Nollywood actor Femi Ogunrombi is dead.
Shaibu Husseini, a theater practitioner and journalist, announced it in a tweet on Saturday.
“I have just been informed that ethnomusicologist, former National Troupe music instructor and once stand-in for the character ‘Papa Ajasco’ in Wale Adenuga Production’s popular comic book series ‘Papa Ajasco’ Femi Ogunrombi is dead!” tweet read.
Pope Ajasco
Mr. Ogunrombi was famous for his role in Wale Adenuga’s comedy series Papa Ajasco, a character he took over when Abiodun Ayoyinka retired from the show.
Mr. Ayoyinka played the role for eight years, while the late man took over the role for two years.
He received many local and international awards, most notably in 1995, when he received a gold plaque and a Diploma Certificate in Creative Composition in North Korea for performing a song in that language.
From nursing to music
Femi Ogunrombi started out as a trained and registered nurse.
He studied Medical Nursing in 1975 and practiced at the General Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he was attached to the Accident and Emergency unit. This allowed him to switch to industrial medical practices; he worked with Atlantic Textiles Mills as a medical officer.
However, in 1980, he decided to follow his passion for the arts.
music first
By 1975, he was a choir director and music producer. He closed his clinic in 1979 to continue his musical career.
He frequented the EMI Music studios, where he worked with Chris Ajilo and Item Udoh. He also got in touch with Peco Colete, who was managing Majek Fashek at the time.
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He has also worked with veterans such as Leji Oyewole, Emma Arinho, Epifanio Joseph, Late Billy Wright, among others.
Eventually he studied Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
There he founded the famous Voces de Ayoro, a choral performance group in the ife universitybetween 1980 and 1984.
The group was a cultural ambassador for the school. After playing Papa Ajasco for two years, she returned to her first love, music.
