Early Life and Education:
Bandele was born in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, to Yoruba parents. His father, Solomon Bandele-Thomas, was a veteran of the Burma Campaign in World War II. Growing up, Bandele was deeply influenced by his father’s war stories, which he credits as one of the factors that turned him into a writer. At the age of 14, Bandele won a short-story competition, marking the beginning of his literary journey. He spent his first 18 years in northern Nigeria before moving to Lagos. In 1987, he began studying drama at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Early Literary Success:
While still a student, Bandele won the International Student Playscript competition in 1989 with an unpublished play titled “Rain.” He followed this with the 1990 British Council Lagos Award for a collection of poems.

Move to London and Literary Career:
In 1990, at the age of 22, Bandele moved to London with the manuscripts of two novels. His debut novel, “The Man Who Came in From the Back of Beyond,” was published in 1991. This was followed by several other novels and plays, including:

• “The Street” (1999)
• “Burma Boy” (2007)

Bandele’s novels were praised for their surrealism, wit, and political engagement. His 2007 novel “Burma Boy” was particularly lauded for giving voice to previously unheard African experiences in World War II.

Transition to Filmmaking:
In the 2000s, Bandele began to focus more on filmmaking. His directorial debut came in 2013 with “Half of a Yellow Sun,” based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel of the same name. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to critical acclaim.Other notable film and television projects included:

• Directing the third season of the MTV drama series “Shuga” (2013)
• “Fifty” (2015), which was included in the London Film Festival
• “Blood Sisters” (2022), the first Netflix Nigerian Original series

Final Work and Legacy:
At the time of his death, Bandele was working on a new novel, “Yorùbá Boy Running,” which was posthumously scheduled for publication in July 2024. The novel, partly inspired by the life of Bandele’s formerly enslaved great-grandfather, includes an introduction by Wole Soyinka.

Bandele passed away on August 7, 2022, in Lagos, at the age of 54. His death was mourned across the literary and film worlds, with many noting his significant contributions to African storytelling. On June 30, 2024, a memorial event titled “A Night to Remember – Biyi Bándélé” was held at Brixton House Theatre in London, celebrating his life and work and launching his final novel.

Biyi Bandele’s legacy lies in his ability to bridge different forms of storytelling – from literature to theatre to film – while consistently giving voice to African experiences and histories. His work has inspired and will continue to inspire generations of African writers and filmmakers.