By John Dike, Osogbo
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has paid tribute to veteran Nollywood actor, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, following his reported death at the age of 66.
The royal father, who is the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers described the death of the veteran actor as a painful loss to Yoruba culture and the Nigerian entertainment industry.
In a condolence message issued on Monday by the Senior Media Officer of the Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch commiserated with the family of the deceased, the Yoruba film community, Nollywood practitioners, friends, associates and millions of fans of the late actor.
Ooni Ogunwusi described Ogogo as a legend of Yoruba cinema whose contribution to the entertainment industry extended beyond acting to the preservation and promotion of Yoruba language, traditions and cultural values.
According to him, the late actor belonged to a generation of artistes who deployed their talents to tell authentic Yoruba stories and project the richness of the culture to audiences within Nigeria and beyond.
The monarch said Ogogo’s decades-long career, distinctive performances and commitment to Yoruba-language cinema had earned him an enduring place in the history of Nigerian entertainment.
“Ogogo was not merely an actor; he was an advocate of our culture. Through his craft, he promoted our language, traditions, values and identity. His contribution to Yoruba cinema will remain indelible,” the Ooni said.
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Ooni Ogunwusi noted that the death of the veteran actor had created a significant vacuum in the creative industry, particularly in the Yoruba-language film sector, where Ogogo had remained an influential figure for generations.
He said the late actor’s works would continue to serve as a reference point for younger generations of artistes and cultural practitioners.
The Ooni urged members of the entertainment industry, friends, colleagues and admirers of the deceased to draw comfort from the legacy he left behind and the impact of his career on Yoruba culture and Nigerian cinema.
He also extended his
condolences to Ogogo’s wives, children and extended family, praying that Almighty Olodumare grant the late actor eternal rest and give the bereaved family, colleagues, friends and fans the strength to bear the loss.
The Ooni’s tribute adds to growing expressions of grief following the reported death of the veteran actor, whose career spanned several decades and contributed significantly to the development and popularity of Yoruba-language films.:::
