Popular filmmaker Tunde Kelani has described the late Olu Jacobs as a founding patriarch of modern Nigerian screen performance. He recently had his say via his social media page, and fans have been reacting.
Recalling the lasting impression the deceased made on him when they first met in 1978, Kelani disclosed that their paths crossed while he was studying at the London Film School, and the actor immediately told him his plans to lead a student production without demanding a professional fee.
Tunde added that Olu Jacobs’ career and commitment to acting demonstrated to generations of performers what it truly means to serve the craft.
His words, “I first crossed paths with Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs—fondly known to many of us as Uncle Olu Jacobs—in 1978.
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.
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.
Yet accolades alone cannot capture the magnitude of his legacy: Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs stands unequivocally as a founding patriarch of modern Nigerian screen performance.”
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