Chief Ogunde was a prominent Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician. He is known for founding the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria, initially named the African Music Research Party in 1945. Ogunde later changed the name to the Ogunde Theater Party in 1947 and then the Ogunde Concert Party in 1950. Finally, in 1960, he settled on the name Ogunde Theater, which remained until his passing in 1990. He is often referred to as "the father of Nigerian theatre" and "the father of contemporary Yoruba theatre." Throughout his career, Ogunde wrote more than 50 plays, many of which incorporated dramatic action, dance, and music, addressing the political and social issues of the time. His first production, "The Garden of Eden," financed by a church, premiered in Lagos at the Glover Memorial Hall in 1944. Its success encouraged him to produce more plays, leading him to leave his job with the police force to pursue a full-time career in the theater. During the 1940s, he produced plays with political commentaries, such as "The Tiger's Empire," "Strike and Hunger," and "Bread and Bullet." In the 1950s, he toured various Nigerian cities with his traveling troupe. However, in 1964, his play "Yoruba Ronu" generated controversy and drew the ire of Chief Akintola, the premier of the Western Region, leading to a two-year ban on the Ogunde Theater in the Western Region of Nigeria. This ban was only lifted by the new military government of Lt. Col. F. A. Fajuyi on February 4, 1966. In the late 1970s, inspired by the success of Yoruba feature-length films like "Ija Ominira" and "Ajani Ogun," Ogunde co-produced his first celluloid film, "Aiye," in 1979. He continued to release feature-length films influenced by Yoruba mysticism, including "Jaiyesimi," "Aropin N'tenia," and "Ayanmo." Notably, Ogunde also starred in the 1990 motion picture "Mister Johnson," alongside Pierce Brosnan. This movie was filmed on location in Toro, near Bauchi, Nigeria.