Exactly three years today, multi-talented broadcaster, Adebayo Faleti recognized for pioneering many things in the Nigerian and African media, bid the world farewell at 86.
Faleti was Nigeria’s first Yoruba presenter on television and radio. Pioneer of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), now known as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Africa’s first newscaster, Africa’s first stage play director, Africa’s first film editor and librarian with the first television station in Africa Western Nigeria Television (WNTV).
Faleti as a man of many parts stood to preserve the Yoruba culture throughout his lifetime in broadcasting, lecturing, story-telling, acting, poems and translation of the National Anthem and speeches 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.
Till date, Faleti holds the record of the longest Yoruba prose: Omo Olokun esin. He introduced the programme: E dide, e mu saari je. He also brought in phone-in aspect into radio programmes, introduced mobile Father Christmas and the brain behind the Yoruba translation; Baba Keresi. Faleti published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.
The first-ever 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.
He was born in Agbo-Oye, Oyo State, though lived in Obananko, Kuranga, near Oyo State. He was the first son of his father, Joseph Akanbi Faleti and the only child of his mother, Durowade Ayinke Faleti.
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 honours degree in Lit-in-English. In 1971, he attended the Radio Netherlands Training Center in Hilversum, the Netherlands, and received a certificate in Television Production.
Faleti acted, wrote, and produced a number of movies, which include: Thunderbolt: Magun (2001), Afonja (1 & 2) (2002), Basorun Gaa (2004), and Sawo-Sogberi (2005).
He 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). He also received the Festival of Arts award with “Eda Ko Laropin” in 1995 and 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.