they have two daughters, Adenrele and Mimi. He also had another daughter, Marigold, from a previous relationship. He had three sisters, Arinade Victoria, Layo and Janet.

Yemi Ajibade Awards

Yemi inspired a younger generation of Nigerian writers and artists in the UK. During its 10th anniversary All African Stars Gala (2008) at Theatre Royal Stratford East, the British-African theatre company Tiata Fahodzi recognised his contribution to British theatre.

Yemi Ajibade Net Worth

His net worth is not available.

Yemi Ajibade on Social Media