Baba Suwe

{{Infobox person

| name = Baba Suwe

| image =

| imagesize =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Babatunde Omidina

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1958|08|22}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|11|22|df=yes|1958|08|22}}{{cite web|url=https://dailypost.ng/2021/11/22/nigerian-comedy-legend-baba-suwe-is-dead |title=BREAKING: Nigerian comedy legend, Baba Suwe is dead |work=dailypost.ng |date=22 November 2021 |access-date=22 November 2021 }}

| birth_place = Lagos Island, British Nigeria

| other_names = Baba Suwe

| nationality = Nigerian

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actor
comedian}}

| parents =

| relatives =

| yearsactive = 1972–2021

| known for =

| spouse =

| known_for = Ba O ku, Baba Londoner, Aso Ibora, Obelomo, Larmloodu

| citizenship = Nigerian

| alma_mater = Ifeoluwa Grammar School

| website =

}}

Babatunde Omidina{{IPAc-en||audio=Yo-Babatunde Omidina.ogg}} (22 August 1958 – 22 November 2021) was a Nigerian actor and comedian popularly known as Baba Suwe{{IPAc-en||audio=Yo-Baba suwe.ogg}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/more-troubles-for-popular-actor-baba-suwe/101076 |title=More Troubles for Popular Actor, Baba Suwe, Articles – THISDAY LIVE |work=thisdaylive.com |access-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215130443/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/more-troubles-for-popular-actor-baba-suwe/101076 |archive-date=15 February 2015 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15895903|title=BBC News – Nigeria comic Baba Suwe compensated for drugs arrest|work=BBC News|date=25 November 2011|access-date=16 February 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Adebayo |first=Tireni |date=2021-11-22 |title=Baba Suwe is dead |url=https://www.kemifilani.ng/entertainment/baba-suwe-is-dead |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Kemi Filani News |language=en-GB}}

Early life

Baba Suwe was born on 22 August 1958, in Inabere Street in Lagos Island where he grew up but hailed from Ikorodu local government area of Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/life-omoladun-baba-suwe-finds-love-remarry-soon/|title=Life After Omoladun: Baba Suwe finds love again; to remarry soon|work=Vanguard News|date=30 August 2014|access-date=16 February 2015}}

Omidina had his primary education at Jamaitul Islamia Primary School in Lagos and Children Boarding School, Osogbo before he proceeded to Adekanbi Commercial High School in Mile 12, Lagos state but obtained the West African School Certificate from Ifeoluwa Grammar School in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, southwestern Nigeria.{{cite web|url=http://www.nigeriatell.com/news/my-ordeal-with-ndlea-tarnished-my-image-baba-suwe |title=My Ordeal With Ndlea Tarnished My Image – Baba Suwe |work=nigeriatell.com |access-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215141110/http://www.nigeriatell.com/news/my-ordeal-with-ndlea-tarnished-my-image-baba-suwe |archive-date=15 February 2015 }}

Career

Omidina began acting in 1971 but came into the limelight after he featured in a movie titled, Omolasan, a film produced by Obalende.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nigeriafilms.com/artists_profile_details.asp?user_id=1446/|title=Nollywood/ Nigeria No.1 movies/ Films resources online}}

He became more popular after he featured in Iru Esin, produced by Olaiya Igwe in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://movietainmentmagazine.com/movie-veterans-nigerian-film-icons-on-parade-part-2/|title=MOVIE VETERANS: NIGERIAN FILM ICONS ON PARADE – Part 2|author=Olawale Adegbuyi|work=The Movietainment Magazine|access-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215132635/http://movietainmentmagazine.com/movie-veterans-nigerian-film-icons-on-parade-part-2/|archive-date=15 February 2015|url-status=dead}}

He has featured in and produced several Nigerian movies such as Baba Jaiye jaiye, a movie that featured Funke Akindele and Femi Adebayo, the son of the veteran actor Adebayo Salami.{{cite web|url=http://www.pjnaijaexpress.com/2014/08/yoruba-veteran-baba-suwe-set-to-remarry.html?m=1|title=PJNaijaExpress|author=Olapeju Koya|work=pjnaijaexpress.com|access-date=16 February 2015|archive-date=13 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013165049/https://pjnaijaexpress.com/2014/08/yoruba-veteran-baba-suwe-set-to-remarry.html?m=1%2F|url-status=dead}}

