Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

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Foremost dramatist and culture exponent, Jimoh Aliu is dead.
The Nollywood artiste died yesterday at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado Ekiti at 80 years.
Aliu was born on November 11, 1939 in Okemesi, Ekiti West local government area of Ekiti State. He is a seasoned artiste, producer, location designer, director, make-up artist and singer.
He was widely known to have attended the elementary school for just six months and born in mystifying circumstances. His father, Aliu Fakoya, was an Muslim and Ifa priest who hailed from Oke-Imesi but his mother from Iloro-Ekiti. As an itinerant Ifa Priest and Diviner, Aliu Fakoya took his son, Jimoh’ to places like Ijebu-Ode, Ifo, Ota, Odogbolu, Sagamu, Ada, Aagba, Iresi, Otan-Aiyegbaju and Lagos. Jimoh attended the old St. Peter Catholic Primary School Okemesi he was taught the art of divination by his father, as well as the use of herbs. When Jimoh was in Lagos, he learnt the trade of bricklaying, tailoring and driving.
In 1959, Aliu joined the Ogungbe Theatre and remained there until 1966. With Ogungbe Theatre he toured almost all towns in old Western Region now Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. In 1966, he left Ogungbe Theatre, and formed Jimoh Aliu Concert Party. This group was based in Ikare Akoko in Ondo State.
Jimoh is a highly respected classical Theatre Arts practitioner with a passionate interest in the life of the community and its cultural heritage, as well as commentator on Nigeria culture abroad, Chief Jimoh Aliu form a bridge between the old and the new Nigeria. He is an actor, scriptwriter, producer/director, singer, dancer and makeup artist, costumes and location designer. He began his acting career in 1959 when he produced the first of his five-movies project, Olowo-Ete, before his demise. The movies were expected to feature top Nollywood actors in the country.
When Akin Ogungbe, a Nigerian veteran dramatist visited his hometown, he became famous for his hit TV productions, “Arelu” and “Yanpon Yanrin, Fopomoyo”, which featured famous characters like Fadeyi Oloro, Orisabunmi and Aworo.
Aliu was formerly married to his colleague and Orisabunmi star, Folake Aremu, before they parted ways after 20 years of marriage. He currently has two wives – Queen Bola and Folashade.
After years on the airwaves, he was honoured with a National Merit Award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) in December 2005.
According to a close associate to the late Actor, said the body of the deceased would be moved to his residence at Adebayo area in Ado-Ekiti before being taken to his hometown, Okemesi-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area of the state, where he would be buried tomorrow.