UCH’s spokesman, Mr Deji Bobade, who confirmed that the 80-year-old artiste regarded as the father of Nigerian modern comedy was on admission in the hospital, said he was, however, stable and under good medical care.
Bobade, who would not confirm what was exactly wrong with the ailing comedian, however, assured that he was in good hands.
Olaiya, popularly called Baba Sala, was born in Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria, on May 18 1935. He started his career as a highlife musician with the Federal Rhythm Dandies group in 1964 and was a mentor to juju legend King Sunny Ade who worked as his lead guitarist.
The prolific filmmaker, who is regarded as the father of modern Nigerian comedy, alongside other dramatists like Hubert Ogunde, Kola Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi and Duro Ladipo, popularised theatre and television acting in Nigeria.
He pioneered the Yoruba comedy genre which used to travel from one place to another across the country and even sometimes outside Nigeria all through the 60s and 70s. He produced a few movies, the most popular ones being Mosebolatan, Aare Agbaiye and Orun Mooru.
Ana Gomina was in video format and the last film he made because according to him, he was badly cheated of the gains by the film marketers.
In the 70s and 80s, he had comedy series on the radio and television on a weekly basis and also produced Yoruba comedies on long playing records (LP).
Baba Sala began his life career as a civil servant (a sanitary Inspector), and taught as a part-time teacher during the day and a thrift collector in the evenings until he fully metamorphosed into a musician and band leader, and finally to a comedian.
Baba Sala began his entertainment career in secondary school where he started performing magic with which he toured other schools and held public performances. After his secondary school education, he left for Lagos where he worked as a driver with Empire Hotel and later as a sanitary inspector – but still retained his passion for entertainment.
He was also a highlife musician 51 years ago. The group later deviated to theatre. He started off acting in Pidgin English, and even won an award at the old WNTV/WNBS. He was no doubt the undisputed king of comedy.
Age has mellowed the very active veteran actor who now lives in Ilesha his hometown, Osun State. These days church activities take a lot of his time as he is an Elder Apostle in the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Unification Church. On Dec 5, 2011, the veteran actor was said to have suffered stroke, but he survived. At a time he had 16 wives and fathers more than 50 children.
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