Joseph Olita

Joseph Ogola Olita (31 March 1944 – 1 June 2014) was a Kenyan actor who was best known for portraying Idi Amin in Rise and Fall of Idi Amin and Mississippi Masala (1991).

Early life and education Joseph Ogola Olita was born on 31 March 1944 to mother Regina Oduma. In 1951, Olita attended Pap Oriang Primary School. In 1958, he enrolled at St. Mary's Yala where he went for his O level

After completing his secondary education, Olita was an employee of the Brooke Bond Company in Kericho and the Union Carbide in Nakuru. Olita was a deeply spiritual man having attended Barding Secondary School, between 1956 and 1960, and later proceeded to Yala Seminary School. Olita was working for USAID when the opportunity to act in 1981's Rise and Fall of Idi Amin presented itself. Olita not receiving an Oscar nomination for his performance has been considered one of the worst acting snubs in the history of the Academy Awards. "You see these wazungu are so selfish. They just wanted to make one of their own a star. (Forest) Whitaker’s performance and role in The Last King of Scotland is nowhere close to what I did and still able to do," says Olita.

In 1984, Olita portrayed the minor role of the First Policeman in Sheena. In 1991, he reprised his role as Amin for the second and final time in Mississippi Masala which also starred Denzel Washington. Olita also portrayed an army general in The Black Forest Clinic.

Olita was also the author of two books. One of them is a book on nutrition titled Health is Wealth.

In July 2013, Olita was spotted on the streets of Nairobi selling unlicensed copies of his movies.

Olita died on 1 June 2014 at his rural home in Pap Oriang’ in South East Alego of the Siaya District at the age of 70 after succumbing to high blood pressure. Despite his stardom from Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, Olita died a poor man.

According to Sipross Odero, a relative of Olita, his body was removed to Bama Private Hospital mortuary. A funeral committee has been set up in his home village chaired by the South Alego Ward representative Joshua Osuri. Along with his aforementioned living relatives, Olita is survived by one wife, by the name of Alice Atieno, and several children including daughter Risper Odero, and grandchildren.

Select filmography Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (1981) - Idi Amin Sheena (1984) - 1st Policeman The Mines of Kilimanjaro (1986) - Tribe Chief (uncredited) Mississippi Masala (1991) - Idi Amin (Last appearance) The Captain of Nakara (2012) - Muntu's father-in-law