One of Nigeria’s legendary actor, director, producer and scriptwriter – Joseph Abiodun Babajide Adu, aka JAB Adu is dead.
According to his family, the actor reportedly died early hours of last Sunday in his country home in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the age of 82.
The news was confirmed by his wife, Aina Lewis-Adu to his long time associate, the foremost director Bayo Awala. The late Adu and Awala worked togetheron the 1972 successful celluloid film ‘Bisi Daughter of the River’, which featured Jab Adu.
The late Jab Adu was a pioneer cast member of the iconic TV series, Village Headmaster, which was created by Late Chief Segun Olusola in 1968. Reports has it that he was at first cast to play the lead role of the Village Headmaster but the crew later cast him to give real life to the screen character Bassey Okon, the doctor, dispenser and pharmacist of Oja village.
Many that were familiar with his part in Village Headmaster will never forget his signature slogan – Chei Chei Chei.
Condolence messages have been pouring in for the veteran actor who is fondly remembered for his role as Bassey Okon in the Village Headmaster.
His friend, veteran director, Bala Awala, in his tribute simply remarked “there goes a good man, a man of peace and a true professional’’.
Artistic Director of the National Troupe, Mr. Akin Adejuwon said “people like that should live longer so we can go to them to get ideas on how we can move the arts and culture of this country forward”
Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed condoled the family of the late actor while describing him as a ‘Master Artiste’’. The Minister said the elder artiste lived an exemplary life and he exhibited sterling qualities through out his lifetime. Alhaji Mohammed particularly noted that the actor made a huge impression on him during his days on the Village Headmaster series and on several other television programmes.
In an interview with The Guardian recently, he spoke about his life, career and experience on the set of the Village Headmaster.
He reminisced:
“Actually Village Headmaster started in 1968 and we were auditioned for it. There was Ted Mukoro who played the Village Headmaster and myself. I recalled at that time that I spoke good English and so they didn’t see me as someone who could speak pidgin and it was a debate whether I should do the headmaster or Ted should do the Pidgin English part. But when they looked at our stature, they said Ted would fit the role of the Village Headmaster and so I took up the role of Bassey Okon and took the challenge of creating that character. So that was how I came to play the role of Bassey Okon. It was a challenge for me to create that character and of course you know I was in Village Headmaster for about nine years and it was after that time that. I said listen, I can’t do the same thing all my life. I wanted to do something else that was how I left Village Headmaster.”
Rest in Peace Joseph Abiodun Babajide Adu.
