(Adebayo Salam. Photo Credit: Nollywire)
Veteran Nigerian actor Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello, has revealed that false rumours surrounding the de@ths of his mentor and his mentor’s wife almost forced him to leave the acting profession permanently.
In a recent interview with a television programme, the 73-year-old actor shared the deep emotional toll he faced after the passing of his former boss and mentor, Ojo Ladipo, popularly known as Baba Mero, in 1978.
The tragedy was compounded seven years later when Baba Mero’s wife also passed away.
Salami explained that during this difficult period, public speculation and malicious rumours falsely accused him of being responsible for their de@ths, saying the suffering he went through was immense and made him conclude that he was no longer interested in theatre, adding that there was nothing the public did not say about him, including claims that he was the one k!lling them.
Despite the intense pressure and false allegations, Salami chose to continue his late mentor’s legacy.
As second-in-command at the time, he assumed leadership of the Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group following Ladipo’s death, a move that eventually propelled him into the national spotlight.
Salami, whose career began in 1964, has since become a major force in the Yoruba film industry as an actor, producer, and director.
His creative legacy lives on through his sons, Femi, Tope, and Sodiq Adebayo, who are also successful actors and filmmakers.
The veteran actor recently announced plans to release a new movie to mark his 60th year in the entertainment industry.