June 23, (THEWILL) – Veteran Yoruba actor, Kareem Adepoju, aka Baba Wande and movie producer, Tunde Kelani, have sheath their warring swords and reconciled.
The decades-long dispute between both parties stemmed from royalty payments from the 1993 film, ‘Ti Oluwa Ni Ile’.
Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, was instrumental in their reconciliation and appointed Dotun Taylor, the Asoju Asa Oodua of Ife, to broker peace between Baba Wande and Kelani.
The filmmaker, who owns Aroba Groove Limited, an international cultural organisation, said the Ooni chose him because of his love for promoting Nigerian culture and arts.
The Asoju Asa Oodua to the Ooni said he went with some delegates from the palace to visit Kelani at his home in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, to seal the settlement.
He said the reconciliation birthed the seamless production of a stage play ‘Asiyanbi Ti Oluwa Ni Ile’, an adaptation of ‘Ti Oluwa Ni Ile’.
“This historic reconciliation is a testament to the Ooni of Ife’s commitment to promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage and the core aim of Aroba Groove Ltd. in preserving the rich cultural history of the Yoruba lineage.
“The Aroba Groove successfully mediated the reconciliation which has given birth to the seamless production of ‘ASIYANBI’, the stage adaptation of TI OLUWA NILE.
“ASIYANBI is produced by Aroba Groove in collaboration with the House of Oduduwa with the endorsement of the Ooni of Ife, for the younger generation to learn the rich history of Yoruba culture,” he said.
‘Ti Oluwa Nile’, initially written by Adepoju in 1987, was transformed into a three-part movie in 1993 through Kilani’s Mainframe Films and Television Productions.
In the statement, Taylor also praised the veteran entertainers for agreeing to settle their long-standing feud.
“Their actions demonstrate the importance of intergenerational collaboration, ensuring a seamless transfer of knowledge and values between the old guard and the next generation.
“By working together, we can avoid misunderstandings and misaligned efforts, ultimately driving progress and development in the entertainment industry,” he added.
