Olatubosun Oladapo

Olatubosun Oladapo
Born	Ọlátúbọ̀sún Ọládàpọ̀ (1943-09-19) September 19, 1943 Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Other names	Tubosun Oladapo, Olatunbosun Oladapo
Alma mater	University of Lagos
Occupation(s)	Poet, Writer, Record Producer
Parent(s)	Daniel Akanji Oladapo, Segilola Oladapo

Ọlátúbọ̀sún Ọládàpọ̀ (born September 19, 1943), also known as Túbọ́sún Ọládàpọ̀ and Odídẹrẹ́ Ayékòótọ́, is a Nigerian Yoruba-language folk poet, playwright, music producer, radio personality/broadcaster, writer, and researcher. His work primarily focuses on a Yorùbá-speaking audience in South-West Nigeria.

Life, literary, and broadcasting career

Oladapo attended Phillip's Primary School in Ararọmi Owu, Osun State, in 1950. He attended St. James’ Olanla in Akinyele, Ibadan, from 1951 to 1954, and later the University of Lagos.

He trained at St. Luke's Teachers’ Training College, Ibadan, where he began performing poetry with a presentation at the school's 1965 festival of arts. He performed Ìjálá Yorùbá oral poetry. According to an interview, he stated, "It was at St. Luke’s that my talent in drama was discovered, and it was on account of this that I was sent to the University of Lagos to study for a diploma in Yorùbá Studies free of charge. I came out with a distinction in that program." He completed his degree in 1967 and was posted to St. David's School, Kudeti, Ibadan.

In 1969, he joined GbounGboun, described as a Yorùbá newspaper, where he worked for a year before moving to Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) and Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS) in 1970. Oladapo resigned in 1977 to found Olatubosun Records, a record company focused on promoting and producing indigenous-language artists and folk poets across the Yorùbá region.

He has produced approximately 51 albums and 200 artists’ records on the label, including works by Ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n Ògúndáre Fọ́yánmu from Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, Odòlayé Àrẹ̀mú from Kwara, Àyányẹmí Atoko, Àlàbí Ògúndépò, and Duro Ladipo International Theatre, among others. His personal Yoruba poetry (ewì) albums typically feature Yorùbá poetry recited over folk music orchestration. Oládàpọ̀'s backup choir once included "K-12 Voices," led by Diípọ̀ Ṣódiípọ̀.

Writing

Oladapo has authored about 29 books, some of which are used in primary and secondary schools, and universities in Nigeria and abroad.

He is the author of two poetry collections, Àròyé Akéwì (1 and 2) and Àròfọ̀ Àwọn Ọmọdé. His plays Ògún Lákáayé and Ẹ̀gbádé Fáladé were joint prize winners of the Oxford University Press drama competition in 1970.

Olatubosun Records

Ọlátúbọ̀sún Records Company (also sometimes called Ọlátúbọ̀sún Records), founded by Oladapo in 1977, is an indigenous language record label. It has produced more than two hundred albums of notable Yorùbá language poets and performers, including Odolaye Aremu, Batile Alake, Ogundare Foyanmu, Duro Ladipo, Alabi Ogundepo, and many others, including Oladapo himself.