Nigerian Musicians/Actors That Died In 2013 [Photos]
In some sense, it has been like a harvest of deaths, writes Mercy Michael.
They
are in the eyes of the public. When anything happens to them, the
people are always eager to know the details. Their privacy is flung out
of the window the moment they become celebrities. Welcome to the world
of entertainers, actors, actresses and musicians.
This
outgoing year the entertainment industry has been hit by good news. It
has also been hit by bad news. Some of these bad news were about the
death of members of the industry, who, over the years, have brought
smiles to the faces of the people, either with their music or their
acting prowess.
From the aged Fatai Rolling Dollars to the youthful Goldie, the industry has had its fair share of the deaths in the year.
Fatai Rolling Dollar
One
of Nigeria’s oldest highlife musicians, Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju,
popularly known as Fatai Rolling Dollars, died in June this year.
He died at 85 at Marritol Hospital, Surulere, Lagos, following a brief illness.
Rolling
Dollars, who had three wives and 16 children, was reportedly on a
musical tour of the United States when he took ill and had to return
home.
He
was admitted initially at Ahmadiya Hospital in Abule-Egba area of
Lagos, before he was transferred to Marritol Hospital in Surulere, where
he died.
Juju
music legend-turned-Evangelist, Ebenezer Obey, while reacting to
Rolling Dollars’ death, described him as “an epitome of decency and a
talented musician.”
He said, “I’ve lost my boss, my friend and my mentor. And I know the country has lost a talented singer.”
Also,
in his tribute, reggae artiste, Orits Wiliki, said Rolling Dollars
lived well as a musician, adding that “even though his death remains a
big loss to the industry, he will be happy that members of the young
generation are taking highlife music to the next level. We should be
praying to live up to his age and still be strong the way he was.”
He
started his musical career in 1953 and mentored other great musicians
like Evangelist Ebenezer Obey and the late Orlando Owoh, among others.
Known for his dexterity as a guitarist, Rolling Dollars’ last major hit was Won Kere Si Number Wa.
Goldie
The
death of Nigerian female singer, Goldie, on February 14, has been
described as the most shocking in 2013. She died at Reddington Hospital
in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Goldie
had just returned to Nigeria from California, where she attended the
Grammy Awards with Kenny Ogungbe, the boss of her record label, Kennis
Music.
It
was reported that she started complaining of a terrible headache just
before she was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead
upon arrival.
In her short, but eventful life, Goldie was an ambassador of Project Alert, a non-profit-making organisation.
She
won several awards, including Exquisite Lady of the Year (ELOY), Best
Female Artiste Award and City People Best Female Artiste of the Year.
Her
impact in the last Big Brother Star Game Show was felt by all. In the
wake of the shocking news of her death, her Big Brother Africa Star Game
confidant and friend, Prezzo, released a tribute poem. The Kenyan
rapper called Goldie a goddess on his Facebook and Twitter pages.
Justus Esiri
Veteran Nollywood actor, Justus Esiri, passed away on Tuesday, February 19.
He is survived by his wife, Omiete, and children, including Nigerian music star, Dr Sid (Sidney Esiri).
The
70-year- old actor became famous following his scintillating
performance in the television drama, The Village Headmaster, on the
Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
He helped to lay the foundation for what is now called Nollywood.
His
official profile on the Africa Movie Academy Awards website reads: “The
veteran actor has won several awards for his acting exploits, including
THEMA Awards, NTA Honours Awards and AMAA Awards. Esiri, star of
critical productions like Wasted Years, Forever, The Prize, Six Demons,
Corridors of Power, Last Knight, The Tyrant, The investigation and The
Ghost, is reputed to have performed on more TV network drama programmes
than any Nigerian actor.”
He was awarded the post-humous trophy for the Best Actor in a leading role.
In 2012, he was conferred with the national honours of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Father U-turn
Olufemi Mayomi, better known as Father U Turn, passed away on Sunday, November 17.
The
36-year-old dancehall artiste, who was one of music acts that ruled the
scene in the early ‘90s, died at Abundant Grace Hospital, Ojo, Lagos.
