TWO YEAR'S REMEMBRANCE OF AN ICON; CHIEF JIMOH ALIU.
....Nigerian dramatist, sculptor, film writer, playwright and director.
Jimoh Aliu (popularly known as Aworo) was born on Novemebr 11th, 1939 in Okemesi, Ekiti West local government area of Ekiti State. He is a seasoned artiste, producer, location designer, director, make-up artist and singer.
He is widely known to have attended the elementary school for just six months and born in mystifying circumstances. His father, Aliu Fakoya, was an Muslim and Ifa priest who hailed from Oke-Imesi but his mother from Iloro-Ekiti. As an itinerant Ifa Priest and Diviner, Aliu Fakoya took his son, Jimoh' to places like Ijebu-ode, Ifo, Ota, Odogbolu, Sagamu, Ada, Aagba, Iresi, Otan-Aiyegbaju and Lagos. Jimoh attended the old St. Peter Catholic Primary School Okemesi he was taught the art of divination by his father, as well as the use of herbs. When Jimoh was in Lagos, he learnt the trade of bricklaying, tailoring and driving.
In 1959, Aliu joined the Ogungbe Theatre and remained there until 1966. With Ogungbe Theatre he toured almost all towns in old Western Region now Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. In 1966, he left Ogungbe Theatre, and formed Jimoh Aliu Concert Party. This group was based in Ikare Akoko in Ondo State.
Jimoh is a highly respected classical Theatre Arts practitioner with a passionate interest in the life of the community and its cultural heritage, as well as commentator on Nigeria culture abroad, Chief Jimoh Aliu form a bridge between the old and the new Nigeria. He is an actor, scriptwriter, producer/director, singer, dancer and makeup artist, costumes and location designer. He began his acting career in 1959, when Akin Ogungbe, a Nigerian veteran dramatist visited his hometown. He became famous for his hit TV productions, "Arelu" and "Yanpon Yanrin", which bore famous characters like Fadeyi Oloro, Orisabunmi and Aworo.
In 1967, he joined the Nigeria Army. He was lucky that his superior officers quickly identified his talent as a dramatist. He was mobilized to tour the liberated areas, communicating soldiers in the war affected areas during the civil war. He used Pidgin English as a means of communication while he was performing for the Nigeria Army in the war fronts. He performed in places like Uyo, Eket, Enugu, Onisha, Aba, Port-Harcourt, Benin and some areas of the Northern part of Nigerian. Played acted for the soldiers include. Arugbo soge, Fesoyaiye, and Ojuenimala. He performed for the 12 State governments at the Police College Hall, Kaduna during the Nigeria Army Sports week in 1975.
He retired from the Army in 1975 to carry on as an independent artist, under the name Jimoh Aliu Cultural Group. Apart from touring many parts of Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara and Bendel States, he has performed for Nigerian Television, Sokoto, Minna, Jos and Akure. He produced four series of play for ATOKA the Yoruba photo play magazine. He also produced many radio plays, including: Ma boreje, Afopina, Odu-Ifa,/gba-Oro, Orunmila, Orisa Adimula, Igbo Olodumare, Iku jare eda, Agba-arin, Laalu, and Kutupuu.
His Television play, Igbo Olodumare based on a novel written by D.O. Fagunwa and commissioned by Yemi Farounbi, as General Manager NTV Akure marked a watershed in his career. The programme was such a huge success in Ondo State, and represents till today, the most creative programme by any Television Station in Ondo State. Igbo Olodumare, was shown in all the Yoruba speaking states having been on NTA Ilorin, NTA Abeokuta, NTA Akure and BCOS-TV, Ibadan. His other television drama series Igba Oro produced by Yemi Farounbi Labs Deroy Centre Limited, was shown on OSRC-TV Ibadan, NTA Abeokuta, NTA Ikeja, OSRC TV Akure and NTA Ilorin. Jimoh Aliu is a resourceful actor, who has feature in many Ogunde’s films as actor, make-up artist, costume-designer etc. It is around the creative artiste, versed in Yoruba Culture, that Agba-Arin is woven around. AGBA-ARIN brings together a rich collection of the best artistes and Jimoh brings the authentic creative Nigerian.
Aliu was formerly married to his colleague and Orisabunmi star, Folake Aremu, before they parted ways after 20 years of marriage. He currently has two wives - Queen Bola and Folashade.
After years on the airwaves, he was honoured with a National Merit Award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) in December 2005.
The Veteran actor and playwright icon, Chief Jimoh Aliu, died at the aged of 86years in 2020.
We love you.
We remember you, continue to rest in the bottom of Almighty God.
