Hubert Ogunde

Oloye Hubert Adedeji Ogunde was a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician who founded the Ogunde Concert Party in , the first professional theatrical company in Nigeria. He has been described as the father of Nigerian theatre, or the father of contemporary Yoruba theatre.

Ogunde was born in Ososa, near IjebuOde, Ogun State, Nigeria to the family of Jeremiah and Eunice Ogunde. He had his elementary education between 1925 and 1932, attending St John School, Ososa, , St Peters School, Faaji, Lagos, and Wasinmi African School, . As a youth, he was part of the performers of Egun Alarinjo and Daramola Ateles traveling theatre group. After his elementary education, he worked as a teacher and part time Church choirmaster and organist before joining the Nigerian police force. Like many of his theatre contemporaries, such as A. B. David, P. A. Dawodu, Layeni and G. T. Onimole, his theatre career began under the patronage of the Church. In 1944, he produced his first folk opera, The Garden of Eden and The Throne of God, commissioned by the Lagosbased Church of the Lord founded by Josiah Ositelu. The performance was in aid of the Church building fund. The huge success of the production spurred Ogunde on to writing more operas until he decided to leave his amateur

Source: Wikipedia