From the COVID-19 pandemic and the controversy that trailed
the #EndSARS protests to ASUU’s 9-month strike, bandit attacks, insurgency, and
abductions, every Nigerian would agree that 2020 has been a tough year that
birthed emotional moments. Among these was the death of prominent entertainers
many hold dear.
Majek Fashek, a reggae musician, died after battling
esophageal cancer amid existing claims of drug abuse. Ibidun Ighodalo, an
ex-beauty queen, also passed away from cardiac arrest while asleep in her Port
Harcourt home.
Without further ado, here are some of the prominent Nigerian
entertainers and celebrities who breathed their last in the year 2020.
Victor Olaiya
If you lived out the 50s and 70s or learned about the oldies
from elderly accounts of the Nigerian civil war, then you would have heard of
Victor Olaiya, the trumpet guru whose music ruled even the lips and hearts of
federal troops.
Olaiya breathed his last in February from an undisclosed
illness while on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
In this obituary about the late singer, it was recounted that
the 81-year-old had, during the civil war, been ranked a lieutenant colonel
(honorary) under the Nigerian army and his band played for the troops at
various locations.
Long before, his death, he had been quoted as saying: “High
life has a great future. For it I live, for it, I shall die.
“Everybody wants to talk about highlife. Fuji, Fuji reggae,
Afrobeat, juju, all of them had to borrow a leaf or two from high-life to
enable them to stand. No type of music can threaten the existence of high life
music.”
Tony Allen
As if the tragedy that the year had bequeathed wasn’t
enough, Tony Oladipo Allen, a Nigerian drummer-cum-songwriter who used to work
for Fela Kuti, a late Afrobeats legend, met his death months later in May 2020.
He died at Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris where
he was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Allen, who had written his autobiography before his death,
was the musical director of Fela’s band Africa ’70 from 1968 to 1979. He is
widely regarded as one of the primary co-founders and pioneers of the genre of
Afrobeat music.
Dan Foster
Dan Foster was a prominent Nigeria-based American
broadcaster when he died following a COVID-19 diagnosis. The radio
personality’s death in June had stirred hysteric reactions from his Nigerian
fans including celebrities.
Foster had worked with numerous radio stations including
Cathy Hughes Radio One, Mix 106.5, and WTBN before moving to Nigeria in 2000,
replacing Mark Silvia, his fellow American, on Cool FM’s Good Morning Nigeria
show.
He had immersed himself in his adopted country’s culture,
dropping local phrases into his on-air banter in his Baltimore accent. He had
also hosted various radio segments including ‘Inspirational Thought’ and
‘Candid Phone’.
Foster was named ‘Best Radio Presenter’ in 2001 and won the
Nigeria Media Merit Award for ‘Best Radio Personality’ in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
He was named City People’s ‘Media Person of the Year’ in 2004 and 2005.
In its tribute to Foster, the New York Times, a respected
newspaper based in the US, described the deceased as one of those who redefined
radio broadcasting in Nigeria.
Frank Dallas
It was on February 21, that the Nollywood scene got wind of
the news that shook the industry. Frank Dallas, a veteran Nollywood actor, had
breathed his last in his hotel room in Umuahia, Abia state.
It was understood that Dallas was to attend a summit in Umuahia
when he died.
Having kick-started his career as far back as the 90s,
Dallas had featured in series of Nollywood thrillers including ‘Black Maria’,
‘Agony Of A Mother’, ‘A Night To Remember,’ among others.
Chizoba Boye
Boye was a 52-year-old actress renowned for playing the role
‘Aunty Abike’ in ‘Tinsel’, a Nigerian soap opera.
The film producer and presenter, who doubles as the wife of
Sam Boye, a Nollywood filmmaker, breathed her last in May 2020 shortly after
complaining of ill health.
Majek Fashek
It first came as a rumour months earlier before it was later
confirmed in June that Majek Fashek had lost the battle for his life to an undisclosed
illness at 58.
His passing had given rise to this obituary and tributes
from music lovers in Nigeria and across the world.
Besides Fashek’s struggle with addiction, other health
conditions had gotten him hospitalised on several occasions.
