Forget about his recent pictures fixated on a wan body pummelled by the ravages of old age and tortuous walk through the valley of artistic excellence.
Today, we felicitate Nigeria’s most regarded active actor (male or female) who commands a dizzying status as an icon on stage, film, television and video. Oludotun Bayewu Jacobs, MFR, has passed the great portals of the British National Theatre; has worked with some of the fathers of British post-modern feature films and television adventure dramas.
With credits in Ashanti, Dogs of War, Pirates and Vigilante, few if any, can measure up to the pearly acting skills of this Ogun State-born thespian. Let’s look up some of his big-screen credits for clarity – Movies: Customs Officer in The Dogs of War (1980), Col. Nsogbu in Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985); Boomako in Pirates (1986), and the crime celluloid, Vigilante (1988).
Longevity doesn’t necessarily bestow prestige; it is nonetheless deep in his haystacks of creative credits. Look and see his bulging TV series portfolio: The Goodies (1971), Spyder’s Web (1972), Till Death Us Do Part (1974 and 1981), The Venturers, Barlow (both 1975), Centre Play, The Crezz (both 1976); Musa Ladipo in Angels (1976-1983), 1990, The Tomorrow People, Storyteller in Jackanory (all 1978), Ashanti, Sylvester in The Professionals, Not the Nine O’Clock News (all 1979); President Gadin in Squadron (1982), African Doctor in The Mad Death (1983), Rumpole of the Bailey, Mr. Alabaster in The Witches and the Grinnygog (both 1983); Play for Today (1984); and Inspector Best Idafa in The Third Eye (1990–1993).
OJ-Naija, as pals of yore were fond of calling him, is married to the talented veteran actress, Joke Silva since 1985, and has consistently worked hard at his craft to amaze his audiences in every of his performances – irrespective of the locale or the culture.
When he deigned to check out what all the fuss about Nollywood was, he got sucked in…to the tune of no less than 500 flicks! He had an uncanny capacity to morph into the Igbo cosmology, and typecast a troubled or somnolent Eze (king) effectively… helped by his imposing gait and big tremulous voice. Here is another shortlist: Iva (1993), Another Love (1996), Obstacles (1998), Twins of the Rain Forest (short), Endtime, Oganigwe, Aba Riot (all 1999); Private Sin, The Kingmaker, Ago Kan Oru, Mission to Africa (all 2003); Eye of the Gods, Turn Table (both 2004); Soul on Fire,To Love a Stranger, Ultimate Crisis, Women in Power, A Time to Die, Omaliko, One God One Nation, Opin Irin Ajo (all 2005); The Prince and Me, One-Bullet, Royal Doom (all 2006); A Can of Worms, Beauty and the Beast, Chief Obielum in Perfect, Alhaji Sanni in Smoke & Mirrors, The Return of Ogidi, Throne of Tears (all 2008); Chief Kolade in Last Mogul of the League, League of Gentlemen, Forest of Tears, and A Weeping Soul (all 2009)… And on and on and…
It is therefore not out of place that most of today’s budding and established stars gaze at O. J. as a beacon, an inspirational fire-fly whose influence on the acting world is phenomenal.
It does feel really great to have an Olu Jacobs amongst us…to God be the glory.
We celebrate and lionise you today on your 80th birthday as you morph into the pantheons of the reverent ancients – even as you soldier on in this clime. Congratulations, sir.