He was buried the same day at the Badagry Cemetery.
Father
U-turn, even as an orphan, was able to build a successful career as a
songwriter, recording artiste, TV presenter and performer.
He hailed from Kabba-Bunu in Kogi State, where he first tried his hands on entertainment, working as a radio and TV presenter.
He had a brief stint at the NTA, Lagos, before signing a deal with Ultima Records, which released his early albums.
He
was a little boy with braids and a charming personality. And his
signature intro ‘Apoola Berekete‘, was far beyond his stature.
After
years of club tours and free gigs, he got his first break when he was
signed to one of the biggest record labels of the time, Ultima Records.
Ultima engaged Nelson Brown to work on his first album, which proved to be a huge success.
The
hits, African Culture and Shakara, threw him into the national
limelight, instantly putting him in the league of bonafide ghetto stars
like Daddy Showkey and Daddy Fresh.
His
first album was African Culture. His second album Padlock Ur Mouth
produced the smash hit Yetunde, a collaboration with Pasuma Wonder.
Damino Damoche
Budding
Hip-hop artiste, Olaniyan Damilola, popularly known as Damino Damoche,
was shot dead by suspected campus fraternity gang members at the Lagos
State University, Ojo.
Eyewitnesses
said Damoche’s assailants apparently trailed him on a motorbike after
he finished a class test in banking and finance. He was a 400- level
student.
The
late Hip-hop star was shot twice in the head and in the left hand. He
laid dead for several hours before some policemen took his body away in a
pick-up van.
Damoche, who was born in Lagos into a family of three, hailed from Ogun State.
He
started his music career with some guys called Middle Guys. When things
turned awry, he went as a solo artiste and got parties rocking.
His
hit songs included Obo To Che, featuring Skaliey; Fall In The Circle
,featuring DRAMA and Feel Aray, featuring Stormy Zino & IQ (House Of
Ginjah).
Tony Umole
Among
the deaths witnessed in 2013 is that of Tony Umole, who was popular for
his role as ‘Daddy’ in the popular weekly TV programme, One Love.
The renowned actor, along side Eucharia Anumobi, also featured in the 2003 movie, Abuja Connection.
Falilat Okerede
Barely
a week after losing Pa Ola Ogungbe and Janet Atayero-Oluseye, the
Yoruba sector of the industry was thrown into a state of mourning again,
as Falilat Korede Oketayo passed away.
Oketayo,
who was a member of the Association of Theatre Arts Practitioner of
Nigeria, ANTP, in Ogun State, was said to have died after a brief
illness at her residence in Sagamu, Ogun State. She is survived by two
children, an aged father and siblings.
Ray Daniels
The Nollywood actor, Ray Daniels Okeugo, died on Friday, October 25, at 33 after a brief illness.
Okeugo
acted in many soap operas and home videos before venturing into
photography. His burial arrangement was planned by the Lagos State
chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) led by Victor Osiagu.
Chinedu Epeagba
Chinedu Epeagba, popularly known as Dabebe, was a location manager in Asaba, Delta State.
Speaking
on his death, Nollywood comic actor, Ugezu J. Ugezu, said, “Our
preliminary investigation, backed with scientific presentations from the
last doctor that treated him in Onitsha, showed that Dabebe died of
complications triggered by the China-made slimming tea, which he drank
in July.
This tea gradually destroyed all his internal organs and he became too weak.”
Also gone with the year
Former
Secretary General of AGN, Lugard Onoyemu, slumped and died at the
National Stadium, Surulere at about 5:30p.m. on 14 February.
A
day after Lugard’s death, Collins Ifeanyichukwu, an actor and movie
producer based in Abuja also died. Ifeanyichukwu died on 15 February at
the Maitama General Hospital after a brief illness. He is survived by
his wife, Blessing Collins, and less than a year-old son, Doxa Efechukwu
Collins.
Edo
born Nollywood actor and board of internal revenue staff, Flavian
Okojie has been shot dead in Benin City by unknown gunmen three weeks
after his wedding. His wife, an NTA presenter Omo-Kivie shared the
information via her Facebook page.
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