The year 2020 has been a stormy one in all sectors of the
country. Despite the glitz and glamour associated with the entertainment
industry, stars in the Nigerian film industry were not left out in the plight.
As the year is gradually coming to an end, here are 20 stars that
died in the year 2020.
Toyosi Arigbabuwo
This iconic actor was popular in the Yoruba speaking sector
of the Nigeria film industry. The thespian died on January 13, 2020, at his
residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, after battling an undisclosed illness for six
months.
The actor was popular for movies like Ogborielemosho, Bashorun Gaa, Odun Baku.
Frank Dallas
Veteran Nollywood actor, Frank Dallas, died on February 19,
2020. It was reported that the actor died after suffering cardiac arrest in his
hotel room in Umuahia while attending a summit.
The actor who was known for his role in action movies was
popular in the 90s and was famous for his role in films like A Night To
Remember, Blind Love, Sweet Love, etc.
Pa Kasumu
Renowned actor, Kayode Odumosu, fondly referred to as Pa
Kasumu by his fans and lovers, died on March 1, 2020, after a long battle with
various illnesses.
The veteran actor was a household name in the Yoruba
speaking sector of the Nigerian film industry. In 1969, he featured in the
popular play titled, Omo Ekere, Sango: The Legendary African King, and Jesu
Mushin.
Rasheed Abu
In April, the Nigerian movie industry was thrown into a
state of mourning after the announcement of the death of popular actor, Rasheed
Abu.
The President of Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners
Association of Nigeria, Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr Latin, confirmed his death
saying, “Yes, he is dead. As the president of TAMPAN, I was reliably informed
that he slumped, he was revived and unfortunately died on the way to the
hospital.”
Alkali Matt
On March 24, fast-rising actor, Alkali Matt, popularly known
as Dareng, died at 36 while filming on set. Known for his role in Africa Magic
series “Halita”, he died in Keffi, Nassarawa.
A Nigerian filmmaker, Dimbo Atiya, who broke the news of his
demise on Facebook, said the actor died “suddenly while he was filming on a set
for an epic movie in a village near Keffi, Nasarawa State.”
Chizoba Boye
The Nollywood star, who was the wife of the filmmaker, Sam
Boye, died on May 10. She was popular for her role in the television series,
Tinsel, where she played the role of Aunty Abike.
It was reported that she died after complaining of ill
health a day before her demise. She died at 52.
Aside from her role in Tinsel, she was also a producer and
presenter.
Boye produced the Igbo comedy series, ‘Ka Anyi Si Ebi, while
her husband directed it.
She would always be remembered for her pioneering role in
Living in Bondage, Checkmate, Scandals.
Yekini Omobolanle aka Baba Legba
Veteran actor, Yekini Omobolanle, popularly known as Baba
Legba, died on September 7 in his Abeokuta, Ogun state home, after a battle
with an undisclosed ailment.
In the early stage of his career, he joined the Alawada
Theatre Group in 1974 and was playing comic roles along with Baba Sala.
He used to be known as Sunday Omobolanle before he went to
Mecca and he turned Muslim. He was later referred to as Alhaji Yekini.
Legendary actor, Baba Sala’s son, Adejumo Boisala Emmanuel
took to Facebook to announce the actor’s death.
Gbolagade Akinpelu aka Ogun Majek
Popular film actor in the Yoruba speaking sector of the
industry, Gbolagade Akinpelu aka Ogun Majek, is another to have fallen this
year.
He died on June 25 at his residence on Imalefalafia,
Oke-Ado, Ibadan, after battling an undisclosed illness. The death of the actor
was confirmed in a Facebook post by veteran filmmaker Tunde Ola-Yusuf.
Bose Adewoyin ‘Madam Tinubu’
Veteran Nollywood actress, Shafkat Bose Adewoyin, popularly
known as Madam Tinubu died on June 23.
She was best known for her role as Madam Tinubu in the film, Efunroye
Tinubu, written by Professor Akinwumi Isola and directed by Gbenga Adewusi in
1989.
Adewoyin started acting at a young age. She was also a
dancer and costumier.
She was on the contingent of the Lagos State Council for
Arts and Culture that performed Funmi Odusolu’s famous dance musical, ‘ORÍ’
(Destiny).
She acted as Mama Oni Mama alongside Adebayo Salami in Funke
Akindele’s “Omo Ghetto”.
Yomi Obileye
Nollywood lost yet another talent this year with the demise
of veteran actor, Yomi Obileye, on April 24. He died of an undisclosed ailment.
