In Memoriam: A Tale of 3 Actors

 

Fans and the Nollywood community  are still in shock over the loss of veteran actors Saint Obi and Murphy Afolabi; who passed away within a day of each other. Saint Obi (Obinna Nwafor) died in a Jos hospital following surgery, on the 7th of May. He was 57. 

The late actor was   a fan favourite  since his appearance as T.J in the rested soap, ‘Candle Light’. His  films included:  ‘Deadly Proposal’, ‘Just a Mission’, ‘Time Bomb’ (featuring fellow ‘Candlelight’ alum, Charles Okafor) , ‘Narrow Escape’ and ‘Narrow Escape 2’, ‘Amadas’, Zeb Ejiro’s ‘Sakobi' and ‘Sakobi 2’, ‘Heartless’, ‘Executive Decision’, ‘State of Emergency’, ‘Festival of Fire’, ‘Oracle’, ‘Dirty Game’, ‘Last Party’ and the heart-rending drama, ‘Goodbye Tomorrow’, which also starred Hilda Dokubo. 

