Nollywood Legend Eda Onile Ola Don Go Join Ancestors

Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria – E be like say Nollywood don loss one of im biggest stars as Chief Olalere Osunpaimo, wey dem dey call Eda Onile Ola, don pass away for 86 years. Dis news hit social media for Saturday, as Seun Oleketuyi, wey be veteran journalist and chairman for Best of Nollywood Awards, carry am come out for im Instagram.

Baba Paimo don dey sick for over three months, and even though dem try manage am, e no fit survive dis time. Na late night for November 28, say baba finally succumb to the cold hand of death. But everybody sabi say dis man na real icon for Yoruba theater and film, dem don call am many names since e start im journey for acting for 1958.

Chief Lere Paimo, wey born for November 19, 1939, na true son of the soil for Ogbomosho, where e grow up with im father wey be farmer and im mama wey dey trade. E start im education for Ogbomoso before e waka go Gold Coast (wey na current-day Ghana) to finish teacher training. When e come back to Nigeria, the man no just sit down, na classroom teacher for Baptist Missionary School im begin work.

Na for 2005, Obasanjo come recognize Baba Paimo as Member of the Order of the Niger because of im work for the film industry. No vex, shey you remember ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’? Na for 2014, dis legends win ₦1 million for the show, so e shine small for public eye again. I mean, which other senior man fit do am like that?

Paimo don feature for plenty Yoruba films, like Agogo Eewo, Saworoide, and more, wey make am household name. When e act as Chief Basa for Obamoro, e dey show say Paimo na person wey get level for theater. Dis man spend over six decades for the industry before him life come cut short. No forget say e survive two strokes before e go meet am like dis. E be strong man o!

Now, e don inspire plenty up-and-coming actors; wey dey hope to carry im legacy go forward. But shine your eyes well, because some people sabi dey call am only Eda, as if dem no know im real name. As dem talk, the way wey e dey shine pass na wetin make legacy last forever.

As we dey mourn dis great actor, cheers to Baba Paimo – may e rest in peace. Na wetin we fit do, we go remember you well for the stories wey you don tell us through film, e no go vanish for our minds sha!