Issue L2
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday April 23, 2015
The sting of death board. Fondly called J.T, he was famous for his ponytail hair style. One of the movies he acted in that will forever stick in the minds of many is State of Emergency, where he played a terrorist. He died as a result of the internal bleeding he sustained in a ghastly motor accident on October 2, 2006. He was in his 40s.
Mutiat Alli
Health is wealth so says a popular saying. The fact that most of our entertainers have a non-challant attitude towards their health makes one to wonder if they ever take any lesson away from the characters they portray in movies. Not a few have been lost to the cold hands of death from preventable illness as a result of over indulgence in alcohol, ‘smokes’ or the general neglect of their state of health. Others have however died from causes that could only have been prevented by fate and destiny. Life &Times ex-rays some of the shocking deaths that has hit the industry so hard that many now begin to wonder about how health conscious some of our Nollywood stars really are. One thing however binds them all, they would forever be remembered for the roles they played, no matter how minute, in the development of the Nigerian movie industry.
Life&
T E A M
Funmi Martins Popular screen actress and longtime mistress to Sir Shina Peters, Funmi Martins, died on the 7th of May 2002 after complaining of dizziness. Her death report read that she died of cardiac arrest. She was known to be an active actress in the industry couple having starred in movies like Eto Mi (My Right), Abeke Alamala and other movies. She was one of the leading actress in her time and her contributions to the growth of the Yoruba movie industries cannot be easily forgotten. She however has a daughter who she unknowingly passed the acting torch to.
Bimpe Adekola Before names like Funke Akindele attracted both Yoruba and non speaking Yoruba people to watch a Yoruba movie, the name Bimpe Adekola was one of those who graced television screens. Her name was virtually on the lips of many, what with an alias like Ireti. She was one of the leading ladies in Yoruba movies back in the 90′s. Her death in 2002 brought tears to the eyes of many. Yekini Ajileye Known for his production of movies that spun around witch craft, Ajileye’s first major production was on the production of Ide movie where he featured the Osuolale twins and other films like Koto Aye, Eran Iya Osogbo, Omo Orukan, Aye Alaye amongst others. The news of his death broke on October 11, 2006. He died after a protracted illness that lasted for three months.
Alade Aromire The name, Alade Aromire will surely ring a bell in the Yoruba movie industry and television broadcasting. One of the second generation home video producers of the Yoruba extraction, Alade, as he was popularly called by his fans, was prolific. Reportedly hit by a trailer along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while returning from the site of his new house, he died on July 6 2008.
Mujidat Ajileye (aka Mama Mi leko) Popular actress and wife to movie producer, Yekini Ajileye became popular with movie lovers with her witchcraft roles in super hit Yoruba television soaps like Koto Aye and Koto Orun amongst others. Her role in her movie, Mama Mi Leko gave her more prominence in the industry. She died November 3 2003 while constantly vomiting as result of food poisoning.
JT Tom West He was one of leading actors that interpreted the bad boy role before the likes of Hanks Anuku came on
Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427
Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784
Francis Agu He was one the pioneer Nollywood actors and one of the prominent faces in the soap, Checkmate. It was reported that he was placed on admission for several weeks before his condition deteriorated and his eventual demise on March 20, 2007 at the LUTH hospital. His illness was undisclosed and he was aged 41.
Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378
Iyabo Momoh (Mama Ajasco) This talented actress and former Mama Ajasco in the popular Papa Ajasco and Company series, was reported to have died of a protracted illness as she was said to have complained about pains in her legs which got swollen over time and eventually led to her death on Jan. 30th 2009. Her inability to complete a house she was building in Ikorodu area of Lagos has been identified as the unfulfilled dream of this talented Yoruba actress.
Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893
Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478
Monsurat Omidina (Moladun) Actress cum comedian, Moladun Kenkenlewu and wife to Babatunde Omidina otherwise known as Baba Suwe, was one of the most sought after actresses in her days. The actress who was hypertensive was found dead in her bedroom with blood in her nose and ears on September 1, 2009 at her Ikorodu house. Even in death, Omoladun is still remembered for her contributions to the movie industry.
Toun Oni Toun Oni’s career dates back to the 70s and even though she was not one of the biggest stars financially, she was undoubtedly a respected figure in the Industry. She made her debut in acting in a stage drama written by the late Wale Ogunyemi, titled Be Mighty, Be Mine. An outstanding role model to a lot of upcoming actresses, she featured more in soaps than in movies and her most prominent soap was Fuji House of Commotion, a production of Amaka Igwe. She was reported to have died of body pains on July 8, 2010.
Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397