Tunde Kelani, the ace filmmaker, has mourned Olu Jacobs, the late actor.
He recalled how their first meeting in 1978 left an indelible mark on him.
Jacobs’ death was announced by Olusoji Jacobs, his son, on Wednesday. The cause of death was not disclosed.
In a long-read post on X, Kelani recalled meeting Jacobs in the United Kingdom in 1978. The late actor led his first production at the London Film School.
Kelani said he and some Nigerian classmates were working on their final graduation project. They adapted Amadu Maddy’s novel No Past, No Present, No Future into their diploma film, Trying Times.
“I first crossed paths with Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, fondly known to many of us as Uncle Olu Jacobs, in 1978,” the post reads.
“A small collective of Nigerian classmates at the London Film School, including Adefolu, George, Femi Aloba, and yours truly, had banded together for our final graduation project. We set out to adapt Amadu Maddy’s novel No Past, No Present, No Future into our diploma film, Trying Times.
“We were young, ambitious, and eager to carry home tangible proof of our training in the art and technique of cinema from that historic institution.
“At the time, Olu Jacobs was a vibrant presence at the nearby Africa Centre in Covent Garden. From that very first encounter, he left an indelible mark on me: a consummate, classically trained actor with a commanding presence, yet generous enough to lead our student production without asking for a fee—his only condition being that we provide him a meal across our three-day shoot.”
Kelani recalls Jacobs’ career
Kelani said filming Jacobs’ performance remains an unforgettable blessing in his life.
“The camera never forgets; it remains an unforgettable blessing in my life that I had the opportunity to capture that rare intensity on 16mm celluloid film,” he said.
The filmmaker also recalled Jacobs’ decision to return to Nigeria. At the time, he had a successful career abroad.
“It took extraordinary courage and vision for Uncle Olu to walk away from a flourishing career abroad.
“He had already established an enviable reputation across the British stage, television, and international cinema, working on productions like Pirates under Roman Polanski, yet he chose to return home.
“At a time when shooting on analogue video seemed absurd to conventional filmmakers, he embraced the nascent Nollywood movement.”
Kelani said Jacobs’ legacy goes beyond the accolades he received.
“Yet accolades alone cannot capture the magnitude of his legacy: Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs stands unequivocally as a founding patriarch of modern Nigerian screen performance,” he added.
The filmmaker said Jacobs showed others “what it truly means to serve the craft”.
Jacobs’ death has drawn tributes from across Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, were among those who mourned the veteran actor.
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