Renowned Yoruba author, actor and broadcaster Adebayo Faleti, has died at the age of 86.
The deceased was a foremost Yoruba translator and pioneer of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), later known as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
He translated the national anthem from English to Yoruba and also translated speeches by former military President Ibrahim Babangida and Ernest Shonekan, head of national interim government.
He was born in Agbo-Oye, Oyo state, but lived in Obananko, Kuranga, near Oyo state.
According to The PUNCH, his son revealed that his dad has spent his last minutes in early morning devotion with family, after which he told them that he prayed to God to send someone else to continue his mission as he was tired and longing for home.
“After the morning devotion, I helped him to the bathroom as I normally do, when he said he wanted God to send someone else to come and complete his work because he had done all he could do.”
“He also said that he wanted to go home. Suddenly, I noticed that he was not breathing again.”
“We took him to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where he was confirmed dead. We shall miss him greatly.”
Before his death, the Oyo-born author received many awards, locally and internationally, including the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger.