Tunde Kelani

Nigerian filmmaker (born 1948)

Tunde Kelani

Born|  (1948-02-26) 26 February 1948 (age 77)

Lagos, British Nigeria

Alma mater| London Film School
Occupation| Filmmaker
Known for|

* Owner of Mainframe Films and Television Productions

Website| mainframemovies.tv

Tunde Kelani (born February 26,1946), popularly known as TK, is a Nigerian filmmaker. In a career spanning more than four decades, TK specialises in producing movies that promote Nigeria's cultural heritage, particularly that of the Yoruba.[1] He is also known for his screen adaptions of Nigerian novels and plays. These include Koseegbe, O le ku, Thunder Bolt: Magun, The Narrow Path, White Handkerchief, Maami and Dazzling Mirage.[2][3]

## Early life

[edit]

Tunde Kelani was born in Lagos. At the age of five, he was sent to live with his grandparents at Abeokuta in Ogun State. He attended the Oke-Ona Primary School in Ikija, Abeokuta and Abeokuta Grammar School for his secondary education. His grandfather was a chief, the Balogun of Ijaiye Kukudi, one who provided the young Kelani a deep exposure to Yoruba literature, religion, philosophy and arts.[4]

He was especially influenced by Yoruba theatre and in secondary school saw many Yoruba classics, including The Palm-Wine Drinkard, Oba Koso, Kurunmi and works by the playwright Herbert Ogunde.[5]

From his early student days he was also interested in photography and became an apprentice photographer after completing secondary school. He then trained at Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) before attending the London Film School.[6]

## Early career

[edit]

In the 1970s, Kelani worked as a BBC TV and Reuters correspondent and in Nigerian TV. His assignments for Reuters included travelling to Ethiopia to cover the drought and to Zimbabwe to report on its independence.[6] Once he completed his studies at London Film School, he returned to Nigeria and co-produced his first film with Adebayo Faleti, The Dilemma of Rev. Father Michael (Idaamu Paadi Minkailu) with a screenplay by Lola Fani-Kayode. Other co-producers included Alhaji Lasisi Oriekun, Wale Fanubi, his partner from Cinekraft, and Yemi Farounbi.[7]

Kelani has also worked on numerous Nigieran films as a cinematographer. Some of these 16mm features include: Anikura; Ogun Ajaye; Iya Ni Wura; Taxi Driver; Iwa and Fopomoyo.[8] In 1990, Kelani was an assistant director and an actor in the 1990 film Mister Johnson, the first American film shot on location in Nigeria.[9] Starring Pierce Brosnan and Maynard Eziashi, the film was based on a 1939 novel by Joyce Cary.[10][11][12][13]

## Literary adaptations

[edit]

Kelani was an avid reader from a young age and particularly drawn to authors such as D. O. Fagunwa who centered their writings on their Yorùbá heritage.[14] Once he discovered the relationship between literature and filmmaking, he decided to prioritize adapting literary works to the screen. His favourite writers include Kola Akinlade, Pa Amos Tutuola, Cyprian Ekwensi, Akinwunmi Ishola, Adebayo Faleti, Wale Ogunyemi and Wole Soyinka.[15]

Some of Kelani's most successful films are Nigerian literary adaptations such as: Koseegbe (1995) Oleku (1997), Thunderbolt: Magun, The White Handkerchief (1998), The Narrow Path (2006), Maami (2011) and Dazzling Mirage (2014).[16]

## Production company

[edit]

In 1991, Kelani established his production company, Mainframe Films and Television Productions with a focus on adapting Nigerian novels and plays to the big screen.[17]

Under the Mainframe banner, Kelani directed his first film Ti Oluwa Nile (1993), which remains one of Yoruba's best selling films.[18] Other Mainframe productions directed by Kelani followed including Ayo Ni Mo Fe (1994), Koseegbe (1995) Oleku (1997), Thunderbolt: Magun, Saworoide (1999) Agogo Eewo(2002), The Campus Queen (2004), Abeni (2006)The Narrow Path (2006), Arugba (2008), Maami (2011),[19][20] and Dazzling Mirage (2014), an adaptation of an Olayinka Egbokhare novel about a sickle-cell sufferer who overcomes social stigma, prejudice and low self-esteem, to achieve success, marriage and motherhood. Kelani aimed to bring awareness to sickle-cell and help people make better informed decisions.[21]

## Filmography

[edit]

