Biography Of Baba Wande

Legendary Yoruba actor, Alhaji Kareem Adepoju, aka Baba Wande, is one of the prominent players in the self styled Nigerian movie culture dubbed Nollywood. A deep and rounded actor who is rightly respected for his deft handling of roles, Baba Wande who is a household name in the Nigerian entertainment industry .

A devout Muslim and star of such hit flicks like ‘Ti Oluwa Nile’, ‘Obuko Dudu’, ‘Ekun Oko Oke’ and ‘Ajibola’ Kareem Adepoju, son of a tailor, He began his professional acting career in 1963 with the Duro Ladipo Theatre Group. A year later, he moved on and this time he joined an equally popular group, the Oyin Adejobi theatre group where he trained under the guidance of one of Nigeria’s foremost dramatist and acclaimed theatre doyen the late Chief Oyin Adejobi. While with Chief Oyin Adejobi Baba Wande ensured that he internalized his role and acted true to life as Chief Adejobi would do. He took instructions and ensured that he improved at every outing.

He was to later emerge one of the most valuable actors of the Oyin Adejobi Company. He also became very popular emerging each time as the star attraction of the groups epic offerings like ‘Ekuro Olaoja’, ‘Oba Igbalode’ and ‘Kuye’. Indeed comments then about his exploits and even till date has been favourable. To many he has remained a rounded actor. He raises the roof in comic shows and he is reputed to be a delight to watch each time the role required some seriousness. Indeed It is a common saying among his colleagues that a producer can be sure to go to bed once he accepts to live a role.

An actor of immense credit, Baba Wande, whose hobbies include reading the Holy Quaran has featured in over 1,000 movie production and has equally, produced many. He has also once anchored an Islamic programme on television tagged ‘Iwa Lesin’. Having put in over four decades now as an actor, Baba Wande says his greatest career wish yet is to establish a standard film village in Osun State that will be used by practitioners within and outside the state. Baba Wande thinks that such a facility will not only boost film production but it would contribute to the socio-political development of the state.”~ Africa Movie Academy Awards

Alhaji Kareem Adepoju aka Baba Wande learnt from the great theatre champion of blessed memory, Oyin Adejobi. It was while doing ‘Kootu Asipa’ (a Yoruba Television series about customary court sessions and cases) with Oyin Adejobi that Baba Wande cut his tooth and mastered acting as a profession. His soft voice and sly look also helps me deliver his scripts in the most convincing manner. He is nothing short of a genius! -Shakirudeen Adewale Alade.

He’s that type, that a Director need not show a script, but just find ways to get him to a location. He’s just that good an actor. His talent bloomed in “KUYE”, (an adaptation of a Yoruba literature book of same title), where he played the long suffering, pathetic dumb kid, who later overcame his challenges to become a King. He topped his performance, in yet another made for TV production entitled “EKURO OLOJA”, that was where his versatility, as a thespian was first noticed. He played a dubious, sycophantic villain, who attempted to usurp the choice of the Oracle, to anoint another, as the King.

He became a local legend as OTOKITI, in yet another made for TV adaptation, of yet another Yoruba literature book, tilted: “ILE TI A FI ITO MO”. He played a man who lost his fortune, to a life of recklessness, fate and bad associations. He, with a few other actors, carried the success of the WNTV later NTV Ibadan on their bare backs, as Programming went, in those early days. Oyin Adejobi, was so magnanimous and quite noble, to have allowed Alh Kareem Adepoju take so much shine off, of himself (Oyin Adejobi), in a theatre group he founded. -Odolaye Aremu.

has shown his admiration for Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s achievements, by dedicating his new movie, Agbabiaka, to the Lagos helmsman.

 With over four decades experience as an actor, Alhaji Kareem Adepoju who is popular as Baba Wande has breathed memorable life into diverse roles both on stage and on screen. But mentioning Baba Wande and they will point to the star of ‘Ti Oluwa Nile’ and countless other stage and screen productions. Baba Wande is a legend in Nigerian film industry .