Tunde Kelani, born February 26, 1948, better known as TK, is a veteran Nigerian filmmaker. He has been in the movie industry for more than four decades. Tunde Kelani is widely known for his movies, which he produced to promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
Wiki Profile
| Full Name: | Tunde Kelani |
| Date of Birth: | February 26, 1948 |
| Place of Birth: | Lagos |
| State of Origin: | Ogun State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Occupation: | Actor and Filmmaker |
| Net Worth: | $1.5 million |
| Wife/Spouse: | Toun Kelani |
Early Life and Education
Tunde Kelani was born in Lagos then moved to live with his grandparents in Abeokuta, Ogun State when he was five years old.
He attended the Oke-Ona Primary School in Ikija, Abeokuta, and the Abeokuta Grammar School for his secondary education.
Since his grandfather was a chief at the time (the Balogun of Ijaiye Kukudi), he had the opportunity to observe most aspects of Yoruba culture up close.
These included Yoruba literature, Yoruba philosophy, Yoruba environments, and Yoruba worldview in the arts.
Since the Yoruba people at the time had a very strong traveling theater history, he was exposed to Yoruba literature from a young age and was also highly affected by it.
Tunde Kelani got the opportunity to attend most of the great Yoruba theater classics when he was in secondary school, including Palmwine Drinkard, Oba Koso, Kurunmi, Ogunde plays, and others.
His interest in photography began in elementary school. He aggressively invested money and took the time to master photography during his time in high school.
Therefore, it was inevitable that after he graduated from high school, he became an apprentice photographer.
He received training at Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) in the future before continuing on to the London Film School.
Career
In the 1970s, Kelani worked as a correspondent for BBC TV, Reuters, and Nigerian TV. He traveled to Ethiopia for Reuters to cover the drought there and made three trips to Zimbabwe to chronicle that country’s independence.
After graduating from the London Film School, he went back to Nigeria and co-produced The Dilema of Rev. Father Michael, a movie with Adebayo Faleti (Idaamu Paadi Minkailu).
Alhaji Lasisi Oriekun, Wale Fanubi, his Cinekraft partner, Yemi Farounbi, and Lola Fani-screenplay Kayode’s are among the other co-producers.
In his role as a cinematographer, Tunde Kelani has also contributed to the majority of Nigerian feature films.
He contributed to several 16mm full-length movies, including Anikura, Ogun Ajaye, Iya Ni Wura, Taxi Driver, Iwa, and Fopomoyo.
The first American movie to be filmed in Nigeria was Mister Johnson, which starred Kelani as an actor and assistant director in 1990.
The movie, which starred Pierce Brosnan and Maynard Eziashi, was adapted from a Joyce Cary novel published in 1939.
Tunde Kelani founded Mainframe Films and Television Productions-Opomulero in 1991 so he could make movies instead of only providing technical assistance.
The basis of Kelani’s filmmaking approach, having arisen from the worlds of theater and literature, is the adaptation of novels and plays for the big screen, and through them he celebrates writers and their work for what he perceives to be a public that reads less and less.
Tunde Kelani Net Worth
Tunde Kelani is a veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker. His net worth is an estimated $1.5 million.
Personal Life
Tunde Kelani is happily married to his dear wife, Toun Kelani and they have two children together, Dupe Kelani and Tomilola Kelani.
Social Media
- Instagram: @tkelani
