{{short description|Nigerian actor (1921–2017)}} {{Infobox person | name = Adebayo Faleti | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Adebayo Mosobalaje Faleti | birth_place = Oyo, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Oyo State, Nigeria) | death_place = Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1921|12|26}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2017|07|23|1921|12|26|df=y}} | occupation = Actor, poet, writer | known_for = Poems | mother = Durowade Ayinke Faleti | father = Joseph Akanbi Faleti | alma_mater = University of Ibadan, Nigeria, University of Dakar, Senegal }} '''Adebayo Mosobalaje Faleti''' {{Audio|Yo-Adebayo Mosobalaje Faleti.ogg|Listen|help=no}} (26 December 1921 – 23 July 2017) was Africa's first newscaster,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Three lessons Buhari can learn from legendary Adebayo Faleti|url=https://www.thecable.ng/three-lessons-buhari-can-learn-legendary-adebayo-faleti|date=2017-09-12|newspaper=TheCable|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> Africa's first stage play director,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Late Broadcaster/TV/Movie Legend Adebayo Faleti Laid To Rest (Photos) »|url=https://focusreporters.com/late-broadcastertvmovie-legend-adebayo-faleti-laid-rest-photos/|date=2017-09-09|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Nigeria's first film editor and librarian with the first television station in Africa - Western Nigeria Television (WNTV),<ref>{{Cite news|title=Adebayo Faleti: Remembering Nigeria's First Indigenous Broadcaster and TV Host|url=https://thenet.ng/adebayo-faleti-remembering-nigerias-first-indigenous-broadcaster-tv-host/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|date=2020-03-11|newspaper=The NET|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> Nigeria's first Yoruba presenter on television and radio alike, a Nigerian poet, journalist, writer, Nollywood film director and actor.<ref>{{Cite news|title=UPDATED: Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and actor, Adebayo Faleti, is dead - Premium Times Nigeria|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/237862-updated-veteran-yoruba-broadcaster-and-actor-adebayo-faleti-is-dead.html|last=Olawoyin|first=Oladeinde|date=2017-07-23|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-28|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> He was also known as a Yoruba translator, a broadcaster, TV exponent and pioneer of the first television station in Africa,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-23|title=Remembering Adebayo Faleti ( broadcaster, actor, producer, writer)|url=https://mediacareerng.org/2020/07/23/remembering-adebayo-faleti-broadcaster-actor-producer-writer/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=Media Career Services|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915092749/https://mediacareerng.org/2020/07/23/remembering-adebayo-faleti-broadcaster-actor-producer-writer/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Western Nigeria Television (WNTV),<ref>{{Cite news|last=Adebayo|first=Musliudeen|date=2017-07-23|title=Veteran actor, Adebayo Faleti is dead|url=https://dailypost.ng/2017/07/23/veteran-actor-adebayo-faleti-dead/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-09-15|newspaper=Daily Post|language=en-US}}</ref> now known as the [https://www.nta.ng/ Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704185838/https://www.nta.ng/ |date=2022-07-04 }}.<ref name="adebayofaletifoundation">{{cite web|url=http://adebayofaletifoundation.org/?p=144 |title=Biography Of Alagba Adebayo Faleti |work=Adebayo Faleti Foundation |year=2014 |accessdate=20 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031202045/http://adebayofaletifoundation.org/?p=144 |archivedate=31 October 2014 }}</ref>
== Early life and education == Faleti was born in Agbo-Oye, Oyo State,<ref name="dailynewswatch">{{cite web|title=Adebayo Faleti, outstanding Yoruba culture ambassador|url=http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/adebayo-faleti-outstanding-yoruba-culture-ambassador/|last=Salami|first=Tayo|date=31 July 2013|work=Daily Newswatch|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140403185357/http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/adebayo-faleti-outstanding-yoruba-culture-ambassador/|archive-date=3 April 2014|accessdate=20 June 2014}}</ref> though lived in Obananko, Kuranga, near Oyo State. Adebayo Faleti was the first son of his father, Joseph Akanbi Faleti and the only child of his mother, Durowade Ayinke Faleti. Alagba Faleti has always had a passion for drama from an early age.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Akinwale|first=YEKEEN|date=2017-07-24|title=OBITUARY: Adebayo Faleti… Herbalist's son, former houseboy, 'rejected soldier', renowned actor|url=https://www.icirnigeria.org/obituary-adebayo-faleti-herbalists-son-former-houseboy-rejected-soldier-renowned-actor/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=International Centre for Investigative Reporting|language=en-GB}}</ref> His parents could not fund his education to pursue his dreams due to lack of income, so he decided to put his primary education on hold. Later, he gathered a couple of interested colleagues and started his own successful theatre group, named Oyo Youth Operatic Society (founded in 1949).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adebayo Faleti – DAWN Commission|url=http://dawncommission.org/adebayo-faleti/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> Faleti later found his way back to school by getting a job in a primary school, in which he worked for six years to raise enough funds for his secondary schooling with the financial support of his father.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nigeriafilms.com/content.asp?contentid=5418&ContentTypeID=5 |title=My mother thought I was impotent – Faleti |work=Nigeria Films |date=13 July 2009 |accessdate=20 June 2014 |archive-date=7 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407224419/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/content.asp?contentid=5418&ContentTypeID=5 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1966, he attended the University of Dakar in Senegal and obtained a Certificate of proficiency in French Language and Civilization. Two years later, he graduated from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with an honors degree in Lit-in-English. In 1971, he attended the [https://rntc.com/ Radio Netherlands Training Center] in Hilversum, the Netherlands, and received a certificate in Television Production.<ref name="africaservice">{{cite web|title=Chief Adebayo Faleti|url=http://africaservice.com/adebayofaleti/index.html|year=2006|work=Africa Service|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214111650/http://africaservice.com/adebayofaleti/index.html|archivedate=14 December 2006|accessdate=20 June 2014}}</ref>
