Veteran actress and theatre practitioner Grace Owoola Oyin-Adejobi, popularly known as Iya Osogbo, has been celebrated by family, colleagues and admirers as she marked her 96th birthday. Veteran Nollywood actress and theatre icon, Chief Mrs Grace Owoola Oyin-Adejobi, popularly known as Iya Osogbo, was celebrated by colleagues, family members, friends and admirers as she clocked 96.
The milestone celebration, held on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, brought together members of the Nigerian theatre and film community to honour the veteran actress and her decades-long contribution to Yoruba theatre and culture.
The celebration, themed “Celebrating a Legend, Inspiring Generations,” also featured the launch of her biography, Grace Owoola Oyin-Adejobi (Iya Osogbo): The Track of a Nigerian Theatre Icon. The book documents her journey through the early days of Yoruba travelling theatre and her subsequent influence on Nigerian entertainment and cultural storytelling.
Iya Osogbo was born on August 23, 1930, in Osogbo, present-day Osun State. She began her formal acting career in 1953 after joining the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Company founded by her husband, the late theatre legend Oyin Adejobi. What began as involvement in her husband’s theatre group grew into a career that spanned several decades. She became one of the recognisable faces of the Yoruba travelling theatre tradition, appearing in stage productions, television programmes and films. Her career included productions such as Kòòtù Asípa, which was aired on the Nigerian Television Authority, as well as several stage and film productions associated with the Oyin Adejobi theatrical tradition.
Over the years, she became widely known as Iya Osogbo, a name that became closely associated with her public identity and her roots in Osogbo. Her popularity was further reinforced by her appearance in the production Ẹran Iya Osogbo.
Beyond acting, Iya Osogbo has also been recognised for using theatre and drama to promote moral values, Christian teachings and cultural heritage. Her 96th birthday therefore offered an opportunity for members of the creative community to celebrate not only her longevity but also the influence she has had on generations of performers and audiences.
The birthday celebration also highlighted the importance of documenting the stories of pioneers of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, particularly those who helped build the theatre traditions that preceded modern Nollywood. With the launch of her biography, Iya Osogbo’s life and career have now been further documented for audiences, researchers and future generations interested in the history of Nigerian theatre.
At 96, the veteran actress remains one of the enduring figures of Nigeria’s Yoruba theatre tradition, having spent more than seven decades connected to the performing arts.