BREAKING: Yoruba Movie Legend, Lere Paimo “Eda Onilola,” Reportedly Passes On

|By Queen Banigo

Veteran Yoruba actor Chief Lere Paimo (MFR) — fondly called Eda Onilola — has reportedly died, according to an unconfirmed source who told PT the iconic thespian passed on Friday.

Born on November 19, 1939, in Ikoyi Odan, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Paimo carved his legacy from humble beginnings. The son of a yam and tobacco farmer who led the local farmers’ union, and a mother who traded to support the family, he rose from rural roots to national acclaim.

Paimo began his education in Ogbomoso before leaving for the Gold Coast (now Ghana), where he completed teacher training and earned his Grade Two teaching certificate. Upon returning to Nigeria, he settled in Osogbo, teaching at the Baptist Missionary School.

His journey into the arts began in 1958, when he joined the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group. His talent soon earned him a place in Duro Ladipo’s Theatre Group, where he delivered a standout performance as Chief Basa in the stage classic Obamoro.

Lere Paimo became a household name through his powerful portrayal of Soun Ogooluwa in the epic Yoruba film “Ogbori Elemosho”, a role that cemented his status as a cultural titan.