Veteran Nigerian actor Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello, has opened up about two heartbreaking losses that almost ended his acting career. The 73-year-old actor recalled how the deaths of his mentor, Ojo Ladipo, also known as Baba Mero, and later Baba Mero’s wife left him devastated and pushed him to consider walking away from the theatre industry.
Salami shared the experience during a recent interview with Feel Right News TV. He described the death of Baba Mero in 1978 as the saddest moment of his life. According to him, watching his mentor battle illness before his death made the experience even more painful.
“The saddest day of my life was when my boss died, Baba Mero. It is not just that day; there were other days. The circumstances surrounding his death and his sickness affected me deeply,” he said. 
Salami said the pain returned seven years later when Baba Mero’s wife also died. At the time, he was already dealing with several personal and professional challenges, which made the situation even more difficult.
“The suffering was a lot and made me conclude that I was no longer interested in theatre. Seven years exactly after my boss died, his wife also died,” he said.
He revealed that many people accused him of being responsible for their deaths, an allegation that caused him great emotional distress.
“There was nothing the world did not say about me. Some people even claimed that I was the one killing them. So many things happened,” he added.
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Despite the accusations and challenges, Salami chose to continue his mentor’s legacy. After Baba Mero’s death in 1978, he became the leader of the theatre group because he was the next senior member after his late boss.
“When my boss died in 1978, I was the next man to him at that time. So we had to continue. We had to immortalise the name. I felt reluctant to continue because what is underneath is not small at all,” he said.
He added that the group faced numerous difficulties after Baba Mero’s death, but he prefers not to discuss them publicly in order to maintain peace.
Salami began his acting career in 1964 with the Young Concert Party, a theatre group led by Baba Mero. The group later changed its name several times, becoming the Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group and eventually the Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group.
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Following Baba Mero’s death, Salami took over the leadership of the group and gradually rose to prominence in the Yoruba film industry.
In 1985, Salami produced his first movie, “Ogun Ajaye.” He later became one of the most respected figures in the Yoruba movie industry, producing and directing numerous successful films.
His sons Femi Adebayo, Tope Adebayo, and Sodiq Adebayo have also built successful careers as actors and filmmakers, continuing the family’s legacy in the entertainment industry.
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