Must Read: Nollywood Stars Wey Naija Lose For 2026

By: Ayobami Dada

For Nollywood, death no be only about losing actor, e mean say we don lose voices, characters, memories and part of Naija culture wey dem actors help preserve through their work.

2026 don be one painful year for Naija film industry, as actors from different generations don kpai. Some of dem na veterans wey hellep build Nigerian theatre, television and movie industry, while some na younger actors wey represent di new face of Nollywood.

Among di actors wey Naija don lose dis year na Olu Jacobs, Taiwo Hassan popularly known as Ogogo, Alexx Ekubo, Taiwo Adeshina popularly known as Elegbeje Ado, Temitope Osoba, among others.

Even though dia careers no be di same, each of dem leave one mark or another for Nigerian entertainment.

Olu Jacobs: Di Lion of Lufodo

One of di latest and biggest losses for Nollywood dis year na veteran actor Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, wey kpai on September 16 at di age of 84.

For more than 50 years, Olu Jacobs dey move between British theatre and television, international productions and Nigerian movies. Dem born am for Kano, with family roots for Ogun State, and he later train for di prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for London.

With time, Olu Jacobs become one of di biggest names for Nigerian theatre and film. Hin deep voice, strong presence and di way wey he dey enter different characters make am one of di most respected actors of hin generation.

Hin career also come with plenty recognition, as hin win Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor for 2007, collect Industry Merit Award for 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and Naija gornment honour am with Member of di Order of di Federal Republic in 2011.

Olu Jacobs also co-found Lufodo Group with hin wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, including Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.

Although Joke Silva don publicly tok about Olu Jacobs living with Lewy body dementia, hin family never announce any specific cause of him death.

So, dementia should not be reported as di confirmed cause of his death.

Hin death mark di end of an era for one man wey hellep connect Naija old-school theatre with modern Nollywood.

Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’: One Big Name For Yoruba Cinema

Another big loss come inside August when veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, kpai at di age of 66.

Ogogo career stretch for more than four decades. Ogogo start to dey act in 1981 while hin dey work as auto mechanic for Lagos State Water Corporation before hin later make acting hin full-time work in 1994.

Hin big break come with di 1996 home-video classic Owo Blow, and from there, he act for hundreds of films.

Ogogo no be only actor, e dey also produce and direct movies, and him performances make am one of di familiar faces for Yoruba-language cinema.

Ogogo kpai on August 23 after battling stage-four cancer.

Before hin death, him daughter reportedly ask for medical direction to take treat her papa as doctors tell di family say chemotherapy no be option.

Outside acting, Ogogo also help carry Yoruba culture reach pipu for Naija and obodo world. Di Yoruba National Community for Italy describe am as person wey hellep project Yoruba values to pipu for Naija and di diaspora.

So, hin death no just mean say Nollywood lose actor, e also mean say Yoruba film industry lose one familiar face wey millions of pipu don grow up watching.

Alexx Ekubo: One Face Of New Nollywood

Di death of Alexx Ekubo for May bring another kind of pain.

At just 40, Ekubo represent one younger generation of Nollywood actors wey combine acting, fashion, entertainment and social media influence.

Hin first gain wider attention after he become first runner-up for 2010 Mr Naija competition. Later, hin become familiar face for movies like A Man for the Weekend, The Blood Covenant, Devil in Agbada and Afamefuna: An Nwa-Boi Story.

Him family konfamate say hin die on May 11 at Evercare Hospital from complications wey dey connected to advanced metastatic kidney cancer, after a short battle with di disease.

Hin death shock many pipu because of him age and di fact say him career still get plenty years ahead.

Hin funeral for Arochukwu, Abia State, bring family, friends, colleagues and fans together, showing di kind connection wey he build with pipu inside and outside Naija.

No be only to remember dia names, but to study dia work, support di creative industry and make sure say Nigerian storytelling continue.

Di curtain don fall on these actors, but di stories wey dem help tell still dey play.

And maybe na dis be di biggest legacy of any actor to leave behind character, performance or story wey go continue to live long after di person don leave di stage.