Biyi Bandele: A Storyteller Par Excellence

Prominent Nigerian filmmaker, Biyi Bandele, passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2022 in Lagos. What started as speculation on social media was confirmed by his daughter in a Facebook post. In her statement, she mentioned that his passing was sudden and unexpected:

“As Biyi’s daughter, I am heartbroken to share the sudden and unexpected death on Sunday 7th of August in Lagos of my father Biyi Bandele. Biyi was a prodigiously talented writer and film-maker, as well as a loyal friend and beloved father. He was a storyteller to his bones, with an unblinking perspective, singular voice and wisdom which spoke boldly through all of his art, in poetry, novels, plays and on screen. He told stories which made a profound impact and inspired many all over the world. His legacy will live on through his work.” His cause of death remains unknown.

He is survived by one child and a wife.

Life and achievements

Bandele was born in 1967, in Kaduna State, Nigeria. His father was a veteran of the Burma campain in World War II. He showed great promise as a storyteller from as early as 14 years when he won a short story competition. He owes his writing career to the stories told by his father about the war.

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Bandele grew up in Northern Nigeria before later moving to Lagos. Hence, his good command of the Hausa language. He attended Obafemi Awolowo University where he studied Drama. He won the International Student Playscript competition in 1989. Subsequently, he was awarded the British council Lagos award.

Films

Biyi Bandele’s works cuts across many genres including theatre, journalism, TV, etc.
The first movie he directed, Half of a Yellow Sun, was an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

His other films include; Fifty and most recently Blood Sisters, among others. Additionally, Bandele was working on a number of projects at the time of his death including a novel titled Yoruba Boy Running and the screen adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horsemen.

The title of his first novel is The Man Who Came in From the Back of Beyond.

Bandele was announced as the director of the new Netflix and Ebonylife TV co-production Elesin Oba. His legacy will live on.