Veteran Ijala Poet Alabi Ogundepo dies at 84

Veteran Yoruba poet, master Ìjàlà chanter, actor, and cultural advocate, Alabi Ogundepo, has died at the age of 84.

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Ogundepo, a native of Saki in Oyo State, died on Monday, according to a statement from his family, signed by his daughter, Dupe Ogundepo-Falana. The family did not disclose the cause of death.

Ìjàlà is a form of oral poetry traditionally associated with hunters and the worship of Ogun, the Yoruba deity associated with iron.

It combines praise, historical narration, proverbial expressions, social commentary and accounts of hunting experiences. The tradition is also used during ceremonies and occasions, including burials, naming ceremonies and palace gatherings.

Family mourns

The family described Ogundepo as “a remarkable literary voice” whose works celebrated Yoruba culture, language, history and traditions.

“Through his creative works and public engagements, he contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of his people,” the family said.

The family also remembered him as a man of “dignity, wisdom and compassion”, saying he touched many lives through his counsel, friendship, intellectual contributions and commitment to community development.

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It appealed to friends, associates and well-wishers to respect the family’s privacy as it mourns, adding that funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.

The family mourned him as a father, husband, grandfather and friend, saying his writings, values and contributions remain his lasting legacy.

“Chief Alabi Ogundepo may have departed this world, but his voice, his poetry and the memories he created will continue to live on,” the family said.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.

Tributes

His death has prompted tributes from cultural figures and traditional authorities.

The Okere of Sakiland, Oba Khalid Oyeniyi Olabisi Oyedepo III, expressed sadness over the death, describing Ogundepo’s passing as a significant loss to Sakiland, Oke-Ogun and the Yoruba cultural community. The monarch also acknowledged his contribution to promoting Saki through his artistic and cultural activities.

His son, Alabi Ogundepo Olaogun, also paid tribute to him, writing “And the Bunch of Talents Slept.”

Ogundepo’s death came shortly after that of another veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who died of cancer on Sunday and was buried in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday.

UNESCO recognition

Born in Saki, in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, Ogundepo became one of the most recognised practitioners of Ìjàlà, the traditional Yoruba hunters’ poetry.

UNESCO cultural documentation identifies Ogundepo among prominent professional Yoruba Ìjàlà chanters whose work helped to preserve and transmit Yoruba history and culture.

Ogundepo was introduced to the art from childhood. Reports on his life indicate that he grew up around Ìjàlà performance and began imitating his parents and older siblings before eventually performing at school and community events.

By the time he celebrated his 80th birthday in 2021, he had spent about six decades in the Ìjàlà tradition.

Taking Ìjàlà beyond tradition

One of Ogundepo’s major contributions was his ability to take Ìjàlà beyond its traditional setting and present it through modern entertainment and communication platforms.

His performances appeared on stage, on the radio, and on television, while his recordings helped preserve his distinctive approach to Yoruba oral poetry. A digital archive of African sound recordings, for instance, lists several Ìjàlà performances by Ogundepo dating back to 1971.

His recorded works also included Ọ̀rọ̀ Obìnrin Ìwòyí (Women of Today), released in 1977. Academic research on his work has used the album to examine how traditional Yoruba poetry responded to social changes and shifting ideas about gender, family, and society.

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Ogundepo was also involved in other forms of Yoruba creative expression, including Oríkì and popular theatre. His work reached wider audiences through radio jingles, public service messages and television programmes.

He was particularly associated with Radio Oyo and NTA Ibadan, where his voice became familiar to listeners and viewers. He also produced Akiika, a cultural programme on NTA Ibadan designed to promote the Yoruba language, oral literature, history and traditions. One of his remembered public-service messages was the road-safety campaign, “Eso Pele Onimoto Rora Saare”, which warned children about the dangers of hawking around traffic.

Many talents

Beyond poetry and performance, Ogundepo was regarded as an actor, writer, composer, cultural enthusiast and community figure.

His work attracted the attention of scholars interested in Yoruba oral literature and the survival of indigenous artistic traditions.

A 2024 study published in the journal of the International African Institute, by Cambridge University Press, examined Ogundepo’s Ìjàlà alongside the Ifá chants of Yemi Elebuibon, highlighting how traditional oral forms have evolved through their performers and changing social environments.

His contribution also formed part of a cultural struggle to keep Ìjàlà alive at a time when the traditional art had faced declining interest and changing forms of entertainment. Researchers have identified Ogundepo, along with other major Yoruba oral poets, as an important link between older traditions and contemporary performance.

For more than six decades, Ogundepo used his voice as a vehicle for Yoruba history, language, values and identity.