‘I had priced my own coffin,’ Dele Odule opens up on dark moments

Veteran Yoruba actor, Prince Dele Odule, has shared a deeply emotional account of a difficult period in his life, revealing that he once priced his own coffin in a moment of despair.

In a recent interview, the actor, known for his roles in films like Ti Oluwa Ni Ile, opened up about how he reached an all-time low while living in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He recounted feeling as though his life was in ruins, and his belief that he couldn’t rise above the challenges he was facing.

“I had priced my own casket before when everything and my life were in shambles in Abeokuta,” Odule said. “I didn’t get myself anymore; I didn’t believe I could break through.”

Odule further shared that his close colleague, actor Olaiya Igwe, was with him during that particularly dark moment. “Olaiya Igwe knows about it; I went there with him, and he started crying like a baby,” he said, highlighting the emotional toll of his struggles.

Born in 1959 in Ile-Ife, but hailing from Oru Ijebu in Ogun State, Dele Odule has enjoyed a distinguished career in Nigerian cinema. Since the late 1980s, Odule has graced both stage and screen, becoming a respected figure in the industry. He has also served as President of the Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN).