Seasoned movie producer cum director and former Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area, Tunde Hundeyin, has joined the septuagenarian club. The foremost producer who is the founder of Dudu Productions staged his 70th birthday amidst fanfare last week.
The event, tagged Dudu at 70, was well attended by film makers, footballers, politicians, friends and family of the celebrant. Torrents of accolades have since been pouring in from home and abroad for one of the pioneers of motion pictures in Nigeria.
Broadcaster Bisi Olatilo supervised the cutting of the four-tier cake during the birthday bash. Segun Odegbami, who was also present at the ceremony, paid glowing tributes to Hundeyin, during the ceremony.
The native of Badagry in Lagos State was responsible for leading the River State’s musical troupe to the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts Culture, aka FESTAC “77 in Lagos. His company, Dudu Productions produced many top music artistes in the ’80s and ’90s, including, Sunny Okosun, Majek Fashek, Onyeka Onwenu, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Adewale Stubs, Wasiu Ayinde, Orits Wiliki, Blacky, Chris Okotie.
Sir Shina Peters’ evergreen album, ‘Ace’, which is regarded as the first commercial music video in Nigeria in 1989 was produced by Dudu Productions.
Hundeyin, also produced and directed box office hits like ‘Iyawo Alhaji’ in 1994 and ‘Ami Orun’ in 1996. He registered his name as one of the youngest Nigerians to film on celluloid in 1983 with his work as a director in Yoruba hit series, ‘Ireke Onibudo’, which was produced by Bayo Aderohunmu.
Hundeyin veered into politics in 2002 when he was elected Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
