Tributes have been pouring in after Professor Kole Omotoso, popularly known in South Africa for portraying the “Yebo Gogo” man in Vodacom’s 1990s and early 2000s commercials, passed away on Wednesday, 19 July, age 80. His passing was confirmed by his family in a statement.

 

“We are mourning the loss of our father, husband and grandfather Prof. Bankole ‘Kole’ Omotoso, who passed away after a long period of illness in Johannesburg on July 19, 2023,” it read.

The telecommunication giant paid tribute to the actor, saying: “We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Prof Omotoso, who is one of the country’s [most] respected academics and playwrights. At Vodacom, we remember him as an iconic figure who helped put brand Vodacom on the map through the inventive ‘Yebo Gogo’ advertising campaign that went on to win several advertising accolades,” said Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub.

“Professor Omotoso leaves behind a rich legacy, having played a significant role in inserting brand Vodacom, a brand with deep African roots, in the national conscience. I would also like to offer my personal heartfelt condolences to Prof Omotoso’s family.The professor was born in Akure, Nigeria in 1943, where he pursued his secondary education at King’s College in Lagos. He subsequently graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1969 and was awarded a PhD in Arabic Literature from the University of Edinburgh and the American University in Cairo in 1972.

An author, Playwright, Teacher, Critic, and Actor, Professor Omotoso relocated to Cape Town with his wife and children in 1992.

He has held professor positions at the English Department of the University of the Western Cape and the Drama Department of the University of Stellenbosch.

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