In the 1980s, when it was rare to see female actors take on the role of a war hero in Nigerian movies and TV drama, Folake ‘Orisabunmi’ Aremu made her debut in the TV drama ‘Arelu’ as a war hero.
Her role in the movie cemented Orisabunmi’s place as one of Nigeria’s best and most versatile actresses from the 1980s until her death on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
Before ‘Arelu’, she debuted as a young actor in ‘Ma Binu Ori’, but her role in ‘Arelu’ shot her to the limelight and earned her a seat in Nollywood’s honour’s roll.
Orisabunmi will be remembered for her rendition of Ifa and Osun panegyrics, passion for the art, her astonishing beauty and her messianic roles in movies. However, Antar Laniyan, a respected Nollywood actor-director, told Netng that the unique character she created would be difficult to fill.
Before her acting career beckoned, she worked as a teacher for two years and as a secretary at Sunny Radio in Ilorin, Kwara State, where she was born on October 10, 1960. Her acting career took shape when she joined the Jimoh Aliu Theatre group founded by Chief Jimoh Aliu, also known as Aworo. She would later marry the man who gave her the platform to become one of Nigeria’s best actresses of all time, but the union didn’t last, neither did it produce a child.
Five months after her death, her popularity has not waned, data gathered by ID Africa, organisers of Net Honours, have shown. Orisabunmi has now clinched a posthumous ‘Most Searched Actress’ award at this year’s edition of NET Honours, beating other top nominees – Regina Daniels, Moji Afolayan, Tamara Eteimo, and Funke Akindele.
The award is another confirmation of the saying that you’ll travel far to see a Nigerian not familiar with Orisabunmi, whose acting career spanned more than 40 years before her death of an undisclosed ailment.
Since she was laid to rest in her hometown Olla in Kwara State, on Monday, January 28, 2021, Nollywood appears to be searching for an actor who can take on her role, but it will be a very long unending search. Folake Aremu was a rare actor specially moulded for the Orisabunmi character. Finding her replacement may be a race in a circle.
Written by Michael Orodare
