Renowned Filmmaker and Music Producer Femi Lasode Dies at 69

Veteran Nigerian music producer, playwright, and filmmaker Obafemi “Femi” Lasode has passed away at the age of 69.

His death occurred in the early hours of Friday, July 25, following a prolonged illness, as confirmed by flutist and former PMAN president, Tee Mac Omatshola. Tee Mac revealed he was informed by a family member and extended his condolences in a brief message shared with colleagues and friends.

Lasode, who hailed from Ogun State but was born in Port Harcourt, was widely celebrated for his groundbreaking work on the 1997 epic film Sango, which earned international acclaim and was selected to open the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival in 2002.

In the mid-1990s, he established Afrika ’n Vogue/Even-Ezra Studios, a hub for Afrocentric storytelling through music and film. Beyond filmmaking, Lasode was also a respected songwriter and outspoken social commentator.

He held a degree in Business Administration and a master’s in Communication Arts from Brooklyn College, City University of New York.