It has now been revealed how veteran actor and playwright, Adebayo Faleti who died on Sunday in his home at age 86 died. He died while taking his bath
It has now been revealed how veteran actor and playwright, Adebayo Faleti who died on Sunday in his home at age 86 died. He died while taking his bath shortly after his morning prayers. One of his sons, Adeniyi, who gave an account of how Adebayo Faleti died said he was helping his father with his bath when he died.
According to him, his father observed the early morning devotion with his family members and soon after told them that he had prayed to God to send someone else to continue his mission as he was tired and longing for home. He also said that he asked for hot pap, which he took before his death.
Adeniyi said, “After the morning devotion, I helped him to the bathroom as I normally did. He said he wanted God to send someone else to come and complete his work because he had done all he could do. He also said that he wanted to go home. Suddenly, I noticed that he was not breathing again. We took him to the University College Hospital, Ibadan where he was confirmed dead. We shall miss him greatly.”
Also, Adebayo Faleti’s first son, Ayoola, said he spoke with his father three days ago and that he was on his way home when he was told that his father had passed on.
“In his usual practice, he called me three days ago and we discussed like father and son. After I received a call this morning from my brother concerning the state of his health, I hit the road to come home and see him but I did not meet him alive. He died before I could reach home. He took care of all his children and gave us good education. We shall all miss him,” said Ayoola.
Another son of the late actor, Gbemi, said that the family would remain grateful to God for granting their father a good life.
“He reached the peak of his career in life. As an actor, he was a celebrated artiste, as an administrator, he headed the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State and the Oyo State office of the defunct Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery. He fitted into every good role that a father and a friend could play. He was caring and loved by all. We are sad about his demise but we are grateful for a fulfilled life he lived. He is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, that is a grace anyone should be thankful for,” Gbemi said.
Jare, another son of the deceased, who resides in the US wrote on his Face book page
“What a life! I wrote on Facebook two days ago about life being transient. I never knew death was at my own backyard already. You took my father away from me – Iku (death). I never knew this would be my last picture with you – Adebayo Faleti. #Tears. RIP to the man I love more than anything in the world. A giant has fallen,” he posted.
Adebayo Faleti, one of Nollywood’s most respected icon in his lifetime was a broadcaster, poet and writer. He targeted his energy at the promotion of culture as a cultural ambassador. He was also known as a Yoruba translator and was responsible for translating Nigeria’s National Anthem from English to Yoruba. He also translated speeches being made by military president of Nigeria Ibrahim Babangida and Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of National Interim Government of Nigeria, from English to Yoruba. Faleti published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.
He was also a pioneer of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) and received many awards, both locally and internationally, including the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) the Festival of Arts award with Eda Ko L’aropin (1995) and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts (2002).
