Fathia Afolabi, daughter of late Nollywood actor Murphy Afolabi, took to TikTok on Thursday, August 20, 2026, to share an emotional tribute to her father, who died more than three years ago. In her post, Fathia wrote: "The world keeps moving, but a part of my heart is frozen on the day you left. I miss you more than words can say, and I love you always. I don't think I can ever heal from this pain." The caption accompanied a video set to singer Niniola's new song 'Raining (O Dun Mi)', which is a personal tribute to her late life partner.
A Daughter's Heartfelt Words and the Song Choice
The TikTok post, which also included the text "Keep resting daddy," quickly drew attention from fans who still mourn the actor. The choice of Niniola's song added another layer of poignancy, as it is itself a tribute to loss. Fathia's message resonated widely, with many followers sharing their own experiences of grief in the comments.
Murphy Afolabi's Sudden Death in 2023
Murphy Afolabi died on May 14, 2023, at the age of 49, just days after celebrating his birthday. His sudden passing shocked the Nollywood community and fans across Nigeria, particularly those who grew up watching his Yoruba-language films. The actor was also a filmmaker, and his death marked a significant loss to the industry.
Fans React to the Tribute
The comment section of Fathia's post was flooded with supportive messages. A user named @Bossco15 wrote: "He died same day with my mom?? May their souls continue to rest in peace." Another, @Gentle soul, commented: "Omo people move on easily after the death of their loved ones but the pains always remain between the family." @TECH-WIZARD said: "People will just die…e go com b like Dey travel." @MOROLAYO shared: "This one pain everybody no be small, take heart."
@OlUWANIFEMI reflected on the actor's impact: "I remember back then, whenever I watched your films, the way you acted and carried yourself kept making me tell myself, 'One day, I'm going to meet this man.' Little did I know, I was only dreaming. Keep resting peacefully, sir." @The_Real_Noble added: "Omoh him death pain me cause he made me watch Yoruba movie."
Murphy Afolabi's Last Moves Before He Died
Legit.ng earlier reported that at his funeral, the late actor's childhood friend Adekola Tijani disclosed that Murphy lived a simple life. Adekola also suggested that Murphy may have had a premonition about his death, as he sent in his weekly thrift contribution, saying one doesn't know when he'll pass away. Additionally, Adekola revealed that Murphy offered to give him his clothes to wear after seeing how his birthday photoshoot turned out. These details were shared in a condolence post by filmmaker Yomi Fabiyi.
