In 1963, Abiodun Duro-Ladipo set aside her initial plans to become a nurse and joined the Mbari Mbayo Theatre Group. The troupe was led by Duro Ladipo, whom she married in 1964. Her compelling portrayals of Oya in Oba Koso and the titular role in Moremi earned her acclaim, leading to performances at international festivals in Berlin, London, Nancy, and Zürich throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

After her husband's death in 1978, she assumed leadership of the theatre company, a remarkable feat for a woman at the time. She later transitioned to television, starring in shows such as Oya Sings (1979) and B'Inaku (1981), and remained a committed advocate for Yoruba culture through stage and screen.