Kola Oyewo: Exit of a towering figure in entertainment industry

By Thefrontrank

The entertainment industry has lost a veteran theatre scholar and cultural icon, Dr Kola Oyewo, who died on Friday, June 12, 2026 at the age of 80 after a battle with an enlarged prostate.

Oyewo’s death marked the end of an era for Nigerian entertainment and academia.

Born on March 27, 1946, in Oba-Ile, Osun State, Oyewo, a towering figure in Nigerian arts, shaped decades of performing arts through his foundational work with the Obafemi Awolowo University theater, Mainframe Productions, and his later academic contributions to Nigerian theatre.

Oyewo began his acting career in 1964 with the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group. He later became one of the most recognised figures in Yoruba theatre and Nigerian film.

He was widely known for his portrayal of Odewale in Ola Rotimi’s play, “The Gods Are Not to Blame,” a role that earned him recognition across the African theatre scene.

Oyewo featured in several productions, including “Super Story”, “Saworoide”, “Sango”, “Koseegbe”, and many Yoruba-language films that contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s movie industry.

Beyond acting, Oyewo was also an academic. He earned a doctorate degree in Drama from the University of Ibadan and taught at Obafemi Awolowo University, Redeemer’s University and Elizade University.

Oyewo, through his teaching and mentorship, helped train and guide generations of actors, playwrights and scholars, leaving a lasting impact on Nigeria’s theatre, film and academic communities.