Difference between revisions of "Akin Omotoso"

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[[ Akin Omotoso]] (197*-) Actor, director and producer of stage, film and TV.  
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[[ Akin Omotoso]] (1974-) Actor, director and producer of stage, film and TV.  
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
Akin is the son of [[Kole Omotoso]].
 
  
=== Youth ===
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Born in Maiduguri, Nigeria, in 1974, he grew up in the university town of Ife, where he found his first love, writing. In 1992, his family moved to South Africa after his father, the academic, author and playwright '''[[Kole Omotoso]]''' (1943-2023), accepted a lectureship at the University of the Western Cape.
Born in Nigeria and grew up in the university town of Ife, where he found his first love, writing. In 1992, his family moved to South Africa after his father accepted a lectureship at the University of the Western Cape.
 
  
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Omotoso completed his A-levels in South Africa, but struggled to get into university without a South African matric exemption. He enrolled for the only course at the [[University of Cape Town]] that did not require a matric exemption, the Performers Diploma in Speech and Drama.
  
=== Training ===
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==Contribution to South African theatre, film, media and performance==
Omotoso completed his A-levels in South Africa but struggled to get into university without a matric exemption. He enrolled for the only course at the [[University of Cape Town]] that did not require a matric exemption, the Performers Diploma in Speech and Drama.
 
  
=== Career ===
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===Stage===
After a few professional stage performances (inter alia in ****), he became a nationally known figure for his performances in various TV series (Generations, **). In 200* he began writing and directing independent films.
 
  
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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Omotoso made his stage debut in the play ''[[Sunjata]]'', directed by [[Mark Fleishman]], and was awarded the [[Fleur du Cap Award]] for Most Promising Student for the performance in 1995. He also had roles in a few other stage productions.  
Stage roles in ''[[Sunjata]]'', (directed by [[Mark Fleishman]]), ''[[Twelfth Night, or What You Will]]'', ''[[The Winter's Tale]]'', ''[[Battle of the Black and the Dogs]]''.
 
  
The first film he made was ''The Night Time'' , followed by three short films, ''The Kiss of Milk'', ''The Nightwalkers'' and ''The Caretaker'' and in 1999, his first feature film ''God is African''. Omotoso directed another short film called ''Rifle Road'', which was selected to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005. He also made a documentary in tribute to his mother called ''Gathering the Scattered Cousins'', selected for screening at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival in 2006.
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After a few professional stage performances, including ''[[Twelfth Night, or What You Will]]'', ''[[The Winter's Tale]]'', ''[[Battle of the Black and the Dogs]]'', he shifted to television and film as his preferred medium.
  
He is a familiar face on the South African small screen having starred in ''Isidingo: The Need'', ''Generations'' and ''Big Okes'' but his acting also extends to international experience. Acted opposite Nicolas Cage in ''Lord of War'', and in 2006, was cast in the role of Paul Kagame, in ''Shake Hands with the Devil''.
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===TV and film acting===
  
== Awards, etc ==
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After graduation Omotoso began to be cast in various South African TV series, including ''[[Soul City]]'', ''[[Generations]]'', ''[[Isidingo: The Need]]'' and ''[[Big Okes]]''. He soon became a nationally recognised public figure.
He won the [[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]] for most promising student in 1995.
 
