Bankole Ajibabi Omotoso (born 21 April 1943), also known as Kole Omotoso, is a Nigerian writer and intellectual best known for his works of fiction and in South Africa as the "Yebo Gogo man" in adverts for the telecommunications company Vodacom.[1] His written work is known for its dedication and commitment to fusing a socio-political reappraisal of Africa and respect for human dignity into most of his works.
Kole Omotoso was born into a Yoruba family in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.[2] He was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents after the death of his father.[3] Though the lack of a father figure could crush a young Nigerian boy, the events of his early childhood contributed a great deal to his development as a man and also as a writer.[3] Omotoso was educated at King's College, Lagos, and the University of Ibadan and then undertook a doctoral thesis on the modern Arabic writer Ahmad Ba Kathir at the University of Edinburgh.[4][5]
Later life
Omotoso returned to Ibadan to lecture on Arabic studies (1972–76), then moved to the University of Ife to work in drama (1976–88). He became a writer for various magazines (including West Africa) in the 1970s and was well known among Nigeria's literate elites. His major themes include interracial marriage, comic aspects of the Biafran-Nigerian conflict, and the human condition—as exemplified in friendship between the Yoruba and the Igbo and in relationships between children and parents.
He also writes a number of columns in African newspapers, most notably the "Trouble Travels" column in the Nigeria's Sunday Guardian. From 2013 to 2016, he was a patron of the Etisalat Prize for Literature.[7]
In the mid-1990s and 2010s he appeared as the "Yebo Gogo man" in a number television advertisements for Vodacom mobile phones.[1][8]
Omotoso grew up during the rising tide of radical nationalism and was enamored by the potential that lay in the future of his country. His fiction ranges widely over the human condition, and themes include intergenerational and interracial relationships. Fela's Choice is an early example of Nigerian detective fiction. However, with the ascent of social and political decay, a few years after independence, he became deeply interested in writing about fiction. Fiction was an avenue that exists apart from the decay of real life and where deep reconstructions about life and ideas come true. It was also an avenue to experiment on social and political ideas for societal change and advancement. Omotoso's non-fiction is wide-ranging in subject matter.
^ abcSegar, Sue (26 October 2014). "SA could become like Nigeria". Weekend Argus. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
^Kim, Minjae (3 September 2017). "A Man is Known by His Cup: Signaling Commitment via Costly Conformity". doi:10.31235/osf.io/93krj. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Omotosho, A.A.D. (1972). "Ali Ahmad Ba-Kathir, a contemporary conservative Arab writer - an appraisal of his main novels and plays". hdl:1842/18513. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Posthumus, Carol. "Yebo! Gogo (Yes! Grandma)". Retrieved 28 April 2008.
Uko Atai, African Writers Vol. 2 1997
External links
Kole Omotoso
February 27, 2023
kole, omotoso, this, article, uses, bare, urls, which, uninformative, vulnerable, link, please, consider, converting, them, full, citations, ensure, article, remains, verifiable, maintains, consistent, citation, style, several, templates, tools, available, ass. This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation September 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Bankole Ajibabi Omotoso born 21 April 1943 also known as Kole Omotoso is a Nigerian writer and intellectual best known for his works of fiction and in South Africa as the Yebo Gogo man in adverts for the telecommunications company Vodacom 1 His written work is known for its dedication and commitment to fusing a socio political reappraisal of Africa and respect for human dignity into most of his works Kole OmotosoBornBankole Ajibabi Omotoso 1943 04 21 21 April 1943 age 79 Akure Ondo State NigeriaNationalityNigerianOther namesKole OmotosoOccupation s Writer public intellectual Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Later life 3 Themes 4 Works 4 1 Fiction 4 2 Drama 4 3 Non fiction 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education EditKole Omotoso was born into a Yoruba family in Akure Ondo State Nigeria 2 He was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents after the death of his father 3 Though the lack of a father figure could crush a young Nigerian boy the events of his early childhood contributed a great deal to his development as a man and also as a writer 3 Omotoso was educated at King s College Lagos and the University of Ibadan and then undertook a doctoral thesis on the modern Arabic writer Ahmad Ba Kathir at the University of Edinburgh 4 5 Later life EditOmotoso returned to Ibadan to lecture on Arabic studies 1972 76 then moved to the University of Ife to work in drama 1976 88 He became a writer for various magazines including West Africa in the 1970s and was well known among Nigeria s literate elites His major themes include interracial marriage comic aspects of the Biafran Nigerian conflict and the human condition as exemplified in friendship between the Yoruba and the Igbo and in relationships between children and parents His 1988 historical novel about Nigeria Just Before Dawn Spectrum Books was controversial and led Omotoso to leave his native country After visiting professorships in English at the University of Stirling and the National University of Lesotho and a spell at the Talawa Theatre Company London he became a professor of English at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa 1991 2000 6 From 2001 to 2003 he was a professor in the Drama Department at Stellenbosch University He also writes a number of columns in African newspapers most notably the Trouble Travels column in the Nigeria s Sunday Guardian From 2013 to 2016 he was a patron of the Etisalat Prize for Literature 7 In the mid 1990s and 2010s he appeared as the Yebo Gogo man in a number television advertisements for Vodacom mobile phones 1 8 Omotoso is married with three children including filmmaker Akin Omotoso and writer Yewande Omotoso and currently lives in Centurion Gauteng South Africa 1 Themes EditOmotoso grew up during the rising tide of radical nationalism and was enamored by the potential that lay in the future of his country His fiction ranges widely over the human condition and themes include intergenerational and interracial relationships Fela s Choice is an early example of Nigerian detective fiction However with the ascent of social and political decay a few years after independence he became deeply interested in writing about fiction Fiction was an avenue that exists apart from the decay of real life and where deep reconstructions about life and ideas come true It was also an avenue to experiment on social and political ideas for societal change and advancement Omotoso s non fiction is wide ranging in subject matter Works EditFiction Edit The Edifice 1971 The Combat 1972 Penguin Classics 2008 ISBN 978 0143185536 Miracles short stories 1973 Fela s Choice 1974 Sacrifice 1974 1978 The Scales 1976 To Borrow a Wandering Leaf 1978 Memories of Our Recent Boom 1982 Just Before Dawn Spectrum Books 1988 ISBN 9789782460073 Drama Edit The Curse 1976 Shadows in the Horizon 1977 Non fiction Edit The Form of the African Novel 1979 etc The Theatrical Into Theatre a study of the drama and theatre of the English speaking Caribbean 1982 Season of Migration to the South Africa s crises reconsidered 1994 Achebe or Soyinka A Study in Contrasts 1995 Woza Africa 1997 References Edit a b c Segar Sue 26 October 2014 SA could become like Nigeria Weekend Argus Retrieved 27 October 2014 Kim Minjae 3 September 2017 A Man is Known by His Cup Signaling Commitment via Costly Conformity doi 10 31235 osf io 93krj a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b Kole Omotoso Africultures Omotosho A A D 1972 Ali Ahmad Ba Kathir a contemporary conservative Arab writer an appraisal of his main novels and plays hdl 1842 18513 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Kole Omotoso Retrieved 6 July 2010 Omotoso Kole in Oyekan Owomoyela The Columbia Guide to West African Literature in English Since 1945 Columbia University Press 2008 p 147 http businessdaynigeria com toast african writers Posthumus Carol Yebo Gogo Yes Grandma Retrieved 28 April 2008 Uko Atai African Writers Vol 2 1997External links EditKole Omotoso Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kole Omotoso amp oldid 1138177445, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
