Veteran Yoruba actor Yomi King, popularly known by his stage name Opebe, has opened up about his time working with the late comedy icon Babatunde Omidina, famously known as Baba Suwe. In a heartfelt and personal reflection, Opebe recounted the early days of his acting journey, sharing how Baba Suwe’s influence helped shape his career through a blend of strict discipline and tough love on various movie sets.
In an emotional interview shared on the official YouTube channel, Oyinmomo TV, Yomi King offered an intimate glimpse into what life was like behind the scenes with Baba Suwe. Until his passing in 2021, Baba Suwe was revered as a cornerstone of Yoruba comic acting. Opebe described him not just as a fellow actor, but as a boss, a mentor, and someone who always demanded excellence in every performance.
Opebe didn’t hold back from sharing the more intense aspects of Baba Suwe’s approach to acting. He revealed that Baba Suwe had a no-nonsense attitude when it came to performance standards, often demanding nothing short of excellence from his colleagues. When expectations weren’t met, Baba Suwe wasn’t afraid to show his disappointment — sometimes even resorting to physical expressions of his frustration.
Recalling his experience, Yomi King stated, “I was Baba Suwe’s partner, and I always do what will make him slap me most of the time. Baba Suwe is a fast comedian. Whenever he is saying something on a movie set, he wants me to say it with him without making mistakes. Baba Suwe used to give me real slaps on my face on movie sets, and I must not return the slaps.”