Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin

Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin (aka Dudu; born 6 June 1953) is a Nigerian television and film producer, director and screenwriter. He is the founder/CEO of Dudu Productions, the television production company which produced the first commercial music video in Nigeria. He has since produced a number of Nigerian music acts, including Sir Shina Peters, Sonny Okosun, Majek Fashek, Onyeka Onwenu and K1 De Ultimate. He produced and directed box office hits like Iyawo Alhaji and Ami Orun, and Ireke Onibudo, which predates Nigeria's Nollywood.

Early life Alabi-Hundeyin was born in Abeokuta to Julius Alabi Hundeyin and Anike Erinoso. He attended Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro. } He studied political science at the University of Ibadan though he took electives from theatre arts, where he spent most of his time. He also studied for a degree in advanced television techniques at CBN University in Virginia Beach, USA (now Regent University) in 1986. Sir Shina Peters (Ace, Shinamania, Dancing Time, and Experience) Majek Fashek (I & I Experience) Mike Okri (Concert Fever and Rhumba Dance) Funmi Adams (All We Need is Love) Adewale Ayuba (Mr Johnson Play for Me, Buggle D, and Acceleration).

Alabi-Hundeyin later produced for Polygram Records/Premier Music and EMI/Ivory Music. Other artistes he worked with include Ras Kimono, Orits Wiliki, Evi Edna Ogholi, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Sonny Okosun, The Mandators, K1 De Ultimate, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Onyeka Onwenu, Alex O, Peterside Ottong and Blackky. His work influenced the iconography of an entire generation of reggae, pop, jùjú and fuji music in the 1990s entertainment industry in Nigeria.

"Benton's celluloid rehash of Ireke Onibudo, under the direction of Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin, was a huge success and indeed a further pointer to the possibilities of locally produced films," argues Tunde Adegbola, a scholar. Jonathan Haynes, professor of English at Long Island University in Brooklyn says, "Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin's direction has flair…. He uses the full gamut of cinematic techniques and uses them expressively…."

In 1994, he produced Iyawo Alhaji which starred Jide Kosoko, Toun Oni, Alade Aromire and K1 De Ultimate), which was a box office hit at the cinemas between 1994 and 1996 when it was released into the home video market. During public holidays, it attracted large crowds of people who thronged, pushed and attacked one another just to see the film on the big screen. It was the first Nigerian film to gross one million naira in ticket sales at the National Arts Theatre, the largest and most prestigious cinema in Nigeria at the time. Iyawo Alhaji was the first commercial video film to be censored by the newly established Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in 1994. It was a regular practice for Alabi-Hundeyin's films, including his next, Ami Orun (1996) (starring Sola Fosudo, Clarion Chukwura-Abiola), to have extended days at the film theatre as crowds could not get tickets to watch during the initially advertised dates. He directed Abiona (1996), produced by Rolake Odetoyinbo, and Lagbondoko (1997), produced by Kayode Soyinka and starring Dele Odule.

Politics In 2000, Alabi-Hundeyin made a foray into politics, joining the Alliance for Democracy, and won an election as the chairman of Badagry local government in 2002.