Professor Akinwunmi Ishola, a renowned academic, playwright and cultural activist, has died at his Bolajoko Estate home in Ibadan on Saturday at the age of 78 years.
While confirming the incident, one of his former students, Mr. Sola Ajayi said: “The news of his death really shocked me when I heard this morning. He was a legend and and he left behind good legacies,” praying his soul to rest in peace.
The late playwright, who had been down with illness for about two years, had several works to his credit which include, ‘Oleku, ‘ ‘Kosegbe, ‘ ‘Saworoide,’ ‘Agogo Eewo,’ among others.
The late Professor Ishola was born in Ibadan in 1939, attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College. He was educated at the University of Ibadan, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French.
The late academic also a Masters degree in Yoruba literature from the University of Lagos in 1978. Afterwards, he began to lecture at the Obafemi Awolowo University, where he became a professor in 1991. Isola wrote his first play, Efusetan Aniwura in 1961 and 1962 while still a student at the University of Ibadan. This was followed by the novel Oleku, followed by numerous other plays and novels. He was also a broadcaster and has had many of his plays adapted into television dramas and films. \
In 2000, in recognition of his immense contributions, he was awarded the National Merit Award and the Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He was also visiting professor at the University of Georgia.
Some details obtained from Wikipedia
