Tunde Kelani, veteran Nigerian filmmaker, has revealed that Rashidi Ladoja, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan land , lent him N85,000 to produce his first featured film.
Kelani who is fondly called TK made the disclosure during a recent appearance on The Dupe Ajayi Show, where he reflected on the early days of his filmmaking career and Ladoja’s support.
The filmmaker said he decided to make his first film about a decade after returning from London Film School but lacked funds to execute the project.
“Ten years after London Film School, I realised that I hadn’t made a film. I decided that yes, it is time to make one. I put up a team. We had the Cinecraft, and we could donate our skills, but we still needed money,” he said.
“The money we needed according to that budget was 85,ooo naira. So Alhaji Lasisi Oriekun said, ” I have a brother oh, if we tell him maybe he can lend us the money.”
According to the filmmaker, the money enabled his team to produce Iwa, an adaptation of Adebayo Faleti’s Idamu Paadi Minkailu, which became his first film adaptation.
“His brother was Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. He agreed and gave us the money. Collectively, from my experience, it was successful,” he said.
“We didn’t recoup the money, but whatever we made, I took it to Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja and said, ‘Excuse me, sir, please take this. This is what we have now.’”
Kelani also revealed that Ladoja later financed Opomulero, his company, which aimed at preserving Yoruba culture.
“Later on, I decided to start a company, Mainframe Production Opomulero, to document, promote and preserve Yoruba culture and history,” he said.
“I went back to Kabiyesi Olu Ibadan and told him my plan. I needed a lot of money. At first instance it was about 50,000 pounds and he funded it and even more than that.”
Ladoja was a one-term governor of Oyo from 2003 to 2007. He was also a senator representing Oyo South District from 1992 to 1993.
