the year 2023 winds to a close, the Nollywood industry has had to mourn several unpalatable events, losing 19 of its finest actors and actresses to the cold hand of death. They took their bundles of talents into the grave and will never been seen again. The mourning has been unabated in the industry as popular faces are being snatched away by the chill hands of death.
Below are 4 prominent Nollywood stars who died in 2023:
Peace Anyiam- Osigwe
Peace Anyiam-Osigwe died at the St Nicholas Hospital in Lagos on the 9th of January, 2023 at the age of 53 after suffering a heart attack which led to a 2-day coma.
Anyim-Osigwe, who was a native of Imo state was a Nigerian filmmaker and entertainment executive. He was also known by her moniker “queen of nollywood films” and was the founder of the globally acclaimed film ceremony African Movie Academy Awards which she started in Yenagoa, Bayela State on the 30th of May, 2005.
She was also notable for the screening of Nollywood films at International Film Festivals and was bestowed by the Nigerian government a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic for her contribution to the entertainment industry.
2.. Chief Sunday Akanbi Akinola ( Feyikogbon)
Ace Veteran actor Chief Sunday Akanbi Akinola who became popular for his role as “mogaji “ in the series “ Feyikogbon “which aired on NTA channel 7 in the southwestern Nigeria in the 1980’s, died on the 9th of January, 2023 of Kidney failure at the age of 80.
Prior to his death, the actor had solicited for help from the public in 2019 for financial assistance to treat the illness, saying that his role in the series had only given him fame without finance.
3. Femi Ogunrombi (Papa Ajasco)
Femi Ogunrombi who played the role of Papa Ajasco, a character known for his portly belly and hitting his head while saying “Ojigbigbigbi” in the TV comedy series Papa Ajasco and company by Wale Adenuga Production died on the 14th of January, 2023.
Femi Ogunrombi was a native of Abeokuta in Ogun State. He rose to fame after taking over the character of Papa Ajasco in 2005 when Mr Abiodun Ayoyinka pulled out of the show. He was a member of the National Troupe of Nigeria in 1994 and worked as the director of Nigerian National Music and conducted National Choir in 1998. He was also the director of studies at the Pencil Film and Television Center in Lagos.
4. Favour Agiounim Daniels
Favour Agiounim Daniels
The young comedienne and actress popularly known as ‘Omoge,’ ‘Oma” and ‘Amama’ who had gained popularity through her skits on social media passed away after a boating accident on the 5th of February, 2023 at the age of 26.
It was indeed a sad day for the industry as many experienced disbelief and shock at the news.
5. Saint Obi
Veteran actor and movie producer Obinna Nwafor also known as Saint Obi passed on at the age of 57 after a protracted illness. He died in May, 2023.
It was disclosed that the actor had died early in the week after battling an undisclosed illness for several months with no successful treatment although the family chose not to announce his death for reasons not yet ascertained.
The actor had battled an undisclosed ailment for sometime and was reported to have relocated to Jos, the Plateau State capital for further treatment of the ailment that had kept him in and out of the hospital for over two years.
He acted in movies like Heartless, Take me to Mama, Festival of fire, among others.