Hubert Adedeji Ogunde was a colossus whose many works of art questioned the malfeasance of government officials. Ogunde was imprisoned several times for advocating on behalf of the masses.
Hubert ogunde was a teacher, a cop, a teetotaler, a human rights activist, a seer, a prophet, a folklorist, a Nigerian actor, playwright, a musician, a dancer, a dramatist, and a rare nationalist.
He has been dubbed “the father of Nigerian theatre” During his stage career, he wrote more than 50 plays, the majority of which include dramatic action, dance, and music, as well as a story that reflects the political and social realities of the time.
His first production was The Garden of Eden, a church-funded play. It first aired in 1944 at Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos. Its success encouraged Ogunde to produce more plays, and he soon left his job as a police officer to pursue a career in the theatre.
Ogunde had over ten wives and a large number of children. The Ogunde Theater was primarily a family business, and all of the wives and children were involved in the productions at some point. Some of the kids worked as actors and actresses, while others worked as drummers, singers, and ticket sellers. Throughout the history of the theatre, all of the wives have shared the stage with their husbands at various times. The former Miss Clementina Oguntimirin was the manager of the Ogunde Theater and one of the wives. She was later known as Adeshewa Clementina Ogunde or Mama Eko, after the popular 1960s play of the same name in which she starred. Ibisomi Ogunde, Risikat Ogunde, and Emily Kehinde Olukoga-Ogunde were among his other wives.
His company’s plays usually reflected the current political climate in Nigeria and interpreted for audiences the major issues and aspirations of those in power. His company performed admirably in both remote villages and Nigeria’s urban areas (as well as throughout West Africa). Many of Ogunde’s later folk operas were essentially popular musicals with jazzy rhythms, trendy dance routines, and contemporary satire. He set an example for a successful commercial theatre through this format, and he prepared audiences all over Nigeria for his followers. Ogunde died on April 4, 1990, at Cromwell Hospital in London; his portrait is displayed at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Lagos.
Culture Beyond the Mainstream 