Obafemi Lasode, the celebrated filmmaker, music executive, and creative powerhouse behind the iconic 1997 film Sango, has passed on.
Born on December 4, 1955, in Port Harcourt and hailing from Abeokuta, Lasode was a film director, producer, songwriter, and playwright. He was best known as the CEO of Even-Ezra Nigeria Limited, the production company that brought Sango, a cultural milestone in Nollywood history, to life.
Lasode’s creative journey was backed by a solid academic foundation. After attending St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, he earned a BSc in Business Administration from Kogod School of Business, Washington D.C., and an MSc in Communication Arts from the City University of New York.
He launched his professional career in the U.S., serving as a promotions coordinator for Inner City Broadcasting Corporation in New York. In 1984, he made history by bringing Nigerian legend Sonny Okosun to the iconic Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
Returning to Nigeria in the late ’80s, Lasode launched Afrika in Vogue on Radio Nigeria 2, a bold, forward-thinking music programme that spotlighted African sounds at a time the industry was still finding its voice. In 1995, he founded Afrika ’n Vogue/Even-Ezra Studios, a move that further solidified his impact on the culture.
A respected scholar, he also authored Television Broadcasting: The Nigerian Experience (1959–1992), a widely adopted text in Nigerian universities.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the entertainment industry, honouring Lasode’s towering legacy and the indelible mark he left on Nigerian film, music, and media.
Rest well, legend.
