Nollywood Veteran Actress, Orisabunmi Dies at 60

Nigerian film industry has lost another veteran thespian, Folake Aremu, popularly known as Orisabunmi.

The Yoruba actress, Folake Aremu was 60 years old.

She was well known from the 80s for her roles as a priestess, pacifist or the good witch in movies.

The Theatre Arts And Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) confirmed the death.

A member, Tunde Ola-Yusuff, expressed grief in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.

“She left without a goodbye. The sudden death of Mrs Folake Aremu (Orisabunmi) has been announced.

“Really a shock on everyone. Iya Oosa, may God rest your soul among the righteous,” he wrote.

Folake was born on October 10, 1960, in Ilu Ola, Kwara State.

She attended Ilu Ola Primary School  and Eruku Commercial College, worked as a teacher, and later as a secretary at Sunny Radio in Ilorin, before going into the theatre industry.

The demise of the Kwara born thespian comes not more than four months after her ex-husband Jimoh Aliu, better known as Aworo passed away, whom she married six years after she began her career but they separated two decades ago.

Folake Aremu first appeared on a stage play called ‘Ori Ma Binu’ but it was her role as ‘Orisabunmi’ in “Arelu” that made her a popular name in Nollywood in the 80s.

She was trained by Chief Jimoh Aliu but her special ability to speak incantations comes from her upbringing.

She played some iconic roles like ‘Asabi’ in “Oluwerimagboojo”, and the priestess in “Ayanmo Eda”.

Folake Aremu has also produced her own movies such as, “Atupa Imole”, “Ase Ilu”, and “Tani O”.

January 06, 2021