Afolabi Afolayan considers Baba Ogunde as a father and his first wife who took him in a mother.
Photos of Chief James Afolabi
Chief James Afolabi Afolayan MON,MFR popularly known as Jagua was born 4th July 1946 in Iludun- Oro kwara state Nigeria.
He managed on his own to finish secondary education but his journey into entertainment started when he was just 8years old in his paternal hometown Iludun-Oro where he formed the Iludun-Oro Jolly Mambo.
It was a singing group.
The young Afolabi then go about adding spice to social gatherings by singing.. Yes he was a singer and a great dancer too
He did this for some years until he met the doyen of Nigeria theatre, the iconic Hubert Ogunde.
James Afolabi learnt that Chief Ogunde and his group will be performing in Esie so he made plans to be there,saved up some money from selling bush meat so he could make it to the show.
On getting there he was intrigued by Chief Ogunde’s musical rendition and decided he was going to move to Lagos to have chief train him in music.
James Afolabi whose family was mainly into buying and selling expressed his desire to go fully into music to his family and they never objected despite the fact that such professions was seen as mainly for the “never do well” in those days.
Few days after a family member brought young Afolabi to Lagos and they headed to Chief Ogunde’s office and joined a very long queue of people wanting to join the group.
Eventually it was Afolabi Afolayan’s turn to audition and though baba Ogunde thought he was very young, he also saw that he was very determined.He then handed daddy to his first wife saying ” Gba omo e ni” ( take him, he is your child)
Afolabi said he never knew baba Ogungbe was also into acting.
He said he admired his stage presence.
Afolabi said for him as a young person it was divine whenever baba graced the stage.
He was with Chief Ogunde and family for 2years (1960-1962).
folabi Afolayan also trained under Akinsola Ogungbe before he teamed up with his friend Ishola Ogunsola. His comedy was unique he put smile on so many faces with his popular song my belle o… my head o… He he later transit beyond (he pass on) 1999/2000 let’s show him some respect and love
