Olufunmilayo Rachael Ajayi, a travelling actor with stage name Funmi Ranco, was born into the family of Late Pa Richard Adeniyi Ajayi, a native doctor and Madam Maria Ayoola Adenuga, a trader in December 1947.
She attended Ifeoluwa Primary School, Òkè-Èsó, Ilésà and furthered her academic pursuits thereafter. She had her child, Omolara Abimbola, at 18.
She had started a career in boxing, which she quit when her father was not in full support. Her father believed that she might someday sustain injury in her stomach which might cause womb damage. Her father loved her so much due to her brilliance and fortitude.
She came into limelight upon picking a career in stage acting with the stage name, Funmi Ranco in the 70s and early 80s. Her group was Ìràwò Omo Obòkun International Theatre. She was self-claimed First Lady Nigeria Super Star.
Funmi Ranco always wore men’s clothes. Some of her fans argued she was a male. That, among other “out of the box” ways of life, made her phenomenal.
Record has it that some of the phenomenals in Nollywood today started out under her tutelage. Ibrahim Chatta, in an interview with Doyin Kukoyi in 2017, explained that Funmi Ranco was part of those that got him exposed into acting.
FUNMI RANCO’S DEATH: She had been sick, and her grandma was to be buried. Her mother, Ayoola Maria Adenuga told her not to go for the burial, but she didn’t budge. She said she would be fine. After her grandma’s burial, her health started deteriorating on their way back. She died before they could rush her to the nearest hospital. She was said to have sustained injury on the journey whilst trying to urinate in a nearest bush. That made people suggest she died of tetanus. Rumour also has it that Funmi Ranco was poisoned. No one could ascertain any of those. No one could tell what really happened.
Olufunmilayo Rachael Ajayi, popularly called Funmi Ranco by fans passed on in 1984 at 37 years.
Her reign, in the 80s, was with Ray Eyiwunmi, Ade love, King Sunny Ade among others.
She is the grandmother of the leading Ibadan-based Human Resources Professional and corporate trainer – Iyanuoluwa OLATUNDE. The Founder and lead at Elocuencia Consulting.
(C) Dele Adeyanju Agbaletu