In 2011, he was accused of cocaine trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, an allegation that was described as false and defamatory by the ruling of the Lagos high court of law.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/04/nigeria-baba-suwe-freed-drug|title=Nollywood star Baba Suwe beats drug rap after prison toilet watch|work=the Guardian|date=4 November 2011|access-date=16 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://leadership.ng/entertainment/357888/cocaine-scandal-ruined-career-baba-suwe|title=Cocaine Scandal Ruined My Career – Baba Suwe|author=Leadership Newspaper|date=21 March 2014|work=Nigerian News from Leadership News|access-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215141030/http://leadership.ng/entertainment/357888/cocaine-scandal-ruined-career-baba-suwe|archive-date=15 February 2015|url-status=dead}}

His solicitor was the late Bamidele Aturu, a Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist.{{cite web|url=http://saharareporters.com/2011/11/01/popular-nigerian-comedian-baba-suwe-granted-bail-alleged-drug-trafficking-case|title=Popular Nigerian Comedian Baba Suwe Granted Bail In Alleged Drug Trafficking Case|work=Sahara Reporters|date=November 2011|access-date=16 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://thenet.ng/baba-suwes-lawyer-bamidele-aturu-dies-at-49/|title=Baba Suwe's lawyer, Bamidele Aturu dies at 49 – Nigerian Entertainment Today – Nigeria's Number 1 Entertainment Daily|work=Nigerian Entertainment Today – Nigeria's Number 1 Entertainment Daily|access-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215125229/http://thenet.ng/2014/07/baba-suwes-lawyer-bamidele-aturu-dies-at-49/|archive-date=15 February 2015|url-status=live}}

Death

Omidina died on 22 November 2021.{{Cite web|date=22 November 2021|title=Baba Suwe is dead {{!}} Premium Times Nigeria|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/496762-baba-suwe-is-dead.html|access-date=23 November 2021|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=https://punchng.com/veteran-comic-actor-baba-suwe-is-dead/|title = Veteran actor Baba Suwe is dead|date = 22 November 2021}}{{Cite web|title=Baba Suwe Archives|url=https://m.guardian.ng/tag/baba-suwe/|access-date=2021-12-24|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US}}

Filmography

Baoku (1993?) (also writer and producer)
Idajo-de (1993?)
Binuseri (1994?)
Adegbesan {{Cite web |title=Adegbesan |url=https://worldcat.org/title/70733142 |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=WorldCat}} (1995?)
Wind Pipe (Gogongo) (1995)
Abi-ni-bi (1996)
Arole (1996)
Binta My Daughter (1996)
Ede (Loro Oluwa) (1996)
The Express Man (Ayarabiasa) (1996)
Human Feeling (Eleran Ara) (1996?)
Lady Terror (1996)
Ha! Obin Rin (1997)
Kotan Sibe (1997) (also writer and producer)
Special Guest (Alejo Pataki) (1997)
Wages of Sin (Ere-Ese) (1997)
Aiyedun (1998?) (also producer)
Emi-Kan ₦1000.00 (1998)
Inestimable Mother (Wura-Omo) (1999?)
Lagos Girls (Obirin Eko) (1999?)
Maradona (2003)
The Treasure (Nkan Elege) (2004)
Sikiratu Sindodo (2004)
Afefe Ti Fe... (2005)
Ayanmo Eda (2005)
Iwe Aje (2005?)
Omorewa (2005?)
Oluweri Magboojo
Oju Oloju
Baba Londoner
Aso Ibora
Obelomo
''elebolo""
Larinloodu
Aimasiko eda (2006)
O koja ofin (2007)
Nkan agbara (2008)
Ikunle kesan (2008)

References

Relevant Studies

Ajayi, Adeola Seleem Olaniyan-Adeola Mercy. "A Comic Wisdom: Taking a Philosophical Interrogation of Baba Suwe’s Postproverbials." POSTPROVERBIALS AT WORK: The Context of Radical Proverb-Making in Nigerian Languages, Aderemi Raji-Oyelade (ed.), 177-202, Online Supplement Series of Proverbium: Yearbook of International Proverb Scholarship. Vol. 4. (2024).