The movie
Nigerian industry, dubbed Nollywood, has been trailed with a series of
unfortunate deaths in recent times raising fears about the health status and
safety of industry players.
A good number of experienced hands in the movie industry have gone to the great beyond and it is instructive to note that the major ailments responsible for such deaths were stroke, diabetes or heart related issues.
Experts
posits that the increase in death cases in the industry is not as a result of
behavioural lifestyle problem, though it may be a factor, excessive alcohol intake, irregular
eating pattern, weight gain, lack of exercise, lack of check up and so on may
be responsible.
The average thespian in Nigeria is usually busy going from one location to another trying to make ends meet not bothering to go to the hospital for check up at least once a year. The accumulation of all of these and more could possibly cause health hazards unknown to many.
Missing In Action:
James Iroha aka Gringory
2012
One-time
long standing comic actor James Iroha OON a.k.a. Gringory of the now rested New
Masquerade TV comedy series died in 2012 after battling with protracted
illness.
The
actor who died at the age of 70 played
a prominent role in the TV drama which was immensely popular in the 1970s and
1980s alongside other members of cast like Christy Essien-Igbokwe (Apena) and
Claude Ake (Jegede Sokoya) (all late).
Before
his death, Gringory was reported to be suffering from an eye ailment and had cried
repeatedly for help.
His
son, Akwari James Iroha, in a post on Facebook confirmed his passing.
The
post read Sept 1942- Feb 2012: “Not long ago, a man we have all come to love, a
man that has made us laugh, a friend to all but will always be Dad to my little
sister Ugonma, my brothers Chiemela, Uche, Kelechi and me passed on.”
Justice Esiri
Close
watchers and fans of the movie industry were also thrown into mourning sometime
in 2013 when Justice Esiri passed on to the great beyond. The details of his
death still remain sketchy and it only became clear to many that a movie titan
was lost when his son, pop singer Dr Sid put up a photo of his father on his
twitter avatar and updated his bio as ‘RIP Dad‘.
In
a career that spanned decades, late Mr Esiri, shot to lime light in the 70s
with his most popular role to date Headmaster in the nationwide series Village
Headmaster which aired on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
.
Late
Mr Esiri was married to his wife Omiete and together they had six children, one
of them being Dentist-turned artiste Dr Sid.
Pete Eneh
Soft spoken
actor Pete Eneh passed away at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital,
where he had been receiving treatment.
Prior to his
demise, the actor had been suffering from a chronic leg infection which led to
it being amputated by doctors at the hospital, otherwise called Park lane
Hospital. Eneh’s death was confirmed by the Special Assistant to the State Governor,
Afam Okereke, himself an actor.
His travails were
said to have started when he sustained an injury that later led to a serious
infection, thereby making treatment near-impossible. Reports said then that the
injury degenerated into a sore, which was further compounded by the fact that
the actor was diabetic.
After three
months at the hospital without making headway regarding treatment, the actor was
advised to get the leg amputated to reduce the risk of the infection spreading
to other parts of his body - a move which saw him give up the ghost.
Enebeli Elebuwa
The
sad news of the demise of Enebeli Elebuwa, aka Andrew left a bitter taste in
the mouths of many. His death threw stakeholders in the industry into another
round of mourning.
In the weeks
leading to his death, scores of sympathizers, especially those in Nollywood, were
prayerful and hoping that Enebeli’s health would improve; most especially as
the industry was yet to recover from the deaths of other notable
thespians.
It will be
recalled that after being bedridden for months, the veteran actor was first
hospitalised at St Luke's Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, before being moved to St
Tropez Hospital, Surulere, also in Lagos, when his condition deteriorated and
could no longer walk on his own.
Hope seemed
to be on the horizon when Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, redeemed
his N3million pledge to the actor to cater for his medical expenses. He also
got some support from fellow actor and Commissioner, Richard Mofe-Damijo, as
well as the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola.
In 2012, he
was reported to have walked with his legs after attending a miracle service at
Dr Sign Fireman's Church at Aguda, Surulere. But weeks after, even before his
friends and relations could shout Halleluyah, he reportedly faulted his
'healing' at the church. This raised another round of doubt over his health.
Until his
death, the 66-year-old actor was at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIMS), New Delhi, India where he was diagnosed with a brain related ailment.
