Jump to content

Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Calliopejen1 (talk | contribs) at 00:14, 29 June 2020 (remove some unsourced content). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

File:Dudu Portrait 2.jpg

Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin (aka Dudu, born 6 June 1953) is a Nigerian television & film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is the founder/CEO of Dudu Productions, the television production company famous for producing the first commercial music video in Nigeria. He has since produced a number Nigerian music legends, including Sir Shina Peters, Sonny Okosun, Majek Fashek, Onyeka Onwenu, K1 De Ultimate, and many others. He produced and directed box office hits like Iyawo Alhaji and Ami Orun,[1] including Ireke Onibudo, which predates Nigeria’s Nollywood.[2][3]

Early life

Alabi-Hundeyin was born in Abeokuta to Julius Alabi Hundeyin and Anike Erinoso.[citation needed] He attended Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro.[citation needed] He studied Political Science at the University of Ibadan (UI) though he took electives from Theatre Arts, where he spent most of his time.[citation needed] He also studied for a degree in Advanced Television Techniques at CBN University, Virginia Beach, USA (now Regent University) in 1986.[citation needed]

Career

Dudu began acting in 1974, he played the role of Agbako in Oke Langbodo written by the late Chief Wale Ogunyemi. The role earned him fame among friends and lecturers including, Prof Dapo Adelugba, Prof Kole Omotosho, Prof Sumbo Marinho etc. During his National Youth Service in Rivers State, he led the state’s musical troupe to the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77) in Lagos.

Television

Upon graduation from University of Ibadan, Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin (Dudu) was employed as a pioneer staff at Ogun State Television (OGTV) in 1981,[4] having been transferred from the state Ministry of Information. He rose to become the Controller of Programmes, produced and directed several dramas under OGTV’s Telly Drama weekly episodes, including Ireke Onibudo (1983), written by D. O. Fagunwa on 35-mm celluloid. In 1989, he resigned to start Dudu Productions.

Music Videos

He produced his first music video for Terra Kota in 1987, the pioneer reggae artist in Nigeria. In 1989, he was approached by Dean Disi, a PR manager, to produce a music video for CBS Records, which later became Sony Music. He produced Sir Shina Peters’ Ace album, regarded as the first commercial music video in Nigeria.[5]

  • Sir Shina Peters (Ace, Shinamania, Dancing Time, and Experience)
  • Majek Fashek (I & I Experience)
  • Mike Okri (Concert Fever and Rhumba Dance)
  • Funmi Adams (All We Need is Love)
  • Adewale Ayuba (Mr Johnson Play for Me, Buggle D, and Acceleration).

Dudu would later produce for Polygram Records/Premier Music and EMI/Ivory music. Other artistes he worked with are: Ras Kimono, Orits Wiliki, Evi Edna Ogholi, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Sonny Okosun, The Mandators, K1 De Ultimate, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Onyeka Onwenu, Alex O, Peterside Ottong, Blackky etc. His work influenced the iconography of an entire generation of reggae, pop music, juju music, and fuji music in the 1990s entertainment industry in Nigeria.[4]

Film

In 1994, he produced Iyawo Alhaji which starred Jide Kosoko, Toun Oni, Alade Aromire and K1 De Ultimate), was a box office hit at the cinemas between 1994 and 1996 when it was finally released into the home video market.[1][6] During public holidays, it attracted large crowds of people who thronged, pushed, and attacked one another just to see the film on the big screen. It was the first Nigerian film to gross one million naira in ticket sales at the National Arts Theatre, the largest and most prestigious cinema in Nigeria at the time.[4] Iyawo Alhaji was the first commercial video film to be censored by the newly established Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in 1994.[4] It was a regular practice for Dudu’s films, including his next, Ami Orun (1996) (starring Sola Fosudo, Clarion Chukwura-Abiola), to have extended days at the film house as crowds could not get tickets to watch during the initially advertised dates. He directed Abiona (1996); produced by Rolake Odetoyinbo, and Lagbondoko (1997); produced by Kayode Soyinka starring Dele Odule.[7]

In 1983 at the age of 30, he directed Ireke Onibudo[2][3] produced by Bayo Aderohunmu’s Benton Films and starring Akin Ogungbe; a veteran actor, making him one of the youngest Nigerians to have filmed on celluloid. In this period of the Nigerian film industry, only three directors had made celluloid films (Ola Balogun - Ajani Ogun; Ija Ominira; Orun Mooru; and Aiye, Hubert Ogunde and Freddie Goode - Jaiyesimi & Aropin N'Tenia).[2]

