The veteran producer, theatre artist and writer, Tunji Fatilewa has taken his final bow at 68 after a brief illness. The incident which occurred on September 5, 2023 has cast a gloom in the culture community in Nigeria and beyond.
Fatilewa began his ascent into a rewarding career with his strong academic background at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, Osun State, and started his career with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Ibadan before moving to the Television Service of Oyo State, TSOS in Ibadan, capital of the Oyo State.
Upon his retirement, he delved into private practice and relocated to Lagos. Afterwards, he went to Abuja where he led the Federal Capital Territory, FCT chapter of the National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP.
His production credits included the award-winning NTA Ibadan TV Productions such as ‘Torrents of Soweto’, Why Worry,’ ‘Koko Close’, ‘Down the Johnsons’, among many others. In private practice through his own production company TFA and Associate Ltd, he went into production of documentaries, profiling notable statesmen and many national institutions.
He is survived by his wife Desola, a retired director of the Federal Civil Service, children and grandchildren.
In a statement signed by Dele Morakinyo on behalf of the friends of the late artist, it was stated that funeral rites and burial would be announced by his family in due course.