Actor Aderemi Adedeji popularly well known as Baba Olofa Ina, who is the Sobaloju of Ede land, died at the age of 73.
Actor Saidi Balogun disclosed Baba Olofa Ina’s demise on his Instagram handle on Thursday, January 4th, 2024.
Olofa Ina also known globally for the eloquent Yoruba proverbs and idioms that elevate Yoruba’s Cultural Heritage in various films and stage plays.
Chief Aderemi was born into the family of the late Chief AbdulSalam Aderemi and the late madam Aisha Aderemi of Jagun- Olukosi compound, Ede, Osun State on 15th of May, 1950 during the reign of the late Oba John Adetoyese Laoye.
Baba Olofa Ina had his primary education at St. Peters Anglican Primary School between 1957 and 1962 and then proceeded to Baptist Secondary Modern School, Ode-Omu from 1963 to 1965.
He learned carpentry and joinery work at Olukorede Furniture Industry between 1965 and 1970.
he had earlier established the Olofa Ina Theatre Group in 1972 with the likes of Erinfolamin, Dasofunjo, Gbolagade Akinpelu and the late Oyetunji of Esinnla compound, Ede. He received his theatre training under the late Oyetunji.
The Olofa Ina Group recorded landmark achievements in the theatre industry by pioneering the staging of epical histories of the Yoruba warlords of the 18th and 19th centuries, including Basorun Ogunmola, Balogun Ibikunle, Ogedengbe Agbogungboro of Ilesha, Aare Kurunmi of Ijaye, Kakanfo Afonja and a host of others.
These productions were recorded by Nigerian Television (NTV) Ibadan in the 70s and were narrated by the late Dr. Babayemi then, of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan who later became the Oba Olufi of Gbongan, Osun state.
Olofa Ina also recorded series of television productions among which are Odetedo, Lakaaye, Kogun Maja, and Ade Oba.
Baba Olofa Ina also featured in so many Yoruba epic movies that are numerous to be mention. One of the Yoruba powerful epic movies he featured then was Ogbori-Elemosho by Chief Lere Paimo popularly well known as Eda Onile Ola.