Renowned Nigerian novelist, playwright, and Nollywood filmmaker, Biyi Bandele, passed away on August 9, 2022, in Lagos at the age of 54.
His death, initially announced by his daughter, Temi Bandele, left many questions unanswered about the cause.
However, fresh reports from The Guardian UK have now revealed that Bandele took his own life, one day after discussing his latest novel with his editor, Hannah Chukwu.
The report stated that Bandele had a conversation about his novel Yorùbá Boy Running, which chronicles the life of 19th-century cleric Samuel Àjàyí Crowther.
Shortly after submitting a revised manuscript, Bandele tragically ended his life.
Biyi Bandele’s work spans across film, theater, and literature.
Notably, he directed Half of a Yellow Sun, adapted from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel, and his stage adaptations include Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko.
His last film, Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman, was based on Wole Soyinka’s play Death and the King’s Horseman.
The film was produced by EbonyLife Films and distributed on Netflix in October 2022.
Bandele’s legacy, marked by his wide-ranging contributions to Nigerian and global cinema and literature, continues to inspire many.