Acclaimed Nigerian Filmmaker Biyi Bandele’s Death at 54 Confirmed as Suicide

New revelations have emerged regarding the tragic passing of renowned Nigerian novelist and filmmaker, Biyi Bandele. In August 2022, his daughter, Temi Bandele, announced his sudden death at the age of 54, but the cause of death remained undisclosed at the time.

A recent report by The Guardian UK has now confirmed that Bandele died by su!cide. According to the publication, the filmmaker took his life a day after submitting a revised manuscript of his novel Yorùbá Boy Running to his editor, Hannah Chukwu. This revelation has left many shocked, especially within the literary and film communities.

Temi Bandele expressed that her father was at peace with his final work, emphasizing that he knew Yorùbá Boy Running would be his last piece of writing. She noted, “He wanted it to be the beginning of multiple conversations that would continue after his passing.”

Biyi Bandele’s untimely death sent waves of grief across the global creative landscape. The filmmaker is remembered for his vast and varied body of work, including the critically acclaimed film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun, stage adaptations of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, and the novel Burma Boy, based on his father’s World War II experiences.

Born in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, to parents from Abeokuta, Ogun State, Bandele pursued Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). His career took off after winning the BBC Playwriting Competition, which led him to relocate to England and build a successful career as a novelist, playwright, and filmmaker.

Before his passing, Bandele directed and adapted the screenplay for Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman in 2022, based on Wole Soyinka’s classic drama. This adaptation was produced for EbonyLife Films and was released posthumously in October 2022.