Yoruba Film Icon, Lere Paimo ‘Eda Onile Ola’, Dies At 86

The Yoruba film industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actor and cultural luminary, Chief Olalere Osunpaimo, widely known as Lere Paimo or by his famed stage name, Eda Onile Ola.

The revered actor passed away at 86 in his hometown of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, late on Thursday, after months of battling age-related ailments. Though the full circumstances surrounding his death are yet to be disclosed, family sources confirmed he had been bedridden for over three months.

Chief Paimo was a towering figure in the Yoruba film industry, a performer whose artistry shaped generations of theatre and screen practitioners. His charisma, depth, and mastery of traditional storytelling earned him a revered place in Nigerian entertainment, making him one of the most recognisable faces in indigenous film.

Born on 19 November 1939 in Ile Ikoyi Odan, Osupa, Ogbomoso, Paimo came from a humble background: his father, a yam and tobacco farmer who led a local farmers’ group, and his mother, a trader. He began his education in Ogbomoso before moving to the then Gold Coast (now Ghana), where he completed teacher training and earned a Grade Two certificate. Upon returning to Nigeria, he settled in Osogbo and worked as a teacher in a Baptist Mission School.

His journey into the arts took a dramatic turn when he joined the late Chief Duro Ladipo’s theatre troupe, a decision that later shaped his legacy. In one of his memorable recollections, he narrated how he acquired the moniker Eda Onile Ola while translating a German play titled Every Man into Yoruba. Playing the lead character, known as “Eda”, the name stuck and ultimately became his widely celebrated identity.

Over the decades, Paimo starred in numerous landmark Yoruba films, earning admiration for his commanding delivery and cultural authenticity. His immense contributions were recognised in 2005 when former President Olusegun Obasanjo conferred on him the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).

The actor’s life journey was not without challenges. In 2013, he suffered a partial stroke, an ordeal that pushed him out of public view for a period, though he eventually returned to the spotlight. A year later, he delighted fans nationwide after winning ₦1 million on the popular game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?