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, including 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.
Career
Alabi-Hundeyin began acting in 1974. He played the role of Agbako in Oke Langbodo written by Chief Wale Ogunyemi. The role earned him fame among friends and lecturers including, professor Dapo Adelugba, Kole Omotosho and Sumbo Marinho. During his National Youth Service in Rivers State, he led the state's musical troupe to the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77) in Lagos.
Television
After graduation from University of Ibadan, Alabi-Hundeyin was employed as a pioneer staff at Ogun State Television (OGTV) in 1981, having been transferred from the state Ministry of Information. He rose to become the controller of programmes, produced and directed several dramas under OGTV's Telly Drama weekly episodes, including Ireke Onibudo (1983), written by D. O. Fagunwa on 35-mm film. In 1989, he resigned to start Dudu Productions.
Music videos
He produced his first music video for Terra Kota, the pioneer reggae artist in Nigeria, in 1987. In 1989, he was approached by Dean Disi, a PR manager, to produce a music video for CBS Records, which later became Sony Music. He produced Sir Shina Peters' Ace album, regarded as the first commercial music video in Nigeria. 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.
Film
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.
In 1983, at the age of 30, he directed Ireke Onibudo produced by Bayo Aderohunmu's Benton Films and starring Akin Ogungbe, a veteran actor, making him one of the youngest Nigerians to have filmed on celluloid. In this period of the Nigerian film industry, only three directors had made celluloid films (Ola Balogun - Ajani Ogun; Ija Ominira; Orun Mooru; and Aiye, Hubert Ogunde and Freddie Goode - Jaiyesimi & Aropin N'Tenia).