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One Of The Actress That Should Not Be Forgotten In The History Of Nollywood, The Great actress “Abiodun Duro-Ladipo” (born 1941) She is a Nigerian actress and v0calist of noble Yoruba lineage
In 1963, Mama Abiodun joined the theatre group of Duro Ladipo, whom she wed the following year. Portraying key roles in her husband’s iconic plays, she excelled as Oya in Oba Koso and as the lead in Moremi
During the 1960s and early 1970s, she performed across Europe at various global festivals. Since her husband’s pass|ng in 1978, She has appeared in Nigerian television series and films celebrating African heritage, once again reprising her role as Moremi in the 2009 film of the same title
This writeup(Caption) is from Ayeni Abayomi page
All you need to know about mama๐
Abiodun Duro Ladipo was born into a royal household in Ijan-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, making her an Omoba of the Yoruba people. Initially aspiring to be a nurse, she joined the Mbari Mbayo Theatre Group led by Duro Ladipo after completing secondary school in 1963. She soon became the leader of the women’s section. She married Ladipo in 1964 and gained prominence as an actress, taking leading roles in all the company’s productions.
During the 1960s and 1970s, she performed as both an actress and singer in numerous theatre and music festivals, such as Berlin’s Festspiele (1964), London’s Commonwealth Arts Festival (1965), the Festival mondial du thรฉรขtre de Nancy (1973), and the Yoruba Festival in Zรผrich (1973). She also appeared in Belgrade, Iranโs Shiraz Arts Festival, and Romeโs Arts Festival.
After her husband’s dยฃath in 1978, Abiodun took charge of the theatre company, a rare achievement for women at the time. Although she favored stage performances, she increasingly shifted to television, starring in the musical series Oya Sings (1979) and the drama series B’Inaku (1981). Other television appearances included Oyinbo Ajele (1986), Esentaye (1997), and Ayelaagbe (1998), all supporting traditional culture amidst the challengยฃs of c0lonialism
Her film roles are largely drawn from her earlier stage performances, such as Erelu in Aropin n’Teniyan, Iya Ewe in Ija Orugun, and her most notable role as Moremi. In 2017, she directed a new version of Moremi, titled Moremi Ajasoro.
Dedicated to preserving significant works, Abiodun has been collecting newspaper clippings about Yoruba traveling theatre, especially the Duro Ladipo Theatre, since 1964. Her collection also includes a wide array of costumes and memorabilia.
Although she has previously critiquยฃd Nigeria’s leaders for brยฃaking their promises, in March 2018, when Duro Ladipo’s play Ajagun Nla was staged at the National Theatre in Lagos, Abiodun expressed gratitude to the g0vernment for their support. She urged Nigerian women to remain patient as wives and mothers, emphasizing that “our rich culture must be preserved and promoted.”
-Ayeni Abayomi.
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