Ganiyu Oyeyemi, popularly known as Ogunjimi, has reunited with his ancestors. The Yoruba performer, who has graced our screens for years in roles ranging from evil herbalist to vicious warlord, has made his way to Hades.
He was an expert in incantations and possessed a rare and frightening capacity to play with raw Yoruba syllables. Ogunjimi would have cornered the grim reaper and surrounded him with incantations and strong Yoruba idioms as excess if Death had desired a hundred incantations to satisfy his demands for wadding off his stick. He was an exceptionally skilled actor.
The death of Ogunjimi is devastating not only for Nollywood but also for every admirer of talent, especially for his hometown of Osogbo. He was a man who loved customs and culture above all else. Being an actor had never been his dream. As a performer, he enjoyed dancing and having fun. He enjoyed watching masquerades and theatrical performances, but after being spotted by the late Alhaji Yekini Ajileye, he unintentionally entered the acting world. After tasting acting, Ogunjimi was unable to resist the taste. To the surprise of people like Ajileye, a film enthusiast, and others, he performed his roles superbly. He exceeded the anticipations of those who had disparaged him and turned into everyone’s favorite. Ogunjimi portrayed the “boss” in every Yoruba action film of the late 1990s and early 20s.
Ganiyu Oyeyemi was a gifted and devoted individual. For all his skill, he lacked grace, grit, and a working knowledge of the film industry. It’s true that fate has a big influence on how life unfolds. It is not a man’s destiny to truly control. Ogunjimi ought to have passed away a wealthy and powerful man, not a pauper who was unable to develop the one piece of land he was given, if skill and diligence alone are what truly make a person great in life. A warning to those who have experienced grace in their dealings: do not show off or make fun of those who labor hard but achieve nothing in return. Life occurs. Things go wrong. Still, life can be incredibly cruel.
Ogunjimi was not just an actor. If you’ve ever witnessed him in action, you know that he devours his persona whenever there’s even the slightest chance. His personalities on stage demonstrated his strong Yoruba cultural ties. Did Ogunjimi work hard to get rich? Absolutely. His goals exceeded his strengths. Despite his talent, he was not able to take use of the benefits that come with being a well-known person. He is a member of the colony of people who made a great effort, but their pursuit was not blessed with success.
Ganiyu, alias Ogunjimi, did not only act as a strong man in movies; he also displayed his perseverance and resilience in real life. Two years ago, I conducted research titled REPORT: ‘IBEJI-ORAN’, about popular twin entertainers who married the same day and died a year apart, I traveled to Osogbo, the hometown of popular Osuolale twins ‘Ibeji-Oran’. In the course of my research, I needed to visit the mother of ‘Ibeji-Ide’ and the 8-bedroom flat the twins built before their demise. Ogunjimi was helpful.
He was an ally of the late Osuolale’s twins. He used to carry them around Osogbo and sometimes carry them on his shoulders. He was carrying them when the late Alhaji Yekini Ajileye sighted them and exploited their raw talents. He was living in a family house when I visited him. He took me to the home of the late Osuolale’s twins, and I saw their mother. He also took me to his land, where he told me that he had instructed his children, relatives, and friends that he must be buried there.
Ogunjimi was undoubtedly well-liked in Osogbo. Even though he was an old taker, he was known everywhere. I apologize to tiktokers. When we were searching for Osuolale’s residence, he was actually stopped at a few places to tell a joke or say anything. He appeared to be someone who love acting. He had affection for the populace. He is a celebrity buff. He opened out to me during our journey about his personal troubles and how the passing of the late Yekini Ajileye had a profound impact on him and many others. He informed me about the accident that nearly consumed him. He recounted his years-long struggle to withstand paralysis and strokes. He was cheerful, understanding, and affectionate despite his difficulties. Because of his strong belief in fate, he ascribed his misfortunes to dark forces.
I trailed the late Ogunjimi to his family home, which he and a few elderly ladies occupied. The family home is located a short distance from the well-known Adunni Olorisha residence on Ibokun Road. I inquired him whether he had turned into a herbalist when I noticed individuals in line for consultations. He informed me that he had been a herbalist for many years. While we were walking around the family home, I noticed shrines dedicated to several gods, including Ogun and Esu. Despite being a Muslim by birth, he dedicated his life to tradition, which he actually followed.
Ogunjimi was discovered by the late Yekini Ajileye and entered the Yoruba film business in the early 1990s. Before he began acting, he was a performer and dancer. He had made numerous film appearances, including those in Koto Orun, Imoran, and Eye Mi. Though he worked so hard to shock the Yoruba film business, fate had other plans. After Ajileye turned Osogbo into a home video mecca, he was among those who rose to fame. Many abilities were lost in an erosion that occurred after Ajileye passed gone. Sadly, Ogunjimi was eroded, although notable people like Abeni Agbon, Sisi Quadri, and Iya Gbonkan survived. He passed away while attempting to ascent the celebrity ladder.
Rest in power! Ogunjimi Agajagiji Oogun!