By Legendary Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM1 or K1 De Ultimate, broke down in tears during a live performance after news of veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, reached him.
The emotional moment occurred during the Mushin 30th Anniversary Celebration, where KWAM1 was performing when he received the news of the actor’s death on Sunday.
The musician was visibly shaken and was consoled by an associate on stage. Fellow Fuji musician, Malaika, also became emotional while paying tribute to the late actor.
“His death really hit hard. I’m in pain,” Malaika said.
Ogogo died at the age of 66 after battling stage-four cancer. His death has triggered widespread mourning across Nigeria, particularly within the Yoruba film and theatre communities, where he spent more than four decades building a reputation as one of the industry’s most recognizable figures.
The veteran actor is expected to be buried in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, following a laying-in-state ceremony scheduled for 11am at the Pavillon in Ilaro. Veteran actor Jide Kosoko announced the burial arrangements in a statement issued after Ogogo’s death.
In the statement, Kosoko announced the death of “ALHAJI TAIWO HASSAN, popularly known as OGOGO,” saying he died at 3pm on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Ogun Government Hails Ogogo’s Legacy
The Ogun State Government described Ogogo as “a shining light” whose career helped promote Nigerian culture and showcase the richness of Yoruba heritage.
In a condolence statement issued by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the government praised the actor’s artistry, humility, dignity and professionalism.
“Throughout his illustrious career, Taiwo Hassan distinguished himself by his exceptional artistry, humility, candour, dignity and respect for others,” the statement said.
The government also noted that Ogogo remained closely connected to his Ilaro roots and used theatre, film and television to preserve and promote Yoruba language, traditions and values.
The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State and Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola, also described the death as a major loss to the creative sector, Ogun State and Nigeria.
Adeola said he was saddened by the death of the actor, whom he described as a brother who had supported his political cause and that of his community. He also expressed sympathy with Ogogo’s family over their efforts to keep him alive during his illness.
“I am greatly saddened by the death of a brother who believed and worked assiduously for my cause and the cause of our people,” Adeola said.
He pledged continued support for the late actor’s immediate family, saying Ogogo’s contributions to society would not be forgotten.
Colleagues Remember Yoruba Cinema Veteran
Tributes have also poured in from actors who worked with Ogogo throughout his career.
Odunlade Adekola described him as a great star whose influence remained evident until his final days.
“He was a great star till his last day. Good night. Great legend,” Adekola wrote.
Femi Adebayo, another prominent Yoruba actor, reflected on the veteran’s contribution to the profession, describing his career as a legacy that would continue beyond his lifetime.
“Some people leave behind memories. Some leave behind a legacy that time can never erase,” Adebayo said in his tribute.
Saidi Balogun and Bolanle Ninalowo were also among the actors who mourned Ogogo. Balogun described his death as painful, while Ninalowo recalled being fortunate to have shared the screen with the veteran and thanked him for helping to create opportunities for younger actors.
Final Health Battle
Ogogo’s death came only days after his family publicly disclosed the severity of his health condition and appealed for urgent medical assistance.
His daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, separately sought help on social media on August 17, saying the family was looking for medical specialists and facilities capable of reviewing their father’s condition and providing treatment.
Kira disclosed that Ogogo had stage-four cancer and said the hospital where he was receiving treatment could no longer administer chemotherapy. Lima, meanwhile, stressed that the family was seeking medical intervention rather than public donations.
The appeals prompted a broad response from members of the entertainment industry and the wider public. Femi Adebayo urged Nigerians to assist the family in finding medical professionals and facilities capable of reviewing Ogogo’s medical records, while Toyin Abraham also amplified the appeal.
Jide Kosoko subsequently became involved in coordinating the numerous offers of assistance. He said more than 300 people, and possibly over 500, contacted the family with offers ranging from medical assistance to spiritual intervention.
The number of offers also created difficulties for the family and those coordinating the response, particularly over determining which interventions were credible and whether moving the critically ill actor from the hospital was advisable.
Family Raises Alarm Over Alleged Exploitation
Amid the attempts to secure treatment, Ogogo’s daughter Kira alleged that some individuals were trying to profit from the family’s desperate situation.
During a TikTok live session, she claimed that some people who offered assistance demanded millions of naira and thousands of dollars. The amounts she mentioned included N800,000, N5m, $11,000 and $18,000.
“My father is a good father. Some people are even trying to make money with us in this whole situation. Fear God,” she said.
Kira maintained that the family’s appeal was not an attempt to solicit money from the public but a search for credible medical intervention for her father.
A doctor and content creator, Olusina Ajidahun, popularly known as The Bearded Dr Sina, subsequently offered an explanation concerning the treatment of advanced cancer, noting that patients may be moved to palliative care when disease-directed treatment is no longer considered appropriate. He also warned against unverified herbal remedies.
From Theatre to Household Name
Ogogo’s career began far from the screen. Born in Ilaro, Ogun State, he reportedly trained in automobile engineering and worked with the Lagos State Water Corporation for about 13 years before leaving to pursue acting.
He entered the profession through travelling theatre and gained early recognition as an ewi chanter. His skill in oriki and chanting eventually earned him the stage name “Ogogo.”
He later became associated with the Odunfa Caucus, a group of actors and theatre practitioners whose work played an important role in the development of Yoruba-language cinema.
His screen career included productions such as The Wicked Boy, Elewon and The Merciful God. He gained wider recognition after his performance in Tade Ogidan’s OwoBlow, which earned him the Best Actor award at THEMA ’97.
His filmography subsequently expanded to include Delicate Cane, Tears of Joy, Idajo Olorun, Legal Wife, Eleran Igbe, Ore Ijiji, Iya Ibeji, Ojo Ogbo and Queen Lateefat. He was credited with more than 300 film appearances over a career spanning more than four decades.
Friendship With Yinka Quadri
Beyond his acting career, Ogogo was known for his longstanding relationship with fellow veteran Yinka Quadri.
The two actors became friends in the 1980s and belonged to a generation that helped shape contemporary Yoruba cinema. Their relationship later went through a prolonged disagreement, although the precise cause was never publicly established.
The pair eventually reconciled in May 2024 at Yomi Fabiyi’s birthday and housewarming ceremony after traditional chanter Sulaiman Ajobiewe encouraged them to settle their differences.
When Ogogo’s health deteriorated in August, Quadri again became involved in efforts to assist his old friend, helping to coordinate offers of support and thanking Nigerians for their prayers.
A Loss Felt Across the Entertainment Industry
Ogogo’s death has brought together tributes from musicians, actors, politicians and government officials, reflecting the reach of his career beyond Yoruba-language cinema.
For KWAM1 and Malaika, the news came in the middle of public performances and produced visible emotional reactions. For his colleagues in Nollywood, it marked the departure of an actor whose career connected the travelling theatre tradition with the modern Yoruba film industry.
Ogogo leaves behind a body of work spanning theatre, film, and television, as well as an influence that several of his contemporaries say will continue through generations of Nigerian performers.