== Personal life and Death == Faleti's wife was Olori Olubunmi Faleti, a retired broadcaster and television host at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan. He had children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Faleti died on July 23, 2017, after observing a brief morning devotion with his family at his Ojoo residence in Ibadan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-07-24 |title=Renowned broadcaster, Adebayo Faleti, dies |url=https://guardian.ng/news/renowned-broadcaster-adebayo-faleti-dies/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-03-08 |newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-07-23|title=Adebayo Faleti, veteran actor, dies at 86|url=https://www.thecable.ng/adebayo-faleti-veteran-actor-dies-86|access-date=2021-09-15|newspaper=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-07-24|title=OBITUARY: Adebayo Faleti, the greatness-seeker who was thought impotent but sired 15 children|url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/obituary-adebayo-faleti-dead/|access-date=2021-09-15|newspaper=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-09-07|title=ADEBAYO FALETI'S BURIAL: He forgave woman, children that offended him — Cleric|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/adebayo-faletis-burial-forgave-woman-children-offended-cleric/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-09-15|newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-07-24|title=Adebayo Faleti died after morning prayer, says son|url=https://punchng.com/adebayo-faleti-died-after-morning-prayer-says-son/|access-date=2021-09-15|newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Anyanwu|first=Samuel|date=2017-07-24|title=Minister mourns Adebayo Faleti, calls him a colossus in his time|url=https://fmic.gov.ng/minister-mourns-adebayo-faleti-calls-colossus-time/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=Federal Ministry of Information and Culture|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == Faleti has written, produced and acted in several popular Yoruba plays.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-25|title=Ọdún mẹ́ta lẹ́yìn Adebayo Faleti, ìran Yorùbá ń ṣe ilédè rẹ!|url=https://www.bbc.com/yoruba/53537383|access-date=2021-09-15|website=BBC News Yorùbá|language=yo}}</ref> He is also known for his poems. He was the first school teacher at Ife Odan, located near Ejigbo Town in Osun State.<ref name="dailynewswatch" /> He was also the General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), which is also known as Radio OYO, Ibadan.<ref name="dailynewswatch" /> In 1959, he worked at Western Nigerian Television (WNTV), now known as NTA Ibadan, as a film editor and a librarian.<ref name="dailynewswatch" />
== Works == Faleti has acted, written, and produced a number of movies, which include: ''Thunderbolt: Magun'' (2001), ''Afonja'' (1 & 2) (2002), ''Basorun Gaa'' (2004), and ''Sawo-Sogberi'' (2005).<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2096900/ |title=Adebayo Faleti |work=IMDb |year=2014 |accessdate=20 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.victolavideos.com/tag/adebayo-faleti/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407070611/http://www.victolavideos.com/tag/adebayo-faleti/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |title=Adebayo Faleti |work=Victola Videos |year=2014 |accessdate=20 June 2014 }}</ref>
He was responsible for translating Nigeria's National Anthem from English to Yoruba, his native language.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ayoola|first=Simbiat|date=2018-04-26|title=Life history of Africa's first newscaster the late veteran actor Pa Adebayo Faleti|url=https://www.legit.ng/1166009-life-history-late-veteran-actor-pa-adebayo-faleti.html|access-date=2021-09-15|newspaper=Legit.ng|language=en}}</ref> He also translated speeches being made by former Attorney-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - Chief Bola Ige, former military president of Nigeria - General Ibrahim Babangida, former premier of the Western region of Nigeria — Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Head, National Interim Government of Nigeria — Chief Ernest Shonekan, from English to Yoruba. Faleti has published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.<ref name="adebayofaletifoundation" />
== Awards== Adebayo Faleti has received many awards, both locally and internationally, including the National Honour Of Officer Of the Order of the Niger (OON), Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.), Justice of Peace (JP), Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP).<ref name="dailynewswatch" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Veteran Actor Adebayo Faleti Is Dead|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2017/07/23/veteran-actor-adebayo-faleti-is-dead/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=Channels Television}}</ref> Adebayo Faleti received the Festival of Arts award with "Eda Ko L’aropin" in 1995 and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts in the United States (in 2002). His movie - "Basorun Gaa" also received a commendation at Breeze Awards in London as the best epic movie of the year in 2004. The first magazine he wrote for was called Triumph when he was at the University of Ibadan as an undergraduate. He was also a columnist with the Nigerian Tribune.<ref name="africaservice" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=Renowned Nigerian Broadcaster Adebayo Faleti Dies At 86|url=http://saharareporters.com/2017/07/23/renowned-nigerian-broadcaster-adebayo-faleti-dies-86|location=New York City, United States|date=2017-07-23|newspaper=Sahara Reporters|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|2096900}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Faleti, Adebayo}} Category:1921 births Category:2017 deaths Category:Nigerian male film actors Category:University of Ibadan alumni Category:Yoruba male actors Category:Cheikh Anta Diop University alumni Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors Category:English–Yoruba translators Category:Male actors in Yoruba cinema Category:Yoruba-language writers Category:Nigerian folklorists Category:20th-century translators Category:20th-century Nigerian writers Category:Nigerian broadcasters Category:Yoruba television personalities Category:Yoruba writers Category:Yoruba journalists Category:20th-century Nigerian poets Category:Nigerian film directors Category:Nigerian male television actors Category:People from Oyo State Category:Nigerian television presenters Category:Nigerian editors Category:Nigerian journalists Category:Nigerian film editors