In just the first quarter of the year 2024, the entertainment industry has lost some of its finest talent to the cold hands of death, which have left many of their beloved fans devastated. In this article, we would be looking at these devastating Nollywood deaths which was earth-shattering for the movie industry, leaving a lot of fans heartbroken.
Here is the list of Nollywood actors that have died in 2024 so far:
Olofa Ina
Veteran Yoruba actor Deji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina, died on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at the age of 73.
His colleague Saidi Balogun announced his passing in an Instagram post where he disclosed the thespian died of cancer in Lagos State.
Born into the family of late Chief AbdulSalam Aderemi and the late Madam Aisha Aderemi of Jagun-Olukosi compound, Ede in Osun State on May 15, 1950, Olofa Ina was the Sobaloju of Edeland.
He began the Olofa Ina Theatre Group in 1972 with the likes of Erinfolamin, Dasofunjo, Gbolagade Akinpelu and the late Oyetunji of Esinnla.
Olofa Ina also produced a series of television productions including Odetedo, Lakaaye, Kogun Maja, and Ade Oba.
Ethel Ekpe
Veteran actress, Ethel Ekpe, who played the role of Segi in Basi and Company, a sitcom that ran on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) from 1986 to 1990, died on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 in Lagos State.
It was gathered that the University of Calabar graduate, well known for playing the role of ‘Segi’ on the Nigerian Television Authority sitcom, ‘Basi and Company’, died after a long battle with cancer.
Read Also: Popular Nollywood Actress, Ethel Ekpe Is Dead
Director general of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Shaibu Husseini via a Facebook post announced her death.
The post read:
“(Ethel Aderemi nee Ekpe), the screen beauty that delighted fans with her inimitable interpretation of the role of Segi in the defunct sitcom on Nigerian Television Authority by Ken Saro Wiwa titled ‘Basi and Company’ has passed on.
“The actress and later day Pastor and star of Amaka Igwe’s ‘Forever’ and most recently ‘Sons of the Caliphate” reportedly died of Cancer today in Lagos.
“She will be sorely missed. My family will particularly miss her because we named my second daughter Ethel, after her. Good night good woman!”
The deceased also stars in Aguila Njamah’s Heartbeat, Tchidi Chikere’s Speak the Word and Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Traumatised.
Sisi Quadri
Yoruba Nollywood actor, Tolani Quadri Oyebamiji, popularly known as Sisi Quadri died on Friday, March 1 two months after celebrating his birthday at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso (LAUTECH) and was buried in his hometown, Agbowo area of Iwo, Osun State, according to Islamic rites.
Quadri, known for his sarcasm in movies and skits, had his breakthrough in 2004 in the epic Yoruba movie, Seranko Seniyan. His meteoric rise came in 2020 when he released the movie Ebudola alongside an actress, Funmi Awelewa.
His other movies include Ololade Mrs Money, Toko Taya, Big Brother Ibadan, Lepa Gawu and recently Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre.
Mr. Ibu
Comic Nollywood actor, John Okafor better known as Mr Ibu died at Evercare Hospital in Lagos State after a protracted battle with illness.
Read Also: Watch Last Moment Of Mr Ibu Before Death
The actor’s death plunged fans and colleagues into mourning.
He was 62 years of age.