The news of the star’s death was announced by comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, who
took to social media to share a tribute.
The deceased starred in Tade Ogidan’s movie, Hostages, in 1997,
as well as the soap opera ‘Palace.’ He also starred in Head Gone in which he
played the character Dr. Smith.
Patience Oseni
Nigerian actress Patience Oseni famed for her role in the
television series, Super Story, died on February 17, 2020, in Calabar, Cross
River State; although, there are speculations linking the cause of her death to
cancer.
The Ogun State-born actress started her acting career in
1995 when she first starred in the movie ‘Deadly Passion.’ She then rose to
prominence in Nollywood back in the late 1990s with her role in the movie ‘End
Of The Wicked.’
Musiliat Arikeusola
The veteran actress would always be known for her role in
the film, Koto Orun.
Also known as Osuntohun, she died on July 31 at age 67 at
her residence at Ijetu area, Osogbo, Osun state. The veteran actress was said
to have battled with an undisclosed ailment for some years. The news of her
death was confirmed by Ademola Adedokun, the secretary of Theatre Arts and
Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria in Osun State.
Prince Femi Oyewumi aka Laditi
Once again, death once struck the Nigerian film industry on
May 21 as another Nollywood actor, Prince Femi Oyewumi, aka Laditi, died at age
51.
It was gathered that the filmmaker suffered from chronic
back pain for months and had a relapse, which led to him being rushed to the
hospital where he died.
His younger brother, Prince Kehinde Adegoke Oyewumi,
confirmed the news of his death.
He featured in popular Yoruba films like Koto Orun, Aye
Toto, Ija Eleye, to name a few.
Emilia Dike
Also in May 2020, a movie Director, Mr Okechukwu Oku,
announced the death of Emilia Dike on his Instagram. Dike reportedly died in
Enugu after slumping.
She featured in Nollywood movies such as Ignorant couples,
Dust of yesterday, Kings Guard, Where Money Never Sleep 1 and 2, and many more.
Ukwak Asuquo
In April, the veteran actor, Ukwak Asuquo, famous for his
role in the television show, The Village Headmaster, where he played the
character, Boniface, was pronounced dead.
The news of Asuquo’s death was announced in a press release
by actress and the Public Relations Officer of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria,
Monalisa Coker.
Gbenga Ajumoko
Veteran Yoruba filmmaker and actor, Gbenga Ajumoko, died in
March after battling with a chronic ailment. It was reported that for over 6
months, the Ijebu, Ogun State-born actor was admitted at a hospital in Remo,
where he was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension, which affected his two
kidneys.
He solely treated the ailments quietly until things got
worse for him and he was transferred to a private hospital located at Ibadan
Garage, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State before his death.
Juwon Awe
According to the Nigeria Police Force, the fast-rising actor
in the Yoruba speaking sector of the movie industry was killed by armed bandits
in Ote, Kwara State, on January 26.
His colleague, Ibrahim Chatta, broke the news on Instagram
on Monday night.
According to Chatta, the deceased was murdered by armed men
while journeying from Ilorin with a female actor, Toyosi Adesanya.
Jimmy Johnson
Another popular face on the hit television show, The Village
Headmaster, star actor, Jimmy Johnson, was famed for his role as “Okoro”.
He died on July 8 after complications from surgery in an
Abuja hospital at the age of 80.
Johnson’s acting career started on stage in Ibadan in the
early 60s.
He worked with Professor Wole Soyinka in the Orisun Theatre
Company and the Mbari artistes and Writers Club a diverse group of University
lecturers, writers, visual artists, musicians and actors. Mbari was described
as a magnet for artistes and writers of African descent from all over Africa,
America’s and the Caribbean.
Jennifer Omole
The Nigerian diva died in Spain on January 3. It was
gathered that she was buried the next day at Villarejo de Salcanes, Madrid. The
news of her death was announced by her close friend and colleague, Uche Ogbodo.
Prior to her death, she was a member of the Actors Guild of
Nigeria, Spain Chapter. The actress produced the movie Stolen Vow.
Chico Ejiro
Popular Nollywood filmmaker, Chico Ejiro, died on Christmas
day.
Known as Mr Prolific, the moviemaker owned a production
company called Grand Touch Pictures and he directed over 80 movies within a
five-year period — each one shot in as little as three days.
It is often said that he held the record of the Nollywood
director with the highest number of released movies.
He was the brains behind movies like Full Moon, Festival of
Fire and Slave, among many others.
culled: PUNCH
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