Veteran actor Adebayo Salami, also known as Oga Bello, shared that he nearly left acting after being accused in connection with the deaths of his mentor Ojo “Baba Mero” Ladipo and the theatre pioneer’s wife.
In an interview on Feel Right News TV on YouTube, Salami said these accusations were the hardest part of his career and made him consider leaving acting.
He did not say why the accusations started or who was responsible, but explained that they grew stronger after Baba Mero and his wife died, which left him deeply upset.
Baba Mero helped start the Yoruba travelling theatre and comedy. He created the Young Concert Party, which later became the Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group and eventually the Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group.
He died in 1978 after a long illness, and his wife, known as Iya Mero, passed away seven years later. After they both died, Salami became the leader of the theatre group.
Recalling the difficult period, he said, “My saddest day on earth was when my boss, Baba Mero, died. There were other sad days as well, but that was the worst. The circumstances that led to his death were a lot to bear; he was sick for a long time, and people were saying a lot of things about me regarding the sickness and his eventual death.
“I was also sad when his wife died. With all the problems I faced at that time, I decided to quit acting, because seven years after Baba Mero died, his wife also died. There was nothing people didn’t say about me. I was accused of killing them and doing a lot of things to the family and the theatre group.”
Salami said the accusations became overwhelming, but declined to reveal what led to them.
“A lot happened, but I can’t say much because if I do, it will touch a lot of people, and whatever I say is what people will hold on to. Aside from people who knew I was their boss, a lot of people said bad things about me, but I can’t reply to them.”
According to the actor, his decision to leave acting was reversed after veteran theatre icon Hubert Ogunde intervened.
He recalled that shortly after the burial of Baba Mero’s wife, Ogunde invited him for a meeting after hearing that he wanted to leave the profession.
He said, “Before we buried my boss’s wife, it took too long, but when we finally buried her, I don’t know how Baba Ogunde heard about my decision to quit acting. When he called me, I went to meet him, and he said, ‘I was told you said you’re not doing theatre again.’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’
“He asked what had happened. I explained everything to him, and he said, ‘What has my eyes seen? Don’t I know that my problems will be as great as my success? Anybody who faces tribulations gets elevated. There’s a way for you in this profession. Go and continue, and I’ll be praying for you.’”
Salami said the conversation changed his mind.
“He was the one who spoke to me, and I changed my mind and returned to acting.”
