Ade Ajiboye, popularly known as Big Abass, is a respected veteran in the Nigerian film industry. Born on March 23, 1951, in Fiditi, Oyo State, he made his mark as an actor, producer, and writer. He is best known for producing Nigeria’s first-ever home video film, Soso Meji, in 1988 years before Nollywood became a household name. His work helped shape the Yoruba movie industry and paved the way for the video film era in Nigeria.
Ade Ajiboye Profile
| Name | Big Abass |
| Real Name | Ade Ajiboye |
| Date of Birth | 23 March 1951 |
| Age | 74 years |
| State of Origin | Oyo State |
| Tribe | Yoruba |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation | Actor, Producer, and Writer |
| Religion | N/A |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $200,000 |
| Copied from | contents101.com |
Educational Background
There’s not much public information about Ade Ajiboye’s formal education. However, his work shows a deep knowledge of storytelling and production, which suggests years of experience and learning within the film and theatre community in Nigeria.
Career
Ade Ajiboye started out in the film and theatre space during a period when the Nigerian movie industry was going through serious challenges. Due to economic hardship in the 1980s like the devaluation of the naira and import restrictions filmmakers could not afford standard film equipment. This led to the rise of video recordings using VHS tapes.
In 1988, Ajiboye produced Soso Meji, which is now widely regarded as Nigeria’s first home video film. This came long before Living in Bondage (1992), which many people mistakenly believe was the beginning of Nollywood.
Apart from being a pioneer, Big Abass also played a role in popularizing home video distribution and later embraced the rise of online movie streaming platforms. He worked with many top Yoruba actors and contributed to the growth of the industry behind the scenes.
Controversies
Over the years, there has been some debate about who really started the Nigerian home video industry. For a long time, Living in Bondage was credited as the first Nigerian home video. However, actors like Yemi Solade have spoken out in support of Ade Ajiboye, calling him the true pioneer of the home video era in Nigeria.
Solade stated in a podcast interview that Yoruba filmmakers like Ajiboye had already started producing and distributing home videos before 1992, but they were not well documented or promoted in the media.
Ade Ajiboye Social Media Handle
https://www.instagram.com/officialbigabass/?hl=en
Personal Life
Ade Ajiboye is married and has two children. One of his children, Adeyemi Ajiboye (SIJ), is following in his footsteps as an Afrobeat musician. Despite being a public figure, Big Abass has kept much of his personal life private.
Ade Ajiboye Net Worth
Ade Ajiboye’s net worth is estimated to be around $200,000.