Tears as Veteran Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Is Laid to Rest in Ilaro

The Nigerian entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning as veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has been laid to rest in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State.

Ogogo, 66, passed away on Sunday August 23 after a reported struggle with stage-four cancer. As his condition deteriorated, he was attended to by doctors and specialist care before passing away after his family and colleagues came to his aid. Colleagues, friends, family members and admirers gathered to bid the veteran actor a final farewell as he was laid to rest on Monday, August 24, according to Islamic rites.

The funeral drew a number of celebrities in the Yoruba movie industry, many of whom had enjoyed a decades-long friendship and professional relationship.

Among those who attended were veteran actors Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, Mr Latin, Faithia Balogun, Femi Adebayo, Toyosi Adesanya and Ireti Osayemi, among others.

The atmosphere was understandably emotional as members of the industry mourned a colleague whose career spanned several decades.

One of the most emotional moments came when longtime friend and colleague Yinka Quadri broke down in tears during the funeral, visibly overwhelmed by the loss.

Ogogo was widely regarded as one of the respected figures in Yoruba-language Nollywood. Over the course of his career, he became known for his memorable performances and his contribution to the growth of Yoruba cinema.

His death has therefore been felt deeply within the industry, particularly among colleagues who worked alongside him from the early days of their careers. Quadri and Ogogo, in particular, shared a relationship that stretched back decades. Although the pair reportedly experienced a period of estrangement in the past, they eventually reconciled and remained connected.

For many of Ogogo’s colleagues, his burial marked the painful end of an era. The burial came just days after members of the Yoruba film industry gathered for a special prayer session seeking divine intervention for Ogogo’s recovery.

At the time, colleagues including Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Fausat Balogun, Lateef Adedimeji, Antar Laniyan, Bukky Wright and others had gathered to pray for the veteran actor. The industry had also rallied to help his family secure appropriate medical care. Sadly, the prayers for recovery were followed by preparations for his final journey.

Now, Ogogo has been laid to rest in Ilaro, leaving behind family, friends, colleagues and generations of fans who remember his contribution to Nigerian cinema.

Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ may have taken his final bow, but his legacy in Yoruba Nollywood will live on.