The year 2021 has been a very difficult one for the entertainment industry at large, as some of the actors yielded to the cold hands of death, through one ailment or the other. Only one of the departed 16 theatre experts on record, passed on in the aftermath of an auto crash.
Here is the list of actors the industry lost this year
-Folake Aremu (Orisabunmi)
Popular Veteran Yoruba actress, Mrs. Folake Aremu, fondly called Orisabunmi, died on January 5, 2021.
The actress, who hailed from Olla in Kwara State, died in her residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Also, her demise came four months after the death of her ex-husband, Jimoh Aliu who was better known as Aworo, Orisabunmi rose to prominence in the film industry under the supervision of Aworo. She died at the age of 60.
-Jim Lawson Maduike
Veteran actor, Jim Lawson Maduike died on January 9, 2021. The role interpreter died after he complained of severe body pains.
-Dan Nkoloagu
Veteran actor Dan Nkoloagu gave up the ghost on January 22, 2021. His son, Dan Nkoloagu Jnr, announced his death on his Facebook page.
He wrote: “IT WAS A BLACK FRIDAY FOR US YESTERDAY as my Dad left us without saying goodbye.”
The actor died at the age of 83.
–David Mela
David Mela was a fast-rising actor. He died from an undisclosed ailment on January 11, 2021.
The young actor was said to be passing through a hard time in his life as disclosed by a post before his untimely death.
-Ernest Asuzu
Veteran actor Ernest Asuzu gave up the ghost on Tuesday, January 26, 2021.
His wife, Jennifer Asuzu, who confirmed the sad incident, said he slumped on Tuesday evening and never woke up. He was down with a stroke in 2015; this affected his speech and he was also bedridden for three years. The thespian who started his acting career in the ’90s died at the age of 37.
-Victor Decker
Veteran actor, Victor Decker, was found dead in his apartment on Monday, February 15, 2021, by his neighbours at about 5 pm. It was gathered Decker’s neighbours broke down the door to his apartment before they found his lifeless, decomposed body in his sitting room.
He died at the age of 72 but the cause remains unknown.
– Sadiq Daba
Veteran broadcaster, musician and actor, Sadiq Daba died on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. It was learnt that he battled with leukemia and prostate cancer before he died.
While confirming his death, popular filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, said he spoke with his wife and son who confirmed his passage to him. He died at the age of 69.
-Bruno Iwuoha
Veteran actor, Bruno Iwuoha, died on Friday, April 10, 2021, after a prolonged battle with diabetes.
The thespian hailed from Ehime Mbano Local Government area in Umunumo Umuanunu kindred, Imo state. He gave up the ghost at 68 years.
-Abiodun Aleja
Popular Nollywood actor Abiodun Aleja died on Friday, May 21, 2021.
He was ill and admitted to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he gave up the ghost.
– Rachel Oniga
Popular Veteran actress Rachel Oniga died on Friday, July 30, 2021
The talented actress, whose acting career began in 1993, died at about 10 pm, according to family sources.
Oniga was a native of Eku, Delta State, but was born in Ebutte-Metta, Lagos on May 23, 1957. After she was made popular by her role in a Yoruba family drama, Owo Blow, she also featured in other films and drama series like The Wedding Party, 30 Days in Atlanta, Doctor Bello, Chief Daddy, the popular Wale Adenuga’s television series, Super Story, and lots more. She died at 64.
– Sound Sultan
Popular rapper Lanre Fasasi fondly called Sound Sultan died on Sunday, July 11, 2021.
The multi-talented musician and actor lost his battle to Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma (cancer of the throat )
His elder brother, Dare Fasasi is better known as Baba Dee, confirmed the sad incident on his Instagram page. He wrote, “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”. The father of three died at 44.
–Rich Oganiru
The actor died on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, after being ill for months.
The news of his passing away was announced on Facebook by his friend, EmstarVee:
“BREAKING……..Sunset At Noon, Tuesday 10th August 2021! Ahem… I’ve lost a good friend like a brother for years, a great Nollywood actor par excellence. I’m just speechless. R.I.P Amb. Rich Oganiru,” EmstarVee wrote.
-Stanley Okoro
The fast-rising actor and digital marketer died on August 11, 2021, after an alleged food poison at the location where he went to shoot a movie. He died at the age of 28.
–Babatunde Omidina ( Baba Suwe)
Veteran actor Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, gave up the ghost on Monday, November 22, 2021. The comic actor died after battling an undisclosed illness. In 2011, he was arrested and detained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), accused of cocaine trafficking; an allegation described as false and defamatory by the ruling of the Lagos High Court. His counsel was the late Bamidele Aturu, a lawyer and human rights activist.
He died at the age of 63.
-Victor Olaotan
The amazing thespian died on August 26, 2021 after battling a prolonged illness. He was best known for his role as Fred Ade-Williams in the popular TV series, Tinsel, and was bedridden for five years after he was involved in a ghastly accident. He gave up the ghost at the age of 69.
-Prince Ifeanyi Dikeh
The actor died on August 27, 2021, having been hospitalised for weeks, although he battled with a kidney-related problem some years ago.
May their souls continue to rest in peace.