Ìsọ̀lá Ògúnsọlá on the cover page of Atọ́ka Photoplay Series, August 1982.
Timothy Olusola Isola Ogunsola popularly known as Ishow Pepper was born on 14th November, 1942 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He hailed from Baala Dasaolu compound, Oke Itoku although he spent most of his early years in his family village, Olokuta, Oluyole local government area, Ibadan.
In 1959, he joined the Akin Ogungbe Concert Party, a theatre troupe based in Abeokuta, with the set of Jimoh Aliu, Charles Olumo (Àgbákò), Femi Adeyemo (Baba n gba life) and Afolabi Afolayan (Jagua). In 1965, after his period of training with Akin Ogungbe, he proceeded to form a theatre group in collaboration with his colleague, Afolabi Afolayan. The group was named Afolayan Ogunsola Theatre group.
In the early years of theatre practice in Nigeria, performing artists married many wives so they could function asactresses, dancers and monitor the operation of the troupe. For these reasons and more, Ògúnsọlá married several wives including Adunola Ogunsola, Mojisola Ogunsola (Ìyá Alakara), Mopelola Ogunsola and Iyabode Ogunsola (Efunsetan Aniwura). Together, they toured Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo State.
Towards 1967 in Ibadan, Isola formed his own theatre group called the Isola Ogunsola Theatre group. He married more wives and expanded the culture of touring plays to the Eastern and Northern parts of Nigeria.
He trained Samson Eluwole (Jinadu Ewele) who served as the manager of the troupe until Isola's demise. Isola also trained Adeniyi Orofo (Ewejoko) and Gbolagade Adedeji (Aro).
Isola Ogunsola was an all round Theatre artist who excelled as a director, actor, singer, drummer, dancer and music composer. He was one of the first set of thespians to go into television plays. After the likes of Hubert Ogunde and Kola Ogunmola, he was also one of the first players to have his plays in the Photoplay Series, Atọka.
In 1969, he was conferred with an honorary doctorate award in the use of drums at the University of Jos. Hence, the birth of Dr. Ishow Pepper. He, in conjunction with Muhideen Alade Aromire, produced the first home video film in Nigeria, Ekun.
Some of his works include: Efunsetan Aniwura, Ìyàwó Alalubosa, Agbalowo Meeri, Ibu Olokun, Jomi Joke, Aja lo leru, Koseegbe, Fere bi ekun, Olowolayemo and more.
He worked with artists including Adedeji Aderemi (Olofa Ina), Kareem Adepoju (Bàbá Wande), Lere Paimo, Idowu Philips, Lanre Hassan, Sunday Omobolanle, Gbenga Adeboye, Fatai Odua and more. Ogunsola passed on at the age of 50 on December 28th, 1992.
