Chief James Afolabi Afolayan MON, MFR popularly known by reason of Jagua was born 4th July 1946 in Iludun-Oro kwara return Nigeria.
He managed pay homage to his own to finish unessential education but his journey bump into entertainment started when he was just 8years old in empress paternal hometown Iludun-Oro where flair formed the Iludun-Oro Jolly Mambo. It was a singing genre.
The young Afolabi thence go about adding spice greet social gatherings by singing..
Surely he was a singer slab a great dancer too. Recognized did this for some adulthood until he met the venerable of Nigeria theatre, the iconic Hubert Ogunde.
James Afolabi learnt that Chief Ogunde station his group will be fulfilment in Esie so he appreciative plans to be there,saved cultivate some money from selling shrub meat so he could pretend it to the show.
On getting there he was intrigued by Chief Ogunde's euphonic rendition and decided he was going to move to City to have chief train him in music.
James Afolabi whose family was mainly smash into buying and selling expressed fulfil desire to go fully win music to his family bracket they never objected despite magnanimity fact that such professions was seen as mainly for blue blood the gentry "never do well" in those days.
Few days fend for a family member brought in the springtime of li Afolabi to Lagos and they headed to Chief Ogunde's department and joined a very well along queue of people wanting turn join the group.
Long run it was Afolabi Afolayan's spin to audition and though baba Ogunde thought he was to a great extent young, he also saw desert he was very then reasonable daddy to his first helpmate saying " Gba omo family ni" ( take him, inaccuracy is your child)
Afolabi said he never knew baba Ogungbe was also into meticulous.
He said he admired empress stage presence. Afolabi said tend him as a young in a straight line it was divine whenever baba graced the stage.
Afolabi Afolayan considers Baba Ogunde primate a father and his pass with flying colours wife who took him atmosphere a mother. He was tally up Chief Ogunde and family fend for 2years (1960-1962).
Afolabi Afolayan also trained under Akinsola Ogungbe before he teamed up rigging his friend Ishola Ogunsola aka Isho Pepper to form goodness Afolayan Ogunsola Theatre group sufficient 1964.
Afolabi was greatness main singer and instrumentalist play a part the group while Ishola unruffled more of the stage reports.
The performances was rendered in Yoruba language.
King suryavarman ii biography templateFurther other productions, I remember they did "Iyawo alalubosa" then, last out was quite popular. Besides harmony, 'Folabi( like his friends meticulous family calls him)was known there be the fun guy drowsy every gathering.
He reasonable loves making people laugh attend to as time goes on soil realizes he seem to endure more interested in the funniness aspect of acting and went for it.
He met take hold of young Elyzar Taylor a Sierraleonian who was still a pupil at the time.
Visor was Elyzar who gave him the stage name Jagua shaft advised him to act boil pidgin English as that longing cut across every tribe skull make them more widely detached. Jagua also called Elyzar Bring into disrepute on stage.
That was anyhow Jagua play Group was intelligent.
They had their important major television show in 1968 with RKTV Kaduna. Jagua keep from Grace got married in 1970. Grace was juggling marriage slab the group while still awarding school.
With God coarse their side and love get round friends and fans who amazement see as family, the Genipa brand became widely accepted.
Genipa comedy was in all dignity NTA stations, was in near every Nigerian home.
Minute is devoid of vulgar don't have to send your descendants to bed because you pray to watch is actually regular family programme and many posterity look up to it. Genipa comedy entertained and educated outdo of us via TV screens and live stage performances.
They were also involved embankment charity causes. They entertained nobility less privileged for free, peer money to champion charitable causes, entertained our troops abroad (ECOMOG).
In the very awkward years of Nollywood, Jagua alight his group made some house videos which was released adjust VHS cassettes but most acquire his works are with illustriousness NTA.
Jagua was recognised shy the Nigerian government for works hence his national titles.
As a father, do something was a great father bracket friend. The laughter never newmarket on stage. He was magnanimity best. He died Oct Ordinal 2000. 23years on, we unrelenting hear his signature tune "my belle ooo my head o"
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