Nollywood in tears as Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ buried in Ogun

* Yinka Quadri breaks down as thousands gather for veteran actor’s Janazah

Tears and grief enveloped Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday as thousands of mourners gathered to bid a final farewell to veteran Nollywood actor, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who was laid to rest according to Islamic rites.

Family members, friends, colleagues, traditional figures, religious leaders and residents of the community converged on the Asade Agunloye Pavilion in Ilaro for the Janazah of the 66-year-old actor, whose death has left the Yoruba film industry mourning one of its most recognisable figures.

Muslim News gathered that the burial was marked by an emotional atmosphere, with mourners accompanying Ogogo’s remains to their final resting place.

His longtime friend and fellow veteran actor, Yinka Quadri, was visibly overcome with emotion and broke down in tears as he bade farewell to the late actor. Quadri, who shared a close relationship with Hassan, was also among the colleagues who rallied around him during his illness.

Other Nollywood personalities at the burial included Jide Kosoko, Ireti Osayemi, Femi Adebayo, Faithia Balogun, Mr Latin, Dele Odule, Olaiya Igwe and Toyosi Adesanya, among several others who gathered in Ilaro to pay their final respects.

Imam leads Janazah, urges Muslims to build lasting legacies

The Janazah prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Ilaro Central Mosque, Imam Tajudeen Mustapha-Adewunmi, who also delivered the sermon at the burial.

In his sermon, the respected Muslim scholar said the widespread mourning reflected Ogogo’s character and the impact he made during his lifetime, describing his death as a major loss to the Yoruba movie industry and the Islamic community.

Sheikh Mustapha-Adewunmi noted that Hassan often reflected his faith and cultural heritage through his roles and urged the living to lead exemplary lives and build legacies that would outlive them.

The funeral prayers were held at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground, where members of the Ilaro Muslim Community joined family, friends and colleagues to observe the Islamic burial rites.

Following the prayers, Ogogo’s remains were taken to the burial ground, where mourners and members of the Yoruba entertainment community accompanied him to his final resting place.

Ogogo dies after stage-four cancer battle

The later Nollywood actor Hassan died at about 3pm on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, following a battle with stage-four cancer. His death came days after his daughters publicly appealed for medical assistance as his condition deteriorated.

The family had sought access to appropriate medical treatment rather than financial donations. The appeal generated an overwhelming response, with more than 500 people reportedly offering to assist with his treatment.

However, Jide Kosoko, who spoke on behalf of the management team, explained that the number of offers created logistical challenges because Ogogo was already receiving treatment and moving him to another facility required careful consideration.

One of Ogogo’s daughters, Lima Taiwo had earlier made an emotional appeal for help, saying the family only became aware of the severity of his condition about three weeks earlier. She also disclosed difficulties in finding appropriate treatment as doctors reportedly indicated that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of his condition.

From Owo Blow to Aníkúlápó

Ogogo’s death marked the end of a career spanning more than four decades in Yoruba-language cinema. He began acting in 1981 while working as a mechanic before eventually leaving the job to pursue acting full-time. Beyond acting, he also established himself as a filmmaker and screenwriter, featuring in numerous productions across different generations of Nigerian cinema.

His career was defined by several memorable performances, with his role as Wole Owolabi in Tade Ogidan’s 1996 classic, Owo Blow, standing out as one of the major milestones of his journey. The film explored poverty, crime, ambition and redemption and was released in three parts: The Genesis, The Revolt and The Final Struggle.

His performance in Owo Blow brought him wider recognition, while his portrayal of Wole Owolabi earned him the Best Actor of the Year award at the 1997 THEMA Awards.

Ogogo subsequently featured in numerous productions, including Agbelebu, Danfo Driver, Ekun-Ayo, Omin, Elewon and Omo Ghetto. He also remained active in newer generations of Nigerian cinema, appearing in Kunle Afolayan’s 2022 epic, Aníkúlápó, where he played Alaafin Ademuyiwa. He later reprised the role in Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre.

His performances often drew on Yoruba culture, traditions and social realities. From Wole Owolabi in Owo Blow to Alaafin Ademuyiwa in Aníkúlápó, Ogogo remained active across different eras of Nollywood and left behind a body of work that reflects his contribution to Yoruba cinema.

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