Akinwunmi Isola

Akinwunmi Isola was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, on December 24, 1939. He attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College, before studying French at the University of Ibadan. He later obtained a master's degree in Yoruba literature from the University of Lagos in 1978. He began his career as a writer while still a student, writing his first play, Efunsetan Aniwura, in 1961-62. This was followed by his novel, O Le Ku, which was later adapted into a movie. He also wrote several other plays and novels in Yoruba, such as Olu Omo, Koseegbe, Saworoide, and Agogo Eewo. He was a passionate advocate of the Yoruba language and culture, and translated some works of Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka into Yoruba. He also composed the college anthem for Wesley College, Ibadan, in 1986. He taught Yoruba literature at the Obafemi Awolowo University, where he became a professor in 1991. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Georgia. He received several awards and honors for his contributions, such as the National Merit Award and the Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He was married to Adebola Isola, and had two sons. He died on February 17, 2018, in Ibadan, Oyo State, at the age of 78.