It was reported that the best scene he ever filmed was in Ireke Onibudo. Charles Olumo (Agbako) who played Olodumare (the Voice of Wisdom) in Ireke Onibudo had climbed a very steep hill in a jungle for a low angle silhouette shot, while Tunde Kelani; the cinematographer, and Dudu had set up the camera by 5 am at the foot of the hill. By sunrise, the actor, wearing a long white robe with a dropping white beard, spread out his arms in the air while the production manager, Segun Akpata, and the art director, Pat Nebo, threw up white doves behind him, off-camera. The doves rose up behind Olodumare, all flying around and away until one flew around his head and descended on his outstretched hand. The scene was so heavenly that it elicited a standing ovation every time at the cinemas.[8]

“Benton’s celluloid rehash of Ireke Onibudo, under the directorial eyes of Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin, was a huge success and indeed a further pointer to the possibilities of locally produced films”,[9] argues Tunde Adegbola, a scholar. Jonathan Haynes, professor of English at Long Island University in Brooklyn says, “Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin’s direction has flair…. He uses the full gamut of cinematic techniques and uses them expressively…”.[10]

Politics

In 2000, Dudu made a foray into politics, joining the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and won an election as the Chairman of Badagry Local Government in 2002.[7]

Awards

  • Best Music Video (Mike Okri’s Rhumba Dance) - Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) 1991
  • Best Music Video (Orits Wiliki’s Heart of Stone) - Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) 1992
  • Sony Music Awards, 1996
  • Fame Music Awards (FMA); 1996, 1997
  • The Movie Awards (THEMA), 1997
  • Music Video of the Year (Sonny Okosun’s Save Our Souls), 1999
  • Distinguished Veteran award, Nollywood at 20 Award, 2013[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Adesokan, Akin (2011-03-01). "Anticipating Nollywood: Lagos circa 1996". Social Dynamics. 37 (1): 96–110. doi:10.1080/02533952.2011.569998. ISSN 0253-3952.
  2. ^ a b c Armes, R. (2006). African Filmmaking: North and South of the Sahara. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.
  3. ^ a b Ireke Onibudo (1983). https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b72eed573 BFI, London.14. Mbachu, D. (1996). Africa-Film: Look What They’re Watching in Lagos. http://www.ipsnews.net/1996/04/africa-film-look-what-theyre-watching-in-lagos/ Inter Press Service.
  4. ^ a b c d Husseini, S. (2019). Garlands for cineaste, Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin, at 66. https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/garlands-for-cineaste-tunde-alabi-hundeyin-at-66/. The Guardian.
  5. ^ Alabi-Hundeyin (Dudu), T. (2020). Majek Fashek – My Encounter. http://cityvoiceng.com/tunde-alabi-hundeyin-dudu-majek-fashek-my-encounter/. City Voice.
  6. ^ Adesokan, Akinwumi (2011). Postcolonial Artists and Global Aesthetics. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-00550-2.
  7. ^ a b Olatunde, B. Y. (2020). Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin (Dudu) at 67. https://www.thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2020/06/06/tunde-alabi-hundeyin-dudu-at-67/. The News.
  8. ^ Husseini, S. (2019). 95 garlands for living screen and stage acting legend, Charles Olumo ‘Agbako’. https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/95-garlands-for-living-screen-and-stage-acting-legend-charles-olumo-agbako/ The Guardian.
  9. ^ Adegbola, T. Coming of Age in Nigerian Moviemaking. African Film Festival New York (AFF30).
  10. ^ Haynes, J. (2000). Nigerian Video Films. Ohio: Ohio University Press.
  11. ^ Anokam, S., Amagiya, F. (2013). Pomp as Nollywood @ 20 celebration ends. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/pomp-nollywood-20-celebration-ends/ Vanguard Newspapers.

Further reading

  • Tolani, A. (2015). ‘I have been looking forward to the day I will say ‘I do’ to a woman again’ – Tunde Alabi Hundeyin http://encomium.ng/i-have-been-looking-forward-to-the-day-i-will-say-i-do-to-a-woman-again-tunde-alabi-hundeyin/. Encomium.
  • Armes, R. (2008). Dictionary of African Filmmakers. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.
  • Conteh-Morgan, J. & Olaniyan, T. (2004). African Drama and Performance. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.
  • Haynes, J. (2016).  Nollywood: The Creation of Nigerian Film Genres. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tunde_Alabi-Hundeyin&oldid=965028829"