Ajani Ogun

Ola Balogun is a Nigerian film director and one of the pioneers of the evolving Nigerian video cinema market. He was a director of different forms of films, ranging from art works to populist movies. His movie Aiye, a reproduced effort of Duro Ladipo’s play was a major cinematic event in shaping Nigeria’s horror genre. His major breakthrough was also a work of Duro ladipo, Ajani Ogun. The film led a movement from stage works to produced films. Aiye stared the Yoruba actor Herbert Ogunde. Another directed film of his was a starring vehicle of Moses Olaiya Adejumo.

Ola Balogun was the producer of one of the earliest Yoruba and Igbo movies, Ajani Ogun and Amadi. He studied at the French Institut des Hautes Etudes Cinematographiques. It was while in Frances that he became interested in making films as he was exposed to various arts films exhibited in cultural centers.

Balogun was born on August 1, 1945 in Aba, Imo State. He attended Christ the King School, Aba from 1951-1957 and King’s College, Lagos. He then went to the University of Dakar, (1962-1963) and University of Caen, France from 1963-1966. In 1969, he worked with the Federal Ministry of Information as a scriptwriter and was later posted to Paris as a press attache of the Nigerian embassy. —nigerianwiki.com