Ayo Ogunshina
- Born
- 1938-05-06 (age 88)
- Birthplace
- Osu, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria
- Occupation
- Comedian, Actor, Teacher, Drummer
- Alma Mater
- Wesley College, Ibadan
- AKA
- Papalolo
Biography
EARLY LIFE
Ayo Ogunsina, professionally known as Papalolo, was born around 1940 in Osu, a community in Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria. He attended Wesley College Primary School in Ibadan, then Secondary Modern School, and completed his secondary education at Wesley College, Elekuro, Ibadan, around 1960. During his school years, Ogunsina developed a passion for drumming and had an early affinity for humor. After secondary school, he briefly taught as a primary school teacher and worked for UAC and Phillip Morris before venturing into theatre.
CAREER
In 1962, Ayo Ogunsina joined Hubert Ogunde's theatre group, performing in plays like Yoruba Ronu and touring West Africa. After leaving Ogunde in 1964, he co-founded the Araba Concert Party and later joined Adebayo Faleti's Egbe Alebiosu in 1965, contributing to radio series and stage productions. In 1972, while with the Ajimajasan Theatre Group, he developed the iconic Papalolo character. In 1979, Ogunsina, alongside Tajudeen Gbadamosi (Jacob) and Kayode Olaiya (Aderupoko), formed Jesters International, a groundbreaking comedy troupe that pioneered musical satire and performed live on Nigerian television, notably with the successful TV series Owo Tabua (Plenty Money). They also released Nigeria's first music comedy albums on vinyl, including 'Pa Jacob Is Ku'. His unique style, blending music, satire, and physical comedy, greatly influenced Nigerian comedy. After Jacob's death in 1987, Papalolo continued performing and appeared in film roles such as the 1988 cinematic adaptation of Iwa.
PERSONAL LIFE
Papalolo maintained privacy regarding his personal relationships. In his later years, he resided modestly in Nigeria, focusing on family and using career earnings to sponsor his children's education. At age 79 in 2017, he reported owning no car or substantial wealth, attributing this to the era's limited monetization of comedy. He continued to give interviews about his career as of 2024, emphasizing comedy's therapeutic value.
Filmography
No filmography available for this person yet.
Box Office
Weekly Top Grossing3 Cold Dishes
₦5,331,351.00
Gingerrr
₦12,727,775.00
Gingerrr
₦21,139,500.00
The Herd
₦16,977,673.00
3 Cold Dishes
₦15,261,240.00
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Popularity Score
Top 100% of African actors
