Renowned Nigerian filmmaker, musician, producer, and cultural icon, Obafemi Lasode, has passed away at the age of 69.
Newsonspot reports that the news of his death was announced on Friday by Dr. Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli, former President of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), shared a heartfelt tribute on social media.
Tee Mac wrote, “Obafemi Lasode (born 4 December 1955), a Nigerian veteran musician, film director and producer, songwriter, music producer, and playwright died today. My condolences to all. Respectfully Dr Tee Mac.”
Lasode, born on December 4, 1955, in Port Harcourt and originally from Abeokuta, was the creative force behind the legendary 1997 epic film Sango, which remains a cultural cornerstone in Nollywood history. He was also the CEO of Even-Ezra Nigeria Limited, the production company behind the film.
A multi-talented artist and academic, Lasode held a BSc in Business Administration from the Kogod School of Business in Washington D.C. and an MSc in Communication Arts from the City University of New York. He began his career in the United States, where he worked as a Promotion Coordinator for Inner City Broadcasting Corporation in New York.
In 1984, he made history by organizing a performance for Nigerian music legend Sonny Okosun at the iconic Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Upon his return to Nigeria in the late ’80s, Lasode launched the radio show Afrika in Vogue on Radio Nigeria 2, which championed African music long before the genre became globally recognized.
In 1995, he established Afrika ’n Vogue/Even-Ezra Studios, deepening his commitment to telling authentic African stories. Lasode also authored the academic text Television Broadcasting: The Nigerian Experience (1959 – 1992), a resource still widely used in Nigerian universities.
A towering figure in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape, Lasode’s contributions to film, music, and media have left an enduring legacy. Tributes have continued to pour in from across the country, celebrating a life dedicated to preserving and promoting African culture.
The cause of the death was not however, stated as at time of publishing.
Rest in power, Obafemi Lasode. Your legacy lives on.
