By Babatunde Ayedoju
There is time for everything under heaven, as it is commonly said; a time to be born and a time to die. For the legendary Yoruba actor, Ishola Abdulsalam Sanyaolu, popularly known as Àgbákò, the time to die came on Thursday October 31, 2024. The news of his death was broken on Instagram by the President of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Bolaji Amusa, also known as Mr Latin.
Mr Latin wrote on his Instagram page, “#tampanglobal announces the passing of Pa Charles Olumo Sanyaolu, fondly known as AGBAKO. Details of the burial arrangements will be shared at a later time. Good night father, 25/02/1923 to 31/10/2024.”
This was followed by tributes from other actors, some of who had worked with him in his very active years as an actor. Popular actor Jide Kosoko, in his tribute to the late Agbako, wrote: “Good night ooo, Baba Charles. a.k.a Agbako, 101 years, ba wasa ba. R I P.”
Another actor, Kunle Afod, said, “Good night pa Charles Olumo (Baba Agbako), the oldest actor. 101 years, Sun re ooo, O dabo, O di Oju Ala.”
Likewise, Funke Akindele, had this to say, “Awwwwwwww may his soul rest in peace. Wow. Oluwa tobi loba.”
Film producer and movie distributor, Kazim Adeoti, wrote, “May his soul rest in peace. Orun ‘re o Baba.”
Biodun Okeowo, popularly known as Omo Butty, was not left out as she wrote, “Rest well sir. No matter how old our loved ones are, we never want to see them go! Kudos boss Afod for all you do.”
A renowned colleague of the late thespian, Ìdòwú Philips, popularly known as Mama Rainbow, in her tribute, said,“I thank God he didn’t die shamefully. He called me on Saturday to say he was back from the hospital, and I asked him if I should send money for his medication, but he told me to hold on. I didn’t know his death was near”.
“Baba saw a world that transformed and grew, and he carried those experiences with him like chapters in a book that only he could tell. A life that long is filled with countless lessons, moments of hardship, and times of joy, all of which he likely shared with you in the small ways and big ways that made him unique.
“His passing marks the end of an era for your family, and though he’s no longer here in body, his spirit remains in every memory he left behind. His strength, his resilience, and the love he showed will continue to guide you and everyone who loved him. Baba rest in peace, held gently by the same love he shared in this world”
The late veteran actor who clocked 100 last year was, until his death, said to be the oldest Nollywood actor alive. Born on July 9, 1923, late Pa Ishola Abdulsalam Sanyaolu hailed from Egba Owode in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State to a Muslim family. However, the screen icon had some Christian friends whom he accompanied to church for drama rehearsals.
During one of such trips to his friends’ church, Sanyaolu, who would later be known by his stage name Àgbákò (meaning misfortune or calamity), had to play the role of Joseph in a drama because the person who was meant to play that role did not show up.
Àgbákò who had started acting while in primary school at about age seven underwent training as an automobile technician after primary school. He practised that occupation for a while and launched fully into acting till his old age.
Though Àgbákò was a household name in the movie industry, a lot of people did not know his real name. He got the name Charles from the church where he started acting and was even baptised at a point. He also named the theatre group he formed with some of his contemporaries Olumo; hence the name Charles Olumo, but his parents named him Ishola Abdulsalam, while his surname was Sanyaolu.
Known mostly for playing the role of a villain or even an assassin in some cases, Àgbákò had the privilege of being featured in movies produced by legends such as Chief Hubert Ogunde, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love), Jimoh Aliu and many others. He appeared in movies such as Ogbori Elemoso, Ami Orun, Atorunmo, and Fopomoyo, just to mention a few.
When asked by a journalist how he got the nickname Àgbákò, the late centenarian narrated that he gave himself that name during the production of a film titled “Anikura” in Iwo (then in Oyo State but now in Osun State). In that film, he was to play the role of Anikura, a very dangerous and mean character. He addressed himself in the movie as “Emi, Agbako Anikura” (meaning I, Àgbákò Anikura). That was how the name stuck.
In an interview few years ago, Agbako’s daughter, Adeola Sanyaolu, stated that Àgbákò’s character as a mean person in movies was the exact opposite of his character in real life. She said that the Sanyaolu she knew as her father was a very nice man who even hardly beat his children, unlike the mean Àgbákò in movies.
In response to this, however, on several occasions, Àgbákò said that though he had an affair with Pasuma’s mother, late Alhaja Adijat Kuburat Odetola, while she was his colleague in the theatre industry, he was not the father of the popular musician. He said that Pasuma had been born before he (Àgbákò) met his (Pasuma’s) mother.
Last year when he clocked 100, his colleagues in the industry did not hesitate to celebrate him in a big way in an event that was attended by colleagues who showered gifts, prayers and goodwill messages on him.
At the event, popular Lagos based prophet, Primate Ayodele, donated N500,000 to the celebrant and also promised to put him on salary for life. Likewise, the TAMPAN President, Mr Latin, said, “100 years is a rare privilege. In Nigeria today, to get to 100 years is by the grace of God. He (Olumo) has been in the industry for over 75 years. There is nothing that we can do that is too big for them. It is not only him. This is just the beginning.”
