Ogogo’s Final Curtain: Eshinlokun’s ₦10m, Nollywood’s A-List Storm Odunfa Fidau

The Odunfa Caucus of the Yoruba film industry held a special Fidau prayer for late veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

The prayer was held at 40 Odunfa Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos, the historic home of the Odunfa Caucus.

The gathering brought together veteran actors, younger colleagues, family members, traditional representatives, political figures and friends who had shared different chapters of Ogogo’s life and career.

Among those present were Yinka Quadri, Abbey Lanre, Antar Laniyan, Yomi Fash, Fausat Balogun, popularly known as Madam Saje, her husband, Fathia Balogun, Toyosi Adesanya, Kike Adeyemi, Sunny Alli, Alesh Onilegbale, Alhaji Jamiu Kakawa, Lateef Adedimeji, Aremu Afolayan, Bimbo Oshin, Akanni Olohunwa, Kunle Afolayan, Nike Peller and other members of the Yoruba film community.

Representatives of traditional rulers were also present, alongside Ogogo’s children and other members of his family.

The event was not simply another funeral gathering. It was a return to the place where much of the story of the Odunfa family began and where Ogogo spent decades building relationships, mentoring younger practitioners and strengthening the Yoruba theatre tradition.

Lateef Adedimeji Turns Prayer Into a Lesson on Mortality

Actor Lateef Adedimeji delivered one of the central messages of the gathering.

His sermon moved beyond Ogogo’s death to the question of how every person prepares for the inevitable end.

Lateef reminded those present that death cannot be escaped, regardless of status, wealth or profession.

He also challenged the gathering to consider whether the same goodwill surrounding Ogogo’s death would follow them when their own time comes.

“Ogogo has gone, and people are saying good things about him; will people say such things about you when you go?” Lateef asked.

His message turned the Fidau into more than a remembrance of a celebrated actor. It became a call for those still alive to examine the lives they are building and the relationships they are leaving behind.

Eshinlokun Gives ₦10 Million to Ogogo’s Children

Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni was among the prominent dignitaries at the gathering.

He made a donation of ₦10 million to Ogogo’s children, adding a major gesture of support to the tributes paid at the Fidau.

The donation came against the background of the support Ogogo and his family received during his illness.

The late actor’s struggle with stage-four cancer had generated widespread concern among colleagues, friends and well-wishers before his death on August 23.

Reports at the time indicated that hundreds of people offered medical, spiritual and other forms of assistance to the family as efforts were made to save him.

Kakawa Speaks on the Support Ogogo Received

Alhaji Jamiu Kakawa also addressed the gathering and reflected on the support that surrounded Ogogo during his illness.

His presence carried particular significance because of his long-standing connection with the Odunfa Caucus.

He delivered cash messages from several traditional institutions to Ogogo’s family and mentioned the supports received from Government, Traditional institutions as well as private individuals regarding the Fidau prayers and other programs related to immortalising late Ogogo.

The Odunfa story is closely connected to 40 Odunfa Street, where the group developed its identity and built the relationships that shaped generations of Yoruba theatre practitioners.

Historical accounts of the caucus identify Kakawa among the figures connected with its formation and early development.

MC Oluomo Pays Tribute

NURTW National President Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, was also present.

He paid tribute to Ogogo and spoke at the gathering, joining colleagues and dignitaries in remembering the late actor.

His appearance further reflected the broad network of relationships Ogogo built beyond the film industry during his lifetime.

Alfulany Addresses the Gathering

Islamic scholar Alfulany also spoke at the Fidau.

His contribution reinforced the religious purpose of the gathering, as family members, colleagues and guests came together to pray for the deceased and reflect on the temporary nature of life.

The event therefore moved between remembrance, religious counsel and practical support for Ogogo’s family.

Odunfa Colleagues Gather Around the Family

The presence of Yinka Quadri was particularly significant.

Quadri and Ogogo shared one of the most enduring friendships in the Yoruba film industry.

Their relationship also formed part of the history of the Odunfa Caucus, which helped shape generations of actors and filmmakers.

Abbey Lanre was also present, alongside other longstanding Odunfa figures.

Antar Laniyan, Yomi Fash, Madam Saje and her husband, Fathia Balogun, Toyosi Adesanya, Kike Adeyemi, Sunny Alli, Alesh Onilegbale, Aremu Afolayan and Bimbo Oshin were among the actors and actresses who joined the gathering.

Kunle Afolayan, whose career has also intersected with veterans of the Yoruba film tradition, was present as colleagues gathered to honour Ogogo.

Alhaji Akanni Olohunwa, former Chairman , Lagost State NURTW and Nike Peller were also among those present.

For many of the older practitioners, the gathering was a meeting of people who had shared stages, locations, productions, friendships and difficult moments with Ogogo over several decades.

More Than a Fidau

Ogogo’s connection to Odunfa went far beyond appearing in films.

The caucus became one of the important training and networking grounds for Yoruba theatre and film practitioners.

Historical accounts trace its development to the mid-1980s, with figures including Yinka Quadri, Ogogo, Abbey Lanre, Rasaq Ajao and Kakawa associated with its growth.

The group produced or influenced several generations of performers, directors and filmmakers.

That history explains why Thursday’s gathering at 40 Odunfa Street carried a different emotional weight.

It was, in many ways, the industry returning to one of its old homes to say goodbye to one of its own.

A Legacy Measured by People

Ogogo died on August 23, 2026, at the age of 66 after battling stage-four cancer.

His death prompted an extraordinary response from colleagues, friends, political figures and members of the public.

Before his death, the family had received numerous offers of medical and other assistance from people determined to help.

The Odunfa Fidau brought many of those relationships into one place.

From the veterans who knew Ogogo from his earliest years, to actors he influenced and younger practitioners who inherited the tradition he helped build, the gathering offered a visible measure of the man’s reach.

The prayers were for the dead. But the gathering also told a story about the life Ogogo lived, the people he touched and the community he helped build.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the Odunfa Caucus Fidau brought together Ogogo’s family, longtime colleagues, actors, actresses, dignitaries and representatives of traditional institutions at 40 Odunfa Street, Ebute Metta.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Senator Eshinlokun’s ₦10 million donation, the tributes from colleagues and the sermon delivered by Lateef Adedimeji formed some of the defining moments of the gathering.

For a man whose professional life was deeply tied to Odunfa, there could hardly have been a more fitting place for his colleagues to gather, pray and remember him.