{{Short description|Nigerian musical artist}} {{COI|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist | name = Baba Dee | native_name = Dare Fasasi | birth_date = | birth_place = | occupation = Movie director, dancehall artiste | years_active = 1995 - present | associated_acts = Sound Sultan, 2Baba, Basketmouth, Alibaba Akpobome | image = Baba Dee.jpg | caption = }} '''Dare Fasasi''', known professionally as '''Baba Dee''', is a Swedish-Nigerian movie director, and dancehall artiste.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|title=First Nollywood film produced by Swedish director - Radio Sweden|url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6157793|access-date=2021-08-21|website=sverigesradio.se|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Veteran artiste shows off cute son">{{Cite news|date=2015-04-01|title=Veteran artiste shows off cute son|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/baba-dee-veteran-artiste-shows-off-cute-son/52w0z68|access-date=2021-09-30|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref> He was the older brother of Nigerian singer-songwriter, Sound Sultan,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-13|title=Baba Dee to Sound Sultan: Even in death, you're a symbol of grace|url=http://lifestyle.thecable.ng/baba-dee-to-sound-sultan-even-in-death-youre-a-symbol-of-grace/|access-date=2021-09-30|newspaper=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref> with whom he founded a record label named Naija Ninja Entertainment Production Company.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-11|title=OBITUARY: Sound Sultan, the 'naija ninja' and basketball aficionado who taught 'BODMAS' in a song|url=https://www.thecable.ng/1976-2021-sound-sultan-the-naija-ninja-and-basketball-aficionado-who-taught-bodmas-in-a-song|access-date=2021-09-30|newspaper=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref> Baba Dee's music career began with the release of his debut album in 1997.<ref name="Baba Dee is a year older today">{{Cite news|date=2015-11-11|title=Baba Dee is a year older today|url=https://thenet.ng/baba-dee-is-a-year-older-today/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-09-30|newspaper=The NET|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Education and career == Baba Dee earned a bachelor's degree in theatre arts from the University of Ibadan,<ref name="thenet.ng">{{Cite news|date=2015-11-11|title=Baba Dee is a year older today|url=https://thenet.ng/baba-dee-is-a-year-older-today/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-08-26|newspaper=The NET|language=en-US}}</ref> and a master's degree in directing for stage and feature film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Directors {{!}} African Film Festival, Inc.|url=https://africanfilmny.org/directors/#dare-fasasi|access-date=2021-08-26|language=en-US}}</ref> His first shot at music was the Lekki Splash Talent Hunt where he competed against nine other contestants and won in 1995.<ref name="thenet.ng"/> His win also included a recording contract that ushered him into Nigeria's music industry, after which he secured another recording contract with Astro Entertainment in Sweden, by which he toured Europe with other artistes.<ref name="vanguardngr.com">{{Cite news|date=2013-03-21|title=My passion for music is waning - Baba Dee|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/my-passion-for-music-is-waning-baba-dee/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-08-21|newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-09-16|title=Baba Dee shows off his son, Tunde|url=https://thenet.ng/baba-dee-shows-off-his-son-tunde/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-08-26|newspaper=The NET|language=en-US}}</ref>
In a 2014 interview, he revealed that he doesn't use sex in promoting his music.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-12-12|title=I don’t use sex as propaganda to sell my music - BabaDee|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/dont-use-sex-propaganda-sell-music-babadee/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-08-21|newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-US}}</ref>
Baba Dee directed his first movie, ''Head Gone,'' in 2014.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Fasasi, Dare {{!}} African Film Festival, Inc.|url=https://africanfilmny.org/directors/dare-fasasi/|access-date=2021-08-21|language=en-US}}</ref> The movie, which was co-produced with his younger brother, Sound Sultan,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-04-27|title=2face, Sound Sultan to tour Europe in promotion of 'Head Gone'|url=https://thenet.ng/2face-sound-sultan-to-tour-europe-in-promotion-of-head-gone/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-08-26|newspaper=The NET|language=en-US}}</ref> featured Nigerian singer Tuface, Alibaba Akpobome, Basketmouth, Eniola Badmus, Akpororo, among others.