Rita Odafe
Biyi Bandele
New information regarding the tragic passing of the celebrated Nigerian writer, Biyi Bandele, has come to light.
Bandele sadly passed away in Lagos on 9 August 2022 at the age of 54.
His daughter, Temi Bandele, announced his passing but did not specify the reasons behind it.
A report from The Guardian UK revealed over the weekend that Bandele took his own life in August 2022.
The report mentioned that this tragic decision followed a discussion he had with his editor, Hannah Chukwu, concerning his novel titled ‘Yorùbá Boy Running,’ which took place in early April 2022.
After this conversation, Bandele sent a revised version of the manuscript to his editor prior to his death.
The newspaper remarked, “On the following day, the 54-year-old filmmaker, playwright and novelist took his own life.
“He left behind a remarkable and diverse body of work, which includes the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun, a project that took seven years to complete; stage adaptations of significant works like Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko, and Lorca’s Yerma; as well as poetry, screenplays, and numerous novels, such as 2007’s Burma Boy, which depicted the challenging experiences of his father as a British Army soldier during World War II.”
Bandele’s novel ‘Yorùbá Boy Running’ tells the story of Samuel Àjàyí Crowther, who endured a difficult journey in the 19th century, marked by his abduction and enslavement, followed by abandonment in Sierra Leone, before eventually returning to Nigeria.
His life story is notable for his ascent in the clergy, where he became the first Black bishop ordained by the Anglican Church.
In the year of his passing, Bandele directed and adapted the screenplay for ‘Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman,’ a film inspired by Wole Soyinka’s renowned drama ‘Death and the King’s Horseman.’
This adaptation was produced for EbonyLife Films and premiered on 28 October 2022. Produced by Mo Abudu, James Amuta, Judith Audu-Foght, Adeola Osunkojo, and Heidi Uys, it was distributed by Netflix.
The film features a talented ensemble cast, including Odunlade Adekola, Shaffy Bello, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, Jide Kosoko, Kevin Ushi, Jenny Stead, and Mark Elderkin, among others.
