Odumosu mourns veteran filmmaker, Ladi Ladebo

The filmmaker and a retired Permanent Secretary of Lagos Television (LTV), Jimi Odumosu, has paid glowing tributes to the recently deceased veteran cineaste, Ladi Ladebo.

The filmmaker and media personality died on April 16 in London, aged 78.

In a brief statement shared with Arts & Culture, Odumosu, producer of ‘Evil Encounter’ and ‘The Mourning After’ among others, expressed sadness over Ladebo’s demise.

The statement read: “I just heard about the passing of Uncle Ladi Ladebo. Sad, but God knows best. I became a Ladi Ladebo fan in the late 1970s. His international feature film credits at that time included “Countdown at Kusini” which he co-authored with Ossie Davies in 1974, and “Bisi Daughter of the River” in 1977, the year I returned from England to start my National Youth Service at NTA Victoria Island, Lagos.

“We met briefly at NTA but got more closely associated during my tenure as Director of Programmes at LTV/LWT. He often came to the Station, and I visited him in Ibadan a few times when he had some footage to shoot.

“Ladi Ladebo, a master screenwriter, producer-director, was one of Nigeria’s indigenous pioneer filmmakers who was extremely passionate about the use of celluloid film. And he, true to type, exhibited the same good, professional handle on his Films and TV Serials. To him, film was not just about entertainment; it was history, a good heritage that came with deeply researched extraordinary detail. He also approached the “Film Image” in an instinctual way. No wonder his films come with the most compelling plot, well-executed action and truly entertaining body content.

“I will remember this great filmmaker by how he always maintained a calm, relaxed mien on and off set, even under the most stressful circumstances. This noble profession has lost a rare gem, but his family has lost more. May the Almighty God console every one of them. And may Uncle Ladi Ladebo’s gentle soul rest in perfect peace.Good night uncle Ladi.”

A statement announcing Ladebo’s demise and signed by one of his children, Precious Ladebo Osagie, on behalf of the Ladebo family read: “With gratitude to God for a life well-lived, we announce the passing on to the glory of our dearly beloved, husband, father and grandfather, Raymond Oladipupo Ladebo who passed away peacefully on Friday, April 16, 2021, in London, United Kingdom; he was 78 years old.

“A memorial service will be held on May 7, 2021, in London, UK. Ladi, as he was fondly called, was survived by his wife Irene Ladebo, his three daughters and two grandchildren.

Popularly known as Uncle Ladi, the late Ladebo was born on May 7, 1942. He directed famous works including Bisi – Daughter of the River (co-author/producer), 1977; and Countdown at Kusini (co-author/producer) 1974 in collaboration with Ossie Davis. Ladebo also directed The Silent Sufferer (on VVF) 1992 in collaboration with UNESCO/UNFPA; Vendor (writer/ director) 1987 for MAMSER, and several Television serials including Pariah and The Thrift Collector.

His films include Heritage (2003), about an archaeologist who is unjustly sent to prison because officials believed that he knew about the disappearance of a sacred artefact. He is visited by a doctoral student, who may be his biological son, and Baba Zak, a docu-drama about a retired civil servant who returns to his hometown to live. Ladebo also produced ‘In the name of tradition’, a docu-drama about female circumcision based on field interviews and The Throne, about a modern-day prince of a fictional African city who attempts to subvert the traditional succession system to the throne.

The late Ladebo was a graduate of Business Administration from the Bowling GreenState University, Ohio, USA (1968). He also earned an MBA in Marketing from the New York University Graduate School of Business in 1969. `

He worked as MediaAnalyst/Account Executive with Ogilvy & Mather, New York, USA, 1969-72; Clerk, Central Bank, 1963-65 before taking up film production fully.

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