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-11-07|title=Basketmouth, 2Face Idibia Set To Star In New Comedy Film Full Of Africa's Biggest Stars|url=http://saharareporters.com/2014/11/07/basketmouth-2face-idibia-set-star-new-comedy-film-full-africas-biggest-stars|location=New York City, United States|access-date=2021-08-26|newspaper=Sahara Reporters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-12-13|title=All-star in Baba Dee's Head Gone movie|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/star-baba-dees-head-gone-movie/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-08-26|newspaper=The Nation|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Head Gone'' also premiered in Sweden and Berlin in 2014, and is reportedly the first Nollywood film made by a Swedish director.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|title=First Nollywood film produced by Swedish director - Radio Sweden|url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6157793|access-date=2021-08-26|website=sverigesradio.se|language=en}}</ref>
In 2013, Baba Dee revealed his intention to contest for membership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Oriade Amuwo Odofin Constituency 2, in Nigeria's 2015 General Election.<ref name="vanguardngr.com"/> He was also a member of the board of the Copyright Society of Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web|last=eventnewsafrica|last2=eventnewsafrica|date=2015-08-28|title=Police IG assures COSON of full support in the war against copyright theft|url=https://www.eventnews.tv/press-release/coson-copyright-theft/|access-date=2021-08-26|website=Eventnews Africa|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == Baba Dee was the older brother to Nigerian singer and instrumentalist, Sound Sultan, who died on 11 July 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-11|title=Veteran Singer Sound Sultan Dies At Age 44|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/veteran-singer-sound-sultan-dies-after-battle-with-cancer/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-08-21|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712133302/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/veteran-singer-sound-sultan-dies-after-battle-with-cancer/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
At a tribute to his late brother in July 2021, he tried to reconcile twin brothers Peter Okoye and Paul Okoye, a music duo of the defunct P-Square who had been feuding.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baba Dee Begs P-Square To Reunite, Ends Tubaba And Blackface’s ‘Beef’|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2021/07/25/baba-dee-begs-p-square-to-reunite-ends-tubaba-and-blackfaces-beef/|access-date=2021-08-21|website=Channels Television}}</ref>
He has a son of mixed race named Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi.<ref name="Veteran artiste shows off cute son"/>
== Filmography ==
*''Head Gone'' (2014) - Director <ref name=":1" />
== Discography == '''Studio albums'''
* ''Stand 4 Road'' (2018)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Baba Dee on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/baba-dee/257021175|access-date=2021-08-21|website=Apple Music|language=en-CA}}</ref> * ''Boom Box'' (2014)<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-01-07|title=Baba Dee warms up for album release|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/baba-dee-warms-up-for-album-release/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-08-21|newspaper=The Nation|language=en-US}}</ref> * ''Versatile'' (2007) * ''Most Wanted'' (1997)<ref name="Baba Dee is a year older today"/>
'''Singles & EPs'''
* "Daggarin" feat. Jaycii (2019) <ref name=":0" /> * "All About You" (2017) <ref name=":0" />
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref |- |2007 |The Headies |Best Reggae/Dancehall Album |''Versatile'' |{{won}} |<ref>{{cite web|title=Past Winners of HHWA|url=http://hiphopworldmagazine.com/theheadies/past-winners/|url-status=dead|accessdate=14 March 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227045424/http://hiphopworldmagazine.com/theheadies/past-winners|archivedate=27 December 2013|df=}}</ref> |- |2013 |The Headies |Best Reggae/Dancehall Single |"Go Down" |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|date=30 December 2013|title=Olamide, Phyno win big at The Headies 2013|url=http://entertainment.ng.msn.com/local-entertainment/olamide-phyno-win-big-at-the-headies-2013-1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222225944/http://entertainment.ng.msn.com/local-entertainment/olamide-phyno-win-big-at-the-headies-2013-1|archive-date=22 February 2014|publisher=MSN Entertainment Nigeria|accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Living people Category:Nigerian male film actors Category:Nigerian film directors Category:Swedish people of Nigerian descent Category:University of Ibadan alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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