  
He was the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year (Film), 2007.
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His international experience includes appearances in ''[[A Reasonable Man]]'' (1999), ''[[Operation Delta Force 5: Random Fire]]'' (2000), ''[[Gums & Noses]]'' (2004), ''[[Lettre d'amour zoulou]]'' (2004), ''[[Lord of War]]'' (playing  opposite Nicolas Cage, 2005),  ''[[Shake Hands with the Devil]]'' (in the role of Paul Kagame, 2006), ''[[Blood Diamond]]'' (2006).
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===TV directing===
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Turning his hand to directing,  he was responsible for the television series ''[[Jacob's Cross]]'', broadcast on [[Africa Magic]], [[M-Net]] and the [[SABC]]. between 2007 and 2013.
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 +
===Film directing===
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Omotoso had used the money he had received for the 1995 [[Fleur du Cap Award]] to shift to acting, writing and directing for film and TV. His first work consisted of three short films, ''[[The Kiss of Milk]]'', ''[[The Nightwalkers]]'' and ''[[The Caretaker]]'',
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In 1999 he began writing and directing independent films, releasing his first full-length film, ''[[God is African]]'', in 2003, the year in which he, [[Robbie Thorpe]] and [[Kgomotso Matsunyane]] founded the production company [[T.O.M Pictures]].
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Another short film, ''[[Rifle Road]]'', was selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 and the documentary ''[[Gathering the Scattered Cousins]]'', made in tribute to his mother, was selected for screening at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival in 2006.
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Other films he wrote and directed include and ''[[Tell Me Sweet Something]]''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Me_Sweet_Something], a film that earned him the best director award at the 2016 [[Africa Magic]] Viewers Choice Awards. He was selected as the [[Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year]] (Film) in 2007.
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Other films directed include ''[[Vaya]]'' (2016), ''[[Rise]]'' (2022).
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akin_Omotoso
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Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
 
Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
  
Interview with Bonita Boni published in the ''Daily Dispatch'', 7 July 2007.
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Interview with Bonita Boni published in the ''[[Daily Dispatch]]'', 7 July 2007.
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[[Akin Omotoso]]. 2023. "To [[Kole Omotoso]] at 80: An appreciation" ''Premium Times''  April 21, 2023[https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/594478-to-kole-omotoso-at-80-an-appreciation-by-akin-omotoso.html]
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

Latest revision as of 10:05, 20 July 2023

Akin Omotoso (1974-) Actor, director and producer of stage, film and TV.

Biography

Born in Maiduguri, Nigeria, in 1974, he grew up in the university town of Ife, where he found his first love, writing. In 1992, his family moved to South Africa after his father, the academic, author and playwright Kole Omotoso (1943-2023), accepted a lectureship at the University of the Western Cape.

Omotoso completed his A-levels in South Africa, but struggled to get into university without a South African matric exemption. He enrolled for the only course at the University of Cape Town that did not require a matric exemption, the Performers Diploma in Speech and Drama.

Contribution to South African theatre, film, media and performance

Stage

Omotoso made his stage debut in the play Sunjata, directed by Mark Fleishman, and was awarded the Fleur du Cap Award for Most Promising Student for the performance in 1995. He also had roles in a few other stage productions.

After a few professional stage performances, including Twelfth Night, or What You Will, The Winter's Tale, Battle of the Black and the Dogs, he shifted to television and film as his preferred medium.

TV and film acting

After graduation Omotoso began to be cast in various South African TV series, including Soul City, Generations, Isidingo: The Need and Big Okes. He soon became a nationally recognised public figure.

His international experience includes appearances in A Reasonable Man (1999), Operation Delta Force 5: Random Fire (2000), Gums & Noses (2004), Lettre d'amour zoulou (2004), Lord of War (playing opposite Nicolas Cage, 2005), Shake Hands with the Devil (in the role of Paul Kagame, 2006), Blood Diamond (2006).

TV directing

Turning his hand to directing, he was responsible for the television series Jacob's Cross, broadcast on Africa Magic, M-Net and the SABC. between 2007 and 2013.

Film directing

Omotoso had used the money he had received for the 1995 Fleur du Cap Award to shift to acting, writing and directing for film and TV. His first work consisted of three short films, The Kiss of Milk, The Nightwalkers and The Caretaker,

In 1999 he began writing and directing independent films, releasing his first full-length film, God is African, in 2003, the year in which he, Robbie Thorpe and Kgomotso Matsunyane founded the production company T.O.M Pictures.

Another short film, Rifle Road, was selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 and the documentary Gathering the Scattered Cousins, made in tribute to his mother, was selected for screening at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival in 2006.

Other films he wrote and directed include and Tell Me Sweet Something[1], a film that earned him the best director award at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. He was selected as the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year (Film) in 2007.

Other films directed include Vaya (2016), Rise (2022).

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akin_Omotoso

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Interview with Bonita Boni published in the Daily Dispatch, 7 July 2007.

Akin Omotoso. 2023. "To Kole Omotoso at 80: An appreciation" Premium Times April 21, 2023[2]

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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