The iREP International Documentary Film Forum is celebrating the great Nigerian filmmaker Francis Adetunji Oladele, the Father of the Nigerian film industry who passed away on June 22, 2015.

Francis Oladele was famous for making the film "Bullfrog in the Sun", the adaptation of Chinua Achebe's all time classic novel "Things Fall Apart" in 1971, featuring Princess Elizabeth of Toro of Uganda, directed by great German filmmaker Jason Pohland and his first film "Kongi's Harvest", 1970, the adaptation of Nobel Prize laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka's play of the same title. These films and others were done by his CALPENNY Nigeria Limited, the first indigenous film production company in Nigeria.

The event is going at the Kongi's Harvest Hall of Freedom Park on Lagos Island, Lagos. Accomplished filmmaker Tunde Kelani is here with the famous multiple award winning editor and documentary filmmaker Adegboyega Arulogun, who is paying his tribute to Francis Oladele. The organizers Femi Odugbemi, Jahman Anikulapo and Makin Soyinka are here with their iREP team. His son Lanre Oladele and other members of the family are also present. But no representatives from Nollywood and Kannnywood..The loudest Igbo,Yoruba and Hausa actors, actresses, producers, directors and marketers are not here This shows how ignorant and disconnected they are from the foundation of the Nigerian film industry and I know that majority of them don't even know the accomplishments of Francis Oladele who was the first Nigerian filmmaker to bring Hollywood filmmakers like the famous Ossie Davis who directed "Kongi’s Harvest".

Photos Adegboyega Arulogun speaking in honour of Francis Oladele and Tunde Kelani, Femi Odugbemi and members of iREP.

Photos of Femi Odugbemi speaking, Jahman Anikulapo standing and later Femi Odugbemi with Mrs. Iyabo Aboaba, the COO of Freedom Park and also National President of the Nigerian chapter of International Facility Management Association (IFMA).

Members of the family of Francis Oladele and other guests at the event.

RIP Father Francis

Scenes from "Bullfrog in the Sun".
Source: Getty Images.