Nollywood Suffers A String Of Deaths, Including One In The United States
The Nigerian film industry is in shock and mourning after the quick death of several Nollywood stars and a sound engineer.
Five actresses, Mukaila Adedigba (also known as Sikiru Adeshina), Obinna Nwafor (also known as Saint Obi), Murphy Afolabi, Wunmi Olowokandi and Chikezi Uwazi, died this month in less than two weeks, according to the Nigerian Daily Post. The sound engineer from Nollywood, commonly known as Techno Sound, also died in this short season.
The Daily Post reports that Nwafor died after a long illness on May 7 at the home of one of his brothers in Jos, Plateau State. The actor, who starred in films such as State of Emergency, Candlelight and Fire Festival, was 57 years old.
Association of Performing Arts and Film Professionals. On Monday, Nigeria (Tambane) announced the death of Adedigba, but did not give a reason. The Yoruba actor, who starred in films such as Bolode o'ku and Edunjobi, died on May 13, according to the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard.
According to the Economic Times of India, Afolabi died on the morning of May 14 in Ikorodu, Lagos, after he slipped and fell in the toilet of his home. The Yoruba actor, best known for his work in films such as Okiki Oru, Eclipse and Four Lions, has died from his injuries at the age of 49.
Not much is known about the death of Techno Sound. Vanguard reported that the audio technician died on May 14.
Olukande was also declared dead the next night. His age and cause of death are unknown. Around the same time, Awazi died in the US after undergoing a second brain operation, according to the Daily Post. According to IMDb, Uzi has starred in films such as Super Love, Tell Me Why, and Only Love.
"These unfortunate events call on all members of our association and Nigerian artists in general to pay close attention to their health," President Tambane Bolaji Amusan said in a statement to Vanguard.
“At this time, it is also important to advise all in the creative sector in Nigeria to set aside time for rest and to take a break from time to time.”
