The family of the late veteran Nigerian actor, dramatist, and theatre scholar, Chief Dr Adekola Gabriel Oyewo, also known as Kola Oyewo, has announced that his burial will take place on Friday, August 7, 2026, in his hometown of Oba-Ile, Osun State.
Three-Day Burial Programme
The funeral rites will span three days, from Wednesday, August 5, to Friday, August 7, 2026. The events will include a wake and commendation mass in Ile-Ife, alongside an 'Artistes' Night' and an exhibition of his creative works at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), where he served as an Associate Professor of Drama.
On August 7, 2026, a Requiem Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in his hometown of Oba-Ile, followed by a private family interment at Labaluyegbe Villa. The family and the Balogun Oyekola Oyewo Memorial Committee shared the burial arrangements on Saturday through a funeral programme.
Details of the Rites
The events begin on Wednesday, August 5, with a wake and service of songs at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Igboya, Ile-Ife. A commendation mass will take place at the same church on Thursday, August 6. Later that evening, family, friends, colleagues, and admirers will gather for an Artistes' Night at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, where there will be tributes and cultural performances in his honour.
To celebrate his life and contributions to the arts, an exhibition of Oyewo's photographs, publications, and creative works will be held at the Pit Theatre in the African Studies Building at Obafemi Awolowo University. The exhibition opens on Thursday, August 6, and continues until Friday, August 7.
Final Day and Interment
On Friday, August 7, the late actor's remains will depart his residence at Ese-Ola Compound, Oba-Ile, for a Requiem Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oba-Ile. He will thereafter be laid to rest at Labaluyegbe Villa, Oba-Ile, in a private interment reserved for family members and close associates. A reception for guests will follow at Aderonmu Grammar School Field, Oba-Ile.
In the funeral announcement, the Bangbola Oyewo family of the Ese-Ola Royal House, Oba-Ile, described him as 'a beloved father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, colleague, esteemed traditional ruler and veteran of the Nigerian theatre.'
Legacy of Kola Oyewo
Oyewo passed away on June 12, 2026, at the age of 80. He was recognised as one of Nigeria's leading theatre practitioners, with a career that included stage, television, film, and academic work. Throughout a career that lasted more than six decades, he mentored generations of actors, playwrights and theatre scholars while making significant contributions to the preservation and development of Nigerian theatre and cultural heritage. His passing has been widely described as the end of an era for Nigeria's theatre community, where he remained a revered performer, educator and cultural icon until his death.
