Nollywood Star Murphy Afolabi Died At 49 Years Old — What Happened?
© Provided by Distractify Instagram/@murphyafolabi20Nollywood, a term widely used to refer to the Nigerian film industry, is in mourning after a series of recent deaths over a relatively short period. One such tragedy involved Nigerian actor and director Murphy Afolabi, who died at his home on May 14, 2023 at the age of 49.
Following news of Murphy's death, many Nollywood fans wanted to know exactly what happened to him and how he died at a relatively young age.
What happened to Murphy Afolabi?
News of Murphy's death was first confirmed by Nigerian film producer Tunde Old-Yusuf, who posted a tribute in Murphy's memory on his Facebook page.
"Rest in peace...God give strength to his family and loved ones to bear the loss. Goodnight Murphy Afolabi," Tunde captioned a photo of the actor.
Although Tunde's post confirmed Murphy's death, it provided very little information about the actor's death.
© Instagram/@murphyafolabi20 Instagram/@murphyafolabi20According to reports, Murphy died after falling in the bathroom of his home in Lagos. Murphy is the latest person associated with the Nigerian film industry to die recently. Adedigba Mukaila (Alafin Oro) and Obinna Nwafor (Saint Obi), two other Nigerian actors also died recently along with a sound engineer known as Techno Sound. The deaths do not appear to be linked but have left Nollywood in a state of grief.
What caused Murphy Afolabi's death?
Considering the nature of Murphy's fall, he apparently took a bad hit to the head and ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The exact cause of his death is not yet known, but it appears to be related to injuries sustained in the crash. So far, there is no indication in the reports that Murphy's death was related to any foul play.
Who was Murphy Afolabi?
If you didn't know about Murphy's film career until you heard the news of his death, he was a prolific actor, appearing in over 60 films during his career. Notable films in her career included Jimi Bendel , Vasila Encoded , and The Phantom and the Advertiser. After news of his death was announced, tributes to him and the legacy he left behind started pouring into Nollywood.
“Mr. Afolabi was a passionate and brilliant Nollywood actor who stayed true to Yoruba culture and tradition through his God-given talent,” Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke wrote in his tribute to Murphy.
"We can only be proud that he led a life of grace and glory, successfully leading Osu to the forefront of the Nollywood film industry," the statement read.
Murphy's legacy in Nollywood will clearly carry on for generations. He was such a prominent figure in the Nigerian landscape that even politicians felt compelled to assess his death, which of course happened decades before many fans expected.
