A Yoruba from Ijesha, Baba Sala, regarded as the father of modern Nigerian comedy,[2] alongside other dramatists like Hubert Ogunde, Kola Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi and Duro Ladipo popularized theater and television acting in Nigeria.

Significantly, Baba Sala started his career in show business as a Highlife musician, fronting in 1964 a group known as the Federal Rhythm Dandies where he tutored and guided the jùjú music maestro King Sunny Adé who was his lead guitar player.

Olaiya's main character in the group was Baba Sala, a pensioner who sometimes wore torn and out sized trousers and a table clock as a wrist watch.

He plays his signature character Baba Sala, a man from a poor background who had built some wealth selling electronics in the city only to lose it to greed assisted by the advice of a dubious babalawo.

In the 1990s, Olaiya dabbled into the home video market with Agba Man and Return Match two slapstick comedies which lack the technical qualities of his early films.