Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has described the late actor Jimoh Aliu as one who brought “glamour” and “colour” to Ife festivals.
The monarch stated this in a statement by his spokesman Moses Olafare obtained by reporters on Thursday.
Jimoh, popularly known as Baba Aworo, died on September 17 at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti after a brief illness.
In the statement, the Ooni also said Jimoh’s death was a blow to the Nigerian theatre and film industry.
“Like the late Hubert Ogunde among other Yoruba cultural heroes, the whole world, particularly the descendants of Oduduwa will never forget ‘Arelu’; one of Pa Aliu’s epic movies, through which this great man taught countless moral lessons,” the Ooni said.
“Aside from being a movie maker, Jimoh Aliu during his lifetime was very close to the ancient throne of Oduduwa through which he played several active roles, particularly by adding glamour and indeed colour to our festivals and other social activities.
“His return to his creator at 85 is a unique reminder that death remains a unique feature of all men and no matter how good or badly spent a life is, it must end.”
Oba Ogunwusi prayed that God would grant the Nigerian theatre industry, Ekiti State, Oodua race and all family members of the deceased icon of cultural development the fortitude to bear the loss of Jimoh Aliu.
