Oga Bello
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| Born | Adebayo Salami (1952-05-09) 9 May 1952 (age 72) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Citizenship | Nigerian |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, filmmaker and film director |
| Years active | 1964 — present |
| Children | Femi Adebayo |
Adebayo Salami Listenⓘ popularly known by his stage name Oga Bello (Listenⓘ) (born 9 May 1952), is a veteran Nigerian actor, filmmaker, film producer, and director.[1][2][3]
Adebayo is married to two wives and has eighteen children (9 sons and 9 daughters)[4]
Salami is of Kwara descent, and was born on 9 May 1953 in Lagos State where he had both his primary and secondary education.[5]
He began his acting career in 1964, with a group called Young Concert Party, under the leadership of Ojo Ladipo, popularly known as Baba Mero. After a few years, the group changed its name to Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group and later metamorphosed into Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group.[6] Following the demise of Ojo Ladipo in 1978, Salami took the mantle of leadership of the group, which brought him into the limelight.[7]
He featured in the first Yoruba film, Ajani Ogun, in which the late Adeyemi Afolayan, the father of Kunle Afolayan and Gabriel Afolayan, plays the lead role.[8]
He was also featured in a movie titled Kadara by Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love).[9] He later featured in the popular Nigerian comedy series Comedy half-hour with the stage name Oga Bello.[10]
He produced his first movie, Ogun Ajaye, in 1985, from the stable of Awada Kerikeri.[11]
Since 1985, he has produced, directed, and featured in several Yoruba movies.[12]
He was a pioneer member of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners,[13] and also served as president of the association.[14]
