Hubert Ogunde

Born in present-day Ogun State, to Jeremiah and Eunice in July 1916, Hubert Adedeji Ogunde’s family hailed from a long line of Ifa worshippers. Jeremiah, however, was a Baptist missionary and young Hubert was raised as a Christian. Hubert attended St. Johns Primary School, Ososa (1925-28) and St. Peters School, Faji, Lagos (1928-30) for his primary education. He then studied at Wasimi African School for secondary education before returning to his alma mater, St John’s Primary School, as a teacher. Like his father, Hubert played the organ and was the church choirmaster. While on holiday in Ibadan sometime in December 1941, he passed by a police recruitment centre, and decided to join the Nigerian Police Force. As a young police officer, he was posted to Ebute Metta Police Station in Lagos, and he began directing plays for church events. On 12 June 1944, at the height of the Second World War, his first play, ‘The Garden of Eden and The Throne of God’, premiered at Glover Hall in Lagos. The play combined Biblical themes with elements of Yoruba culture, and it formally marked the beginning of Ogunde’s career as a dramatist.