LEGENDARY Nollywood actor, Peter Oladele Fatomilola, popularly known as Peter Fatomilola, has called on his fans across the globe to celebrate him as he clocks 55 years on stage.
The member of academic staff, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, who doubles as the amuludun of the source, Ile-Ife is an award-winning prolific Yoruba movie actor, poet and playwright who has done great exploits in the Nigerian movie industry.
Born on January 16, 1946 in the town of Ifisin-Ekiti, Ido-Osi Local Government area of Ekiti State, to Abraham Ojo Fatomilola, a renowned Ifa Chief Priest, known as the Oluwo (Olu-awo), meaning Lord of the oracle, and Elizabeth Fatomilola, which was believed to have influenced his herbalist role in Nigerian film.
He started his acting career in 1967, when he joined the Olokun Theatre group under the tutelage of the late Professor Ola Rotimi, a renowned dramatist and prolific playwright at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts in 1978.
A multi-talented veteran, he was the first Papa Ajasco, a lead role in the popular comic TV series produced by Wale Adenuga with the same name.
He had featured in several notable Nigerian films such as ‘Sango’, an epic African film produced by Obafemi Lasode and scripted by Wale Ogunyemi in 1997. He has acted the role of the priest in several Yoruba films in Magun (Thunder Bolt).
According to a release by the organising committee, the grand finale of the ceremony has been scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 22 at the Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The anniversary which officially commenced on October 2 will also feature an award ceremony, which has been dubbed as the Peter Fatomilola Anniversary Honours Award to deserving individuals and corporate bodies for their contribution to the promotion of arts and humanities, as well as the launch of the ‘Peter Fatomilola One Million Friends’.
The ceremony, the organizers add will also feature the performance of the play ‘The Legend of Ooni Enitan’, a movie dedicated to the celebration of the investitures of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II who is also expected as the Royal father of the day.
Fatomilola’s call could be a change maker in the practice of under-celebrating stars in their lifetime. The event is expected to usher in movie icons and celebrities in arts, culture and entertainment to the city of Ile-Ife.
