Alhaji Kareem Adepoju, popularly known as Baba Wande, born January 6, 1945, is a veteran Nigerian actor, filmmaker, writer and theatre practitioner. He is one of the respected pioneers of Yoruba-language theatre and cinema, with a career spanning more than six decades. He became particularly famous for his role in the classic film Ti Oluwa Ni Ile.
KAREEM ADEPOJU (BABA WANDE) PROFILE
| Name | Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande) |
| Real Name | Alhaji Kareem Adepoju |
| Date Of Birth | 6 January 1945 |
| State Of Origin | Osun State |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation | Actor, Filmmaker and Writer |
| Religion | Islam |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | N/A |
| Copied From | Contents101.com |
KAREEM ADEPOJU (BABA WANDE) BIOGRAPHY
Kareem Adepoju was born in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, and grew up in a family with a background in tailoring. His father was a tailor and also an Islamic scholar, his passion for acting developed while he was a pupil at Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School in Osogbo. During his school years, he was among the children trained in drama by the renowned theatre practitioner Oyin Adejobi.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Adepoju attended Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School in Osogbo and later studied at Catholic Modern School in Agbor, Delta State. He completed his modern-school education in the early 1960s.
CAREER
Kareem Adepoju began his professional acting career in 1963, when he joined the Duro Ladipo Theatre Group. He spent about six months with the group before returning to Oyin Adejobi’s theatre company.
He subsequently spent approximately 25 years working with Oyin Adejobi. During this period, he developed into a versatile theatre practitioner, working as an actor, writer, director and manager. The travelling theatre took productions across different parts of southwestern Nigeria. Adepoju later became a prominent figure in Yoruba television and film. Some of his notable works include:
- Ti Oluwa Ni Ile (1993)
- Ayo Ni Mo Fe (1994)
- Saworoide
- Agogo Eewo
- Arugba
- Abeni
- Enu Oye
- Obuko Dudu
- Igbekun
- Anikulapo (2022)
The name Baba Wande originated from a stage and television production based on a story written by a professor in Ilorin. Adepoju played Otokiti, the father of a character named Wande. The role became so popular that audiences began calling him “Baba Wande.”
CONTROVERSIES
Baba Wande has occasionally been involved in public disagreements within the Nigerian film industry. One notable dispute concerned Tunde Kelani and the financial proceeds associated with Ti Oluwa Ni Ile. Adepoju said he had contributed to the production and raised concerns about payment and ownership issues. However, he also described Kelani as a friend and maintained that he did not want their disagreement to destroy their relationship.
KAREEM ADEPOJU (BABA WANDE) SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE
https://www.instagram.com/baba_wande___/?hl=en
PERSONAL LIFE
Kareem Adepoju is a Muslim and has largely kept his family life away from the spotlight. Reports have stated that he is married and has children. He has also spoken about his religious upbringing and his knowledge of the Qur’an, which he learned from his father. In interviews, Adepoju has described himself as someone who does not drink alcohol or smoke. He has also said that he sometimes uses singing in his film productions.
KAREEM ADEPOJU (BABA WANDE) NET WORTH
Baba Wande’s exact net worth is not publicly known.
