Days after the death of Prolific movie producer Chico Ejiro,the Nigerian movie industry has once again been thrown into mourning,following the sad news about the demise of veteran actress, Folake Aremu,popularly known as Orisabunmi.
Yoruba Nollywood veteran reportedly died last night,from an undisclosed ailment. She was well known from the 80s for her roles as a priestess, pacifist or the good witch in movies
Orisabunmi was born on October 10, 1960, in Ilu Ola, Kwara state.
She went to Ilu Ola Primary School and Secondary Commercial College.
She never attended university.
The veteran actress was discovered by her ex-husband in the 80s while working as a teacher in Kwara state.
Her ex-husband, Nollywood veteran, Chief Jimoh Aliu (Aworo) had first noticed her and expressed his interest in her.
After visiting him on set, Orisabunmi decided to try a role in a movie he was producing. He found that she was gifted in acting and decided to officially add her to the play.
She soon began her career appearing in movies produced by Aworo.
She 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.
Her appearance in other movies like “Agbaarin” and soap opera, “Yanponyanrin” cemented her place in the movie industry.
She was trained by Chief Jimoh Aliu but her special ability to speak incantations comes from her upbringing.
She was born into a family with a masquerade lineage so she already knew some incantations before she had to start acting.She married Chief Jimoh six years after she began her career but they divorced.
She has played some iconic roles like ‘Asabi’ in “Oluwerimagboojo”, and the priestess in “Ayanmo Eda”.
In more recent times, she played the role of ‘Eyegbemi’, a witch who tries to help her friend out of poverty in “Iya Alakara”.
Folake Aremu has also produced her own movies such as, “Atupa Imole”, “Ase Ilu”, and “Tani O”.
The National President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Mr Bolaji Amusan,in a statement, said Orisabunmi’s demise was a big loss to the entertainment industry and Nollywood in particular.
”O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
”It is so sad we lost a priceless jewel, a very rare gem in the Nigerian film industry, Chief Mrs Folakemi Aremu aka Orisabunm to the cold hands of death last night.
”Though good people die every day yet not all of them affirm for us the goodness in humanity the way Orisabunmi did.
“She passed away leaving a legacy of positive experiences for anyone who took the time to know her.
”If Oratory is the masterful art, the world will surely miss Orisabunmi for her talent,” he said.
Amusan said that Orisabunmi was an orator who would perfectly chant eloquently with her resounding sonorous voice, adding that the industry would surely miss her.
He said that the burial arrangement would be communicated soon.
