OGOGO: NOLLYWOOD MOURNS AS TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR YORUBA CINEMA ICON

By: Pen Blog Media.

Date: Monday, 24th August, 2026 | 11th Rabī’ul Awwal, 1448 AH.

Ogogo and Adebayo Salami at a movie concert

THE Nigerian entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran Yoruba actor and filmmaker, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, at the age of 66.

Since news of his passing emerged on Sunday, colleagues, friends and admirers have continued to pay tribute to the actor, remembering him for his decades-long contribution to Yoruba-language cinema and the wider Nigerian film industry.

Among those who have publicly mourned Ogogo is veteran actor Jide Kosoko, who announced his death and described the development as a painful loss to the entertainment community.

Actor Femi Adebayo Salami also described Ogogo as a pillar of Yoruba cinema, while other entertainers have shared messages celebrating his career, influence and the memories he created through his work.

The actor's passing has also attracted reactions beyond the film industry. Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun mourned Ogogo, describing him as a cultural icon whose career helped promote Yoruba heritage and Nigerian culture.

Ogogo, who hailed from Ilaro in Ogun State, spent several decades in the Nigerian film industry and became one of the recognisable figures in Yoruba cinema. His career as an actor and filmmaker earned him a lasting place among veterans of the indigenous-language film tradition.

As tributes continue to emerge, attention has also shifted to his final rites. His remains were taken to Ilaro, where a lying-in-state ceremony was scheduled for Monday, August 24, ahead of his burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

For many of his colleagues and admirers, Ogogo's passing represents not only the loss of a veteran actor but also the departure of a figure whose work formed part of the history and evolution of Yoruba cinema.