The Yoruba entertainment industry bid a final farewell to veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, as he was laid to rest on Monday in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State. His death on Sunday at the age of 66 followed a prolonged battle with stage-four cancer. The burial prayers were held at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground in Ilaro at 10 a.m., conducted by the Chief Imam of Ilaro and attended by family, colleagues and fans who had followed his four-decade career in Yoruba cinema.
Emotional Tributes Mark Premiere of King Kosoko
The grief that followed his passing was visible before the burial. At the premiere of King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos, actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo broke down in tears as he paid tribute to the fallen veteran, his emotion catching attendees off guard at what was meant to be a celebratory event.
Fuji music legend Kwam 1 also struggled to hold himself together as news of Ogogo's death spread, his tribute joining a wave of public mourning from across the entertainment community. The reactions reflected how deeply Ogogo was embedded in Yoruba cultural life.
Colleagues and Fans Share Condolences
Foluke Daramola wrote, "It's a wrap, eerin wo o. Another sad Sunday in the Nollywood space." Biola Adebayo described him as "a gem" the industry had just lost. Ayo Adesanya said he would "always be the one and only Ogogo." Others, including Kunle Afod, Afeez Owo, Bose Alao, Nkechi Blessing and Woli Arole, added their voices to a growing chorus of condolences.
A video shared by Instablog9ja captured the moment Femi Adebayo got emotional at the movie premiere, while Nigeria Stories posted footage of Kwam 1 breaking down on stage over Ogogo's death.
Final Days and Public Appeal
Ogogo's death came days after his daughters Kira and Haleemah made an emotional public appeal for medical assistance, revealing that doctors had told the family they could no longer administer chemotherapy due to his deteriorating condition. Despite receiving hundreds of offers of medical, spiritual and other forms of support from Nigerians and fellow industry figures, including a public appeal by Femi Adebayo urging followers to help connect the family with oncology specialists, the veteran actor did not recover.
Born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Taiwo Hassan began his acting career in 1981 while working as an automobile mechanic. He left his civil service job in 1994 to focus entirely on acting, going on to appear in films including Owo Blow, Agbelebu, Aníkúlápó and Bank Alert over a career that spanned more than four decades.
His appearance in Kunle Afolayan's Aníkúlápó on Netflix in 2022 introduced him to a new generation of viewers, cementing his status as one of the defining faces of Yoruba cinema. He is survived by his children, including daughters Kira and Haleemah, who announced his passing during an emotional Instagram Live session on Sunday.
