By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) Foremost writer, poet and actor, Adebayo Faleti is dead.
He died Sunday morning at the University College hospital, Ibadan around 6.am at the age of 86.
A family source who confirmed his death to journalists informed that his body has been taken to anatomy section at the UCH, according to Daily Post.
Sundiata Post recalls that in August 2014, an online newspaper (not Sundiata Post) had reported the passing away of the literary icon in August 2014.
In a swift reaction the literary icon who refuted the rumour stated, “I am alive. I am alive. Long life will be my lot”.
It was later gathered that it was another leading Yoruba culture promoter, Chief Supo Koseemani, that died.
Adebayo, an old student of Ibadan Boys High School was one of the pioneer staff of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV).
He was responsible for translating Nigeria’s National Anthem from English to Yoruba.
He also translated speeches being made by military president of Nigeria Ibrahim Babangida and Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of National Interim Government of Nigeria, from English to Yoruba.
Faleti has published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names.
The literary icon received many awards, both locally and internationally, including the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), the Festival of Arts award with Eda Ko L’aropin and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts.