ANA mourns former President Professor Kole Omotoso
By Wole Adedoyin
The Association of Nigerian Authors has mourned the passing of a distinguished former president, Professor Bankole Ajibabi Omotoso, widely known as Kole Omotoso. The renowned academic and celebrated author passed away at the age of 80 in Cape Coast, South Africa.
In an official statement released by the General Secretary of ANA, it was revealed that Kole Omotoso played a pivotal role in the association’s history. He served as the first General Secretary of ANA under the leadership of the iconic Prof. Chinua Achebe from 1981 to 1986. Following his significant contributions, he assumed the presidency of ANA in 1986, with the gifted poet, Odia Ofeimun, serving as his General Secretary.
During his tenure as President from 1986 to 1988, Kole Omotoso demonstrated unwavering dedication to ANA’s mission of fostering a dynamic community of creative writers, founded on the principles of free expression and ethical integrity.
Born into a Yoruba family in Akure, Ondo State on April 21, 1943, Kole Omotoso’s early life experiences greatly influenced his trajectory as a writer. He received his education at King’s College, Lagos, and the University of Ibadan before pursuing a doctoral thesis on the modern Arabic writer, Ahmad Ba Kathir, at the University of Edinburgh.
Omotoso’s academic journey led him back to Nigeria, where he lectured on Arabic studies at the University of Ibadan from 1972 to 1976. He then shifted his focus to drama at the University of Ife, where he worked until 1988. His prowess as a writer earned him a reputation among Nigeria’s literati, and he contributed to several magazines as a columnist in the 1970s.
In 1988, Kole Omotoso’s groundbreaking historical novel, “Just Before Dawn,” sparked controversy that ultimately compelled him to leave his homeland. He ventured abroad, serving as a visiting professor at the University of Stirling and the National University of Lesotho, while also being associated with the Talawa Theatre Company in London. Eventually, he assumed the position of professor of English at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa from 1991 to 2000. Subsequently, he served as a professor in the Drama Department at Stellenbosch University from 2001 to 2003.
Apart from his academic endeavors, Kole Omotoso’s charisma and talent also led him to the world of acting. He gained recognition as the “Yebo Gogo man” in Vodacom mobile phone advertisements in the mid-1990s and 2010s. Notably, he portrayed Govan Mbeki, Nelson Mandela’s fellow prisoner on Robben Island, in the 1997 television drama film “Mandela and de Klerk.”
Kole Omotoso was a family man, married with three children, including filmmaker Akin Omotoso and writer Yewande Omotoso. He resided in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa, where he left a lasting impact on the literary and academic communities.
The statement partly read, “The world lost a profound literary voice on 19th July 2023 when Kole Omotoso passed away in Johannesburg after a prolonged period of illness, as confirmed by his son Akin.
“ANA mourns the loss of this exceptional individual, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire literary fraternity. Kole Omotoso’s remarkable legacy will continue to inspire generations of writers and scholars, leaving an indelible imprint on the literary landscape.”