Year  | Film  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1982  | Orun Mooru | as a cinematographer  |
1993  | Ti Oluwa Nile 1
Ti Oluwa Nile 2 | Director  | starring; Grace Oyin Adejobi, Kareem Adepoju, Dele Odule
Ti Oluwa Nile 3
1994  | Ayo Ni Mofe | Director  | starring: Bola Obot, Yomi Ogunmola, Yinka Oyedepo
Ayo Ni Mofe 2
1995  | Koseegbe | Director  | starring: Toyin Adegbola, Laide Adewale, Master Ajuwon
1997  | O Le Ku | Director  | starring: Tunde Adegbola, Deji Adenuga, Laide Adewale
1999  | Saworoide
2000  | The White Handkerchief | Director/Producer  | starring: Yinka Akanbi, Kemi Akanni, Yemi Akomolafe
2001  | Thunderbolt: Magun | Director/Producer  | starring: Uche Ama Abriel, Bose Aderibigbe, Bukky Ajayi
2002  | Agogo Eewo | Director/Producer  | starring: Gbenga Adebayo, Aderemi Adedeji, Tunde Adegbola
2004  | The Campus Queen | Director  | starring: Henry Abba, Segun Adefila
2006  | Abeni | Director/Producer  | starring: Kareem Adepoju
The Narrow Path | Director/Producer  |
2008  | Life in Slow Motion | Director/Producer  |
2010  | Arugba | Director/Producer  |
2011  | Maami | Director/Producer  |
2015  | Dazzling Mirage | Director/Producer  |
2017  | Sis Ilujinle | Director  | starring Lanre Hassan, Aishat Onitiri
2021  | Ayinla | Director  | starring: Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Ademoye
2021  | Cordelia | Director  | starring: Femi Adebayo, Bukunmi Adeola, Jumoke Ajadi
2024  | Ebrohimie Road: A Museum of Memory | Cinematographer  | Starring: Wole Soyinka, Olayide Soyinka, Femi Euba, Nelson Fashina, Folabo Ajayi-Soyinka, Olaokun Soyinka

## See also

[edit]

* List of Nigerian film producers
* Mainframe Film and Media Institute[22]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ www.premiumtimesng.com https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/423584-interview-my-films-reflect-my-cultural-identity-personal-and-emotional-connection-tunde-kelani.html. Retrieved 8 December 2024. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
2. ^ "Interview with Tunde Kelani". MasterClass on Nollywood, British Film Institute.
3. ^ "Tunde Kelani". Africa Movie Academy Awards.
4. ^ "We'll redefine African Cinema – Tunde Kelani". Nollywood Magazine. Retrieved 10 April 2004.
5. ^ "Tunde Kelani, Cinematographer per excellence". Sunday News Watch.
6. ^ a b Moorman, Marissa. "Not Nollywood: An Interview with Nigerian Filmmaker Tunde Kelani". Africa is a Country. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
7. ^ Obenson, Tambay A. "Get To Know Veteran Nigerian Director Tunde Kelani in New Life/Career Profile w/ The Filmmaker". IndieWire. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
8. ^ "Tunde Kelani Biography". IMDb.
9. ^ Sinyard, Neil (24 September 2015). "Mister Johnson: Off the Beaten Track | Current | The Criterion Collection".
10. ^ Bada, Gbenga. "'I once acted as Piers Brosnan houseboy,' Tunde Kelani". Movie Moments.
11. ^ "Mister Johnson (1991)". Rotten Tomatoes.
12. ^ Olakitan, Yemi (29 August 2013). "Rare Interview with Tunde Kelani". Yoruba Acting and Movies. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
13. ^ "Mister Johnson". IMDb.
14. ^ mattlecznar (1 June 2017). "Review: Introduction to the filmmaker Tunde Kelani and review of his film Pyrolysis or Paralysis". Retrieved 8 December 2024.
15. ^ "Filmmaker Tunde Kelani Brings Nigerian Literature to Life". Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries.
16. ^ Ofeimun, Odia (9 July 2013). "In Defense of the Films We Have Made". Chronic Chimurenga. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
17. ^ "About the Director, Tunde Kelani". AFF Inc. Films Archive.
18. ^ David, Obed (23 June 2024). "Tunde Kelani, Baba Wande reconcile, end 30-year feud". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
19. ^ BONETTI Mahen and REDDY Prerana, ed. (2003). Through African Eyes | Vol.1 – Dialogues with the Directors. African Film Festival, Inc. and Printinfo JV LLC. p. 106.
20. ^ "Tunde Kelani Receives Award at Dubai International". Nollywood by Mindspace. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
21. ^ Okonkwo, Oge (5 December 2013). "The trailer is here! Tunde Kelani presents new movie, 'Dazzling Mirage'". YNaija. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
22. ^ "Tunde Kelani launches film school". Retrieved 16 May 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Tunde Kelani at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
* Quotations from Wikiquote

* Tunde Kelani Official website
* Dazzling Mirage Official website
* Academic analysis of Tunde Kelani's writings
* Tunde Kelani at IMDb
* Tunde Kelani at Rotten Tomatoes

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Tunde Kelani

* Ti Oluwa Ni Ile (1993)
* Ayo Ni Mofe (1994)
* Koseegbe (1995)
* O Le Ku (1997)
* Saworoide (1999)
* The White Handkerchief (2000)
* Thunderbolt: Magun (2001)
* Agogo Eewo (2002)
* The Campus Queen (2004)
* Abeni (2006)
* Arugba (2010)
* Maami (2011)
* Dazzling Mirage (2014)
* Ayinla (2021)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Netherlands
* Israel

Other|

* IdRef

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