Unfortunately,
all hopes of keeping the illustrious actor alive proved abortive when he gave
up the ghost in an Indian Hospital in New Delhi after suffering from stroke.
Ashley Nwosu
Respected
actor Ashley Nwosu was also lost to the cold hands of death. Ashley died barely
24 hours after he fell into coma at the Military Hospital, Yaba, where he had
been treated for severe liver problems.
Ashley was in
a critical condition before he finally gave up the ghost. According to an eye
witness, “Ashley could not eat, or walk, and was looking darker than ever. He
was being fed by a tube before he gave up the ghost.”
Sam Loco Efe
The demise of
multifaceted actor, writer and singer, Sam Loco Efe, was even more shocking.
Uncle Sam died doing what he loved to do most- acting. After a hard day’s job, Sam
told his crew to grab some sleep after a long day of work on set to continue
the next day.
Crew members
waited for him to continue work the next day. But after waiting in vain for
some time, they decided to go wake him up in his hotel room. Upon getting
there, they were forced to open the locked door to gain entry. Nobody would
believe what confronted them in the room- the veteran actor was stone dead.
Geraldine Ekeocha
Days before the final burial rites of Nollywood actor Sam Loco Efe, the industry was hit with the death of another thespian Geraldine Ekeocha who died shortly after a surgical operation to remove fibroid.
The veteran actress according to sources breathed her last at the University Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ifuku, Enugu State.
The Enugu based actress who was aged 56 until her death, left behind 7 children, 6 girls and 1 boy. She featured in over 80 movies and several soap operas some of which are still running on air.
Bisi Komolafe
After
battling with an unconfirmed illness that was said to have kept her in and out
of hospital for more than three months; burgeoning actress, Bisi Komolafe
painfully gave up the ghost in the final hours of 2012.
The ailment,
according to investigations, started three months before she died. Bisi was
said to have been rushed to Ibadan from Lagos by some of her friends and family
members when her ailment started.
The actress
was said to be responding to treatment at the University of Ibadan Teaching
Hospital (UCH). But her condition relapsed and her sister, Bunmi, raised an
alarm about her deteriorating health condition.
Bisi was said
to have been moved out of the hospital later to an undisclosed church, but had
to be rushed back when it was obvious her condition had gone worse.
Plans were
being made by some of her colleagues to raise money for her treatment before
she finally gave up the ghost.
Nollywood Actors Mourn:
Dayo Amusa: ‘We Are Not Our Brothers
Keeper’
I truly hate
to be a harbinger of bad news but I want to confirm that Muna Obiekwe is dead.
And I am so angry! Yes, not just because we lost another great talent but
because in this industry we are not our brother’s keeper. Muna might have
wanted or lived a private, life but people knew he was sick. People knew his
health status and yet did nothing. Some tried their best but if they had cried
out to the world Muna might have gotten help. We are just colleagues and no
real friends. RIP Muna.
Stella Damasus: ‘I Was Hoping It Was
Really A Rumour’
I just
confirmed it from some close friends and relatives that Muna is indeed dead.
The message from twitter that he was still alive was from a fake account. So
this is my pain; how do you know what to believe and what not to believe? Where
do we draw the line? Over nine thousand people on twitter were deceived into
thinking he was not actually dead but alive going by the misinformation of the
fake twitter account. RIP brother; I was hoping that it was really a rumour.
God rest your soul.
Fidelis Duker: ‘We Have Lost A Shining
Light of The New Generation’
It is with
sadness and grieve that I received the demise of one of the shinning lights of
new generation actors. He was talented, conservative, respectful, committed,
sincere and very insular young guy.
Halima Abubakar: ‘I Feel So Sad About
The Young Family He Left Behind’
I am shocked
at the news of the death of this great guy. Warm person he was and playful. I
never knew he was sick not to talk of him being married. I feel so sad about
the young family he left behind. God knows best; I am lucky that I featured in
several jobs with him which are not out yet. We will miss you and may your soul
rest in peace.
Uche Jombo: ‘It Is Not The Length of
Life But The Depth of Life’
It is not the
length of life but the depth of life; RIP Muna. It is sad that someone will try
to make this sad story more difficult by tweeting through a fake account. Like
you all, I wish it was a lie but sadly it is not.
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