Family gives Ogunde grand museum, unveils competition on his songs

Hubert Adedeji Ogunde (10 July 1916 – 4 April 1990) was a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician who founded the African Music Research Party in 1945, the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria. He changed the name to Ogunde Theater Party in 1947 and in 1950 he again changed the name to Ogunde Theater Party. Finally, in 1960 he changed the name of his company to Ogunde Theater which remained until his death in 1990.

Chief Hubert Ogunde, on Thursday. First, his family unveiled a competition on the translation of his songs. According to them, there is the need for children, youths and non-Yoruba-speaking people to also savour the beauty and messages of the songs. Hence, it unveiled the contest that will reward the winner with N500,000 while the first and second runners-up will get N200,000 and N100,000, respectively.

It was also a cool time for the family to showcase the Hubert Ogunde Living Memory Museum, which is what the Ososa house has become. It is arguably one of the richest museums in the country and beyond. From the entrance to the very last room, it beams with largely exotic documents and objects and spectacles that define the life and times of the artist who died in 1990.