Veteran Nollywood actor Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, clocked 60 on Thursday, marking the milestone with a message of gratitude to God and reflections on six decades of life.
The comic actor, producer and director shared a new photo on Instagram and wrote, “60 years of grace, wisdom and purpose!” He described his journey as one of lessons learned, dreams pursued, challenges overcome and blessings received.
A milestone marked with gratitude
He thanked God for the gift of life and for the chance to keep working in entertainment, and prayed for more wisdom, love, hope and peace in the years ahead. He also thanked his wife and prayed that God would meet her at the point of her need.
Colleagues and fans filled social media with tributes. Veteran actor Jide Kosoko hailed him as a distinguished leader and a committed ambassador of the creative arts, and congratulated him on the joyous occasion.
Kosoko addressed him by his title, Otunba, in his tribute.
From comedy to campus
Mr Latin, a native of Gbongan in Osun State, gained prominence for his comic roles in Yoruba movies and his Talongbemu series. He adopted the stage name after playing a character called Mr Latin in a film.
Over the years he has worked as an actor, producer and director, helping to build the Yoruba film industry. Screen credits listed on IMDb include Symphony and Hell Ride in 2022 and the 2023 film Badcop.
He also produced films, with credits listed for Ile Itura and Alaga Garage in 2007 and Baba Insurance in 2009.
The Yoruba film industry is one of the busiest local language segments of Nollywood, and comic actors such as Mr Latin helped win it a loyal audience.
In 2026, at 59, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria. Earlier, he had obtained a diploma in Film, Performance and Theatre Studies at Crescent University in Abeokuta.
Actor Damola Olatunji praised the degree when he received it, calling him an inspiration and saying his pursuit of knowledge remains unmatched despite his age.
Leadership of TAMPAN
Mr Latin is national president of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, known as TAMPAN, which represents actors, producers and other workers in the screen and stage industry.
About a month ago, after the death of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, he ordered TAMPAN state governors and executives to hold a special prayer session at their next state meeting.
Leading a guild brings its own tests, from welfare for aging colleagues to disputes among practitioners, and his new degree in peace and conflict resolution fits that work.
Reports differ slightly on his birth date, with one outlet listing Oct. 16, 1966 and others marking the 60th birthday on Thursday.
At 60, Mr Latin has a long and varied career, a new degree and a guild still to lead. His message to fans and well wishers was simple: gratitude, peace and hope for the years still ahead.
