Veteran Nigerian music producer, filmmaker, and cultural icon Obafemi “Femi” Lasode has passed away five months before his 70th birthday.
His death was announced on Friday, July 25, 2025, by the former President of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli, in a heartfelt social media post.
“Obafemi Lasode, a Nigerian veteran musician, film director and producer, songwriter, music producer, and playwright, died today. My condolences to all,” Tee Mac wrote.
Born in December 1955, Lasode was best known for his landmark cultural film “Sango,” which he directed and co-wrote with Wale Ogunyemi. The movie became one of Nigeria’s earliest internationally recognized films, screened at prestigious venues including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, Brooklyn College, and holder of a Master’s in Communication Arts from the New York Institute of Technology, Lasode was a strong advocate for African storytelling, especially in promoting Yoruba culture.
He founded Afrika ‘n Vogue/Even-Ezra Studios, one of the first Indigenous Nigerian production houses focused on African-themed content.
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