Jimi Solanke
Jimi Solanke: The Artistic Death at 82
Nigeria appears to be losing her bright art icons without possible replacements and Jimi Solanke appears to be one of the last of his own era. His fascinating manner of stagecraft and alluring theatrical gift is what lovers of African art will miss most in him.
Luckily, early enough in my Agboju school days, at the Agboju Secondary School, helpfully created by the legendary Alhaji Lateef Jakande and situated in Lagos, I had become privileged to hear of Jimi Solanke.
Being an opportune lover of African art, raised by the favourable academic atmosphere of the secondary school and educators, at perhaps, fitting years of my young life, I was also privileged to watch Jimi Solanke’s performance of Ovoramwen Nogbaisi inside the Educational Resource Centre, located in the Agboju school premises but this was when education was education.
Only a token was the ticket required to make a lasting memorial imbuement but it was worth it. At this stage, I had become given to arts; a natural lover and supporter of the arts embedded in history, literature, English Language and Religious Knowledge, and others alike.
In my days, everything was education – the debate, the excursion, the quiz, the lit, the drama, assigned agricultural practices, and flagellation but today, education is nothing and nothing is education except for fete or feast and shameful and ubiquitous lascivious students, sometimes, aided by their wealthy parents who under the influence of private school owners would overpower the teachers to pave the paths of their children.
Playwright, actor, poet, African enthusiast, stage guru, and African cultural Ambassador renowned Jimi Solanke, is gone but the footprints of his African attestations remain.
Rest in peace artistically, Pa Jimi Solanke. Amen.
– Dr. Emeka Esogbue writes from Lagos
