Bisi Komolafe
She would have made it into the new year, but death snatched her on December 31, making hers the last of the many deaths which hit the nation’s entertainment industry last year. The late Bisi Komolafe died in Ibadan, throwing the Yoruba film industry into mourning.
The thespian, who was engaged to be married to her Canada-based fiancé, died at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, after several weeks of complication, arising from miscarriage.
As the industry struggles to come to terms with her death, the deceased family has fixed burial arrangements, which include a wake-keep for Friday at the Catholic Church, Okepadi, Salvation Army Way, Ibadan. Reports say the actress will be buried at the same venue.
The late actress was said to be six months pregnant when the complications arose. She had been living in Lagos with her fiancé, Mr. Ijaduola, after their engagement. She suddenly took ill tow months ago and was dmitted at the UCH.
The late Komolafe, who became popular for her roles in flicks like ‘Igboro ti Daru’ and ‘Eja Tutu’, was a member of the Odunfa caucus of the Yoruba film industry. A second child, the late thespian was said to be the bread-winner of her family.
Pete Eneh
Veteran actor Pete Eneh died on November 15 , few days after he had one of his legs amputated due to infection , at Park Lane Hospital in Enugu. His health was said to have deteriorated after the amputation.
The infection, according to reports, started in 2011, after he sustained an injury.
His case worsened due to lack of proper medical attention. The actor was said to have been amputated to stop the infection from spreading to other parts of his body. Eneh was said to be diabetic. He spent three months at the hospital before he was advised to get the leg amputated to reduce the risk of the infection spreading to other parts of his body.
The amputation took place after efforts to save the leg was unsuccessful. Until his death, the actor, who was often cast as Patience Ozokwor (Mama Gee’s stage husband in movies), was then said to be taking the situation in its stride.
Eneh featured in hit Nollywood movies such as; Naomi, Not Your Wealth, Lonely Life (2006), Divided Kingdom (2005), Price of Ignorance (2005), Heavy Rain (2004), Arrows (2003), By His Grace (2003) among others.
Enebeli Elebuwa
Enebeli Elebuwa was a prolific actor who had over one hundred and thirty movies to his credit. The Delta State-born actor, who was born on February 14, was one of the most acknowledged and respected faces in the entertainment industry and on the African continent.
Elebuwa, who died at the age of 65, was fondly referred to by friends as ‘Andrew’ because of his role in a Federal Government’s public service advertisement in 1984.
He shot into prominence with the advertisement in 1984, where he advised Nigerians against travelling abroad but to find ways of making the country a better place to live in.
The late actor, whose first movie role was in Sanya Dosunmu’s 1974 celluloid film, Dinner with the Devil, was hit by a strange ailment sometime last year, resulting in stroke.
He was first treated at St. Luke’s Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, but was later moved to St. Topaz Hospital, Surulere Lagos. He received assistance from Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and Delta State Commissioner for Information, Richard Mofe-Damijo, who is also an actor.
The deceased was one of the pathfinders in the Nigerian movie industry with about 125 movies to his credit. Some of the movies include: Abuja Top Ladies, Queen of Hasso Rock, The Corridors of Power, Extra Time, True Love, Squad Twenty-Three, Separate Lives, Dons in Abuja, Expensive Game, Bumper to Bumper, Mortal Sin, Together as One, the Highly-rated 1999 blockbuster – Domitilla – and a host of others.
Though known for delivering roles on the television, the actor’s journey as an entertainer began on the music scene. As a musician, he led the band of veteran highlife star, Victor Olaiya, during the Nigerian Civil War.
He also performed with the Steve Rhodes Voices. He played the role of a police officer in the now rested popular soap, Village Headmaster.
MC Loph
Nwaozo Obiajulu, aka MC Loph, died in a tragic car accident along the often neglected Benin-Ore Expressway.
Obiajulu was travelling to Enugu State for his traditional wedding ceremony along with his fiancée.
MC Loph popularised the song Osondi-Owendi, as a tribute song to the late highlife master Osita Osadebe .
James Iroha (Gringory)
Veteran actor and member of the rested soap, New Masquerade, James Iroha (aka Gringory Akabogu) died at 69 on Tuesday, February 28.
Before his death, Gringory was living in abject poverty and cried out in vain for rehabilitation. He was said to be suffering from an eye ailment.
His son, Akwari James Iroha, confirmed Gringory’s death in a post on Facebook.
He wrote: “Sept 1942 _ Feb 2012. Not long ago, a man we have all come to love, a man who made us laugh, a friend to all but will always be dad to my little sister Ugonma, my brothers Chiemela, Uche, Kelechi and me passed on.
“Chief James Udensi Akwari Iroha OON has passed on today (February 28). May his cheerfull soul rest in the Lord. Akwari James Iroha (for the family).”
Gringory retired from active public life at a traditional ceremony in December 2011 known as Igboto mma in Amokwe Item, Abia State. The soap was immensely popular in the 1970s and 1980s and was a family delight.
Lekinson
Lekan Oladipupo, better known as Gorgio Lekinson, died last January in Osogbo, Osun State of heart-related disease. Lekinson was a hugely talented Yoruba actor renowned more for his role in Koto Aye, a classic Yoruba movie, featuring A-class veteran Yoruba actors.
Dento
Star actor Hammed Odunla, popularly known as Dento, lost the battle to stroke on August 6, 2012. He was on intensive medical care for months before he died. He was buried according to Islamic rites on the following day at about 10am. Besides being off stage for about five years, he was unfit to practise tailoring, his first job to which he returned.
David Ihezie
David Ihezie, 70, died in January after a protracted battle with illness. The Enugu-based thespian was one of the most respected elders in the motion picture industry, and he would be missed, not just for his acting prowess, but for the fatherly role he played among actors during his life time.
Akin Ogungbe
Akin Ogungbe, 80, popularly known as Baba Ibeji, died last month. In the seventies, the late Ogungbe acted the role of Baba Ibeji in a Yoruba photo play magazine Atoka.
Ogungbe was a household name, ranking among the likes of the late Hubert Ogunde, Moses Adejumo (Baba Sala), the late Duro Ladipo, Baba Ajimajasan, the late Baba Mero, the late Oyin Adejobi, and the late Ade Love. He, alongside others, pioneered the Nigerian stage performance artistes, who ventured into celluloid film production before the advent of home videos.
In the play which brought him national fame, Ogungbe acted the notorious Baba Ibeji, who used one of his twins for ritual and used the proceeds to embark on holy pilgrimage to Mecca. However, after his departure, the unexpected happened: He forgot the key to the ‘sacred’ room where the twin was on his kneels with a ritual calabash on his head!
On his arrival from Mecca, he was nabbed. It was this Yoruba photo play that etched his name on the consciousness of many, especially in the Southwest. Therefore, when the news of his death was made public last week, many remembered his foray and contributions to what is today a viable industry.
Among the films he produced and featured are: Asiri Baba Ibeji, Ologbo Jigolo, Ireke Onibudo, Lisabi and Igba funfun among others.
Taiwo Bello
A former producer and director, Taiwo Bello died in Lagos on February 14 last year, exactly a month after his last birthday anniversary.
Bello collaborated with some of the big names in the Yoruba movie industry, including star actress Funke Akindele, on some movie projects. He co-wrote the hit movie – Jenifa – with Akindele and worked with her on his 2010 movie, Omije Mi. Bello was bed-ridden for months with cancer. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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