In September, Femi Otedola, a businessman and
philanthropist, had pledged to take the singer’s medical expenses.
Fashek, who was fondly called the “The Rainmaker” for ‘Send
Down The Rain’, one of his hit tracks, had been an activist who fought societal
ills through his songs including ‘Prisoner of Conscience’, his hit album,
released in 1988.
Pa Kasumu
Kayode Odumosu, a Yoruba actor better known as Pa Kasumu,
had been among Yoruba movie lovers’ favourite but his career suffered a setback
when he started battling the heart failure that later killed him on March 1.
He starred in many Yoruba movies and was known to thrill
viewers with his signatory voice and wealth of vocabulary. Odumosu was first
reported ill in 2013 when he suffered a partial stroke that affected his eyes
and memory.
In 2016, the veteran actor had stated clearly that he
wouldn’t feature in any movie till he gets proper treatment. The actor’s
statement had come in the wake of a trip to India where he had hoped to get
treatment in the hospital.
Ibidun Ighodalo
A few days before her death, Ibidun Ighodalo had shared a
video on social media wherein she could be seen playing romantically with Ituah
Ighodalo, her husband, who is the senior pastor of Lagos’ Trinity House Church,
ahead of a trip she had planned to embark on in days to come.
“Always so hard to say goodbye to my Popino. Love you too
much baby. See you soon,” Ibidun captioned the video, which showed Ituah
playfully accused her of domestic violence for tickling him in the presence of
a church member.
It was however unknown to her that she was embarking on a
journey of no return. Days after, it was her funeral.
As a socialite, the ex-beauty queen was famed for
occasionally gifting packages and cash prizes to Nigerians while running a
non-profit brand created to raise awareness on issues pertaining to
infertility.
In 2018, she had opened up on going through IVF (in vitro
fertilisation) on 11 occasions; the social pressure that accompanied her
fertility journey; and her quest to find happiness, all of which she said
birthed her foundation.
Toyosi Arigbabuwo
Tosin Arigbabuwo might have been lucky to witness the dawn
of 2020. But just when the new year was gradually taking off, the Nollywood
actor caught a glimpse of the world he thought he knew for the very last time.
The actor died on January 13, at his residence in Ibadan
after battling an undisclosed illness for six months.
Apart from acting in Yoruba movies, Arigbabuwo had dedicated
part of his life promoting the Islamic religion, especially in Ido local government
area (LGA) where he lived until his death.
Emilia Dike
From ‘Ignorant Couples’ and ‘Dust of Yesterday’, to ‘Where
Money Never Sleep’, Dike sure needs no introduction. She also starred in films
like ‘Ignorant couples’, ‘Dust of yesterday’, ‘Kings Guard’, and ‘Where Money
Never Sleep’.
Her death in May had come as a rude shock to her fans. The
actress had passed on after she slumped in Enugu.
Announcing the tragic news, Okechukwu Oku, a movie director
with whom she worked, wrote: “Why is death taking the best people? I’m confused
o. I just filmed with Mama here on my two last projects.
“Excited to release it and this horrible news today. A woman
with a heart of gold, Aah no. I will miss you, Mrs. Dike. Nollywood has lost a
gem in you. This is messed up.”
Gbenga Ajumoko
Gbenga Ajumoko lost his life to the cold hands of death in
March after battling with a chronic ailment. His fans would remember him for
his works including ‘Enikeji’, ‘Agbere’, ‘Yeye Efun’, ‘Wound’ and ‘Ako Okuta’.
Picture Kodak
The case of the late Picture Kodak, a video vixen affiliated
with Clarence Peters, a music video director, was one of electrocution. Before
her death, the dancer, whose real name is Love Divine, also worked with
Olamide, Burna Boy, and Wizkid.
She was said to have visited Clarence’s home and got
electrocuted to death while attempting to charge her cell phone. The case
gained traction after Clarence was invited for questioning by the Lagos police
and thereafter detained.
Clarence, who was later granted bail as investigations
proceeded, issued a statement narrating how the nearest hospitals to which they
had rushed Kodak refused to admit her after assuming that she was a COVID-19
patient.
