{"id":64301,"date":"2022-02-26T09:12:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-26T09:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/?p=64301"},"modified":"2022-02-26T09:12:27","modified_gmt":"2022-02-26T09:12:27","slug":"interesting-facts-you-should-know-about-africas-most-researched-film-auteur-tunde-kelani-as-he-clocks-74","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/2022\/02\/26\/interesting-facts-you-should-know-about-africas-most-researched-film-auteur-tunde-kelani-as-he-clocks-74\/","title":{"rendered":"Interesting facts you should know about Africa\u2019s most researched film Auteur, Tunde Kelani as he clocks 74"},"content":{"rendered":"

Birthdays happen once a year and they should be acknowledged, even celebrated. It\u2019s important to also remember our veterans who have played their part well in building the entertainment industry while they are still alive and kicking.<\/em><\/p>\n

Today, Tunde Kelani, popularly known as TK, is an household name. He is a Nigerian filmmaker, storyteller, director, photographer, cinematographer and producer.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was born February 26, 1948; As TK clocks 74 today, WITHIN NIGERIA brings you interesting facts about how an ordinary photographer apprentice became an Oscar juror in 2019, and his inspirational journey till date.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tunde Kelani was born in Lagos but at the age of 5, he moved to the ancient city of Abeokuta to live with his grandparents.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tunde Kelani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His grandfather was the \u2018Balogun of Ijaiye Kukudi\u2019, which meant TK had access to the different sides of Yoruba culture and worldview. This would later reflect in his most celebrated works.<\/span><\/p>\n

He got interested in photography from primary school and began investing money and taking to time to learn photography. So, inevitably, he became an apprentice photographer after he finished secondary school. Later, he trained at the then Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) and went further to attend London Film School.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tunde Kelani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the 1970s, while in London, TK worked for the BBC and Reuters, covering the Ethiopian drought and travelling to Zimbabwe thrice to cover the nation\u2019s independence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tunde Kelani returned to Nigeria after obtaining his London Film School diploma.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tunde Kelani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TK\u2019s co-produced his first movie, The Dilemma of Reverend Father Michael (Idaamu Paadi Minkailu)<\/em> with Adebayo Faleti<\/a>, a Nollywood icon and the first-ever Yoruba news anchor in Nigeria. He did so well that other cinematography gigs followed some feature films, including Anikura, Ogun Ajaye, Iya Ni Wura, Taxi Driver, Iwa <\/em>and Fopomoyo.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By 1990, Tunde Kelani acted in the first American movie to be shot in Nigeria titled Mister Johnson\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 an adaptation of the 1939 novel by Joyce Cary. Pierce Brosnan and Maynard Eziashi starred in the film. He was also an assistant director. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 1992 he founded the iconic Mainframe Film and Television Productions company to promote the Nigerian culture and beliefs through high-quality movies. TK wanted to produce his films instead of just providing technical support for others.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tunde Kelani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tunde Kelani had developed a soft spot for both English and Yoruba literature from the time he spent growing up in Abeokuta and his adaptations of books and plays for the film are the core of Kelani\u2019s filmmaking practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through Mainframe, he has produced movies such as:<\/span><\/p>\n