Jimmy Johnson: Okoro’s Death Stirs Fond Memories of The Village Headmaster

Ololade Adeyanju/

Veteran actor, writer and broadcaster, Jimmy Johnson, who was part of Nigeria’s longest-running television soap opera, The Village Headmaster (1968 – 1988) has left the world stage to be with the saints on Wednesday.

Jimmy Johnson, who had the stage name ‘Okoro’ in the Village Headmaster series, died on July 8 after complications from surgery in an Abuja Hospital. He was 80 years old.

As Okoro, he was the second owner of the chemist and supermarket in The Village Headmaster. He was very fond of his snuff box and he had a peculiar loud sneezing that accompanied his sessions with his snuff. He also had a short temper.

Jimmy Johnson’s involvement in drama and theatre arts began in Ibadan in the early 60s working with Professor Wole Soyinka in the Orisun Theatre Company and the Mbari Artistes and Writers Club a diverse group of University lecturers, writers, visual artists, musicians and actors that also included Soyinka, Ulli Beier, Chinua Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Mabel Segun, J.P Clark, Christopher Kolade, Lindsay Barrett, Demas Nwoko, Tunji Oyelana, Jimi Solanke and Bruce Onobrakpeya amongst others.  Mbari was described as a magnet for artistes and writers of African descent from all over Africa, Americas and the Caribbean.

The Nigeria Biafra civil war of 1967-70 disrupted Mbari with many members opposing the war, but some forced into different sides by circumstances.

After the war, Jimmy Johnson threw himself into reconstruction of the country as an Information and Culture Officer in the Civil Service – working first from Enugu, capital of the then East Central State, then in Lagos Nigeria’s former capital – while also working alongside colleagues to rebuild a national identity for radio, television, film and theatre.

Alongside his day job in government in the 70s, 80s and 90s he worked with colleagues in Radio Nigeria, Nigerian Television, former associates from Mbari Club and a new crop of film makers and dramatists to build the bedrock of todays entertainment industry in Nigeria. His generation saw FESTAC 77 – The Second World, Black & African Festival of Arts & Culture – as an opportunity to try and rekindle the spirit of Mbari, and invited Black artistes from across Africa, North and South America, Europe and the Caribbean to Nigeria. However some associates, most prominent being Fela Anikulapo Kuti, fell out with the Obasanjo government over what was described as military intervention in FESTAC.

While still working as a Senior Civil Servant, he was later best known for the role of “Okoro” which he played for about a decade in NTA’s longest running TV drama The Village Headmaster.

In 1984, along with many politicians and senior civil servants, he was locked up in Ikoyi Prison and tried, but acquitted by the Buhari/Idiagbon military regime after the overthrow of President Shagari’s government.

In a twist of fate, President Buhari said of him decades later on a recent birthday that “As one of the pioneers of TV drama in Nigeria and a respected thespian” his “contribution to the movie industry, which ranks second in the world, remains indelible”. He commended his “sacrifice, patriotism and loyalty to his country and his calling, starting out early on stage and the screen when rewards were very minimal, but pursuing his career with relentless passion and vigour”.

Until his death this week, Jimmy Johnson or Jimi J as he was known by his peers spent his time in semi-retirement in Abuja contributing occasionally to various artistic productions.

He is survived by his spouse, children, and grand-children including his second child, a journalist, development and policy expert, Rotimi Sankore. His first son, Tunde Johnson, passed away two years before his death.

According to a statement issued by the family, burial arrangements will be announced soon in line with COVID-19 Protocols.

Okoro’s death came two months after that of a fellow actor, Ukwak Asuquo, who was known as Boniface in the rested drama series.

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