Alkali Mathew
The 36-year-old known for his role in ‘Halita’, a TV series,
had died in March from a blood clotting condition. Dimbo Atiya, the producer of
‘Halita’, had dismissed viral claims that he died filming the series amid
COVID-19.
According to him, Alkali opened up on his blood clotting
condition, which he had long battled, prior to his death.
“He was one of our much-valued cast. This extremely sad
event took place suddenly while he was filming on another set for an Epic movie
in a village near Keffi,” Atiya had revealed at that time.
“This has come as a rude shock to us all and we pray that
the Lord will grant his family the fortitude to bear this great loss. From all
of us at Familiar Grounds, we say rest in power, Dareng.”
Bose Adewoyin
Bose Adewoyin, better known for her role as Madam Tinubu in
the 1989 classic ‘Efunroye Tinubu’, died on June 23. Although the cause of her
death wasn’t stated, she was a member of the Lagos State Council for Arts and
Culture.
Adewoyin also took part in stage plays like ‘ORÍ’ and acted
as ‘Mama Onimama’ in Funke Akindele’s ‘Omo Ghetto’.
Jennifer Omole
The fast-rising Nollywood actress passed on in Spain in
January at 33. She was buried the following day at Villarejo de Salvanes,
Madrid. The sad news about Jennifer’s death was shared by Uche Ogbodo, her
close colleague, on Instagram.
Omole was a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN),
Spain chapter, where she was based. She hailed from Edo state.
Before her death, the actress had been the movie producer
and CEO of JennisFilms Production Ltd. She made the film ‘Stolen Vow’ alongside
Uche Ogbodo, Jibola Dabo, Daniel Lloyd, and a host of other Nollywood actors.
Femi Oyewunmi
Femi Oyewumi, an actor and film producer, breathed his last
in May after battling chronic backache. It was gathered that Femi, who was
better known as Laditi, was rushed to the hospital on the night before but
eventually gave up the ghost the next morning.
Femi kickstarted his career in the 1980s but later become a
prominent name after featuring in several Yoruba films including ‘Aye Toto’,
‘Koto Orun’, ‘Ija Eleye’ among others. He was survived by his wife, children,
and siblings.
Yomi Obileye
He was a veteran Nollywood actor better known for his role
in ‘Hostages’, a 1997 movie. The news of Obileye’s death was broken on April 24
by Gbenga Adeyinka, an actor and comedian who first paid his tributes.
“If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane,
we would walk right up to heaven and bring you back again. “Rest In Peace Uncle
Yomi OBILEYE. Thanks for the memories,” Adeyinka, who is also a comedian,
wrote.
Obileye was an elder brother of Taiwo Obileye, an actor who
took part in ‘Tinsel’, a soap opera.
Aside from ‘Hostages’, a movie by Tade Ogidan, Obileye also
acted in ‘Palace’, a soap opera that featured the likes of Jide Kosoko, Liz
Benson, Antar Laniyan, Tunji Bamishigbin, Dayo Adeneye, Jide Alabi, among many
others.
Jimmy Johnson
Johnson is known for playing the lead role in ‘The Village
Headmaster’, a Nigerian TV series that ended in 1988. Like his colleagues, it
was in 2020 that he breathed his last at the Garki Hospital, Abuja. The actor
was aged 80.
In ‘The Village Headmaster’, which begun production after
Nigeria gained independence, Johnson had helped to act out plot lines that
dealt with social problems and the effect of government policies in a
fictitious Yoruba village called Oja.
In 1984, Johnson was incarcerated alongside many politicians
and senior civil servants but was acquitted by the Muhammadu Buhari/Tunde
Idiagbon military regime after the overthrow of President Shagari’s government.
Buhari was said to have described him “as one of the
pioneers of TV drama in Nigeria and a respected thespian.”
The president also lauded his “sacrifice, patriotism and
loyalty to his country and his calling, starting out early on stage and the
screen when rewards were very minimal, but pursuing his career with relentless
passion and vigour”.
Culled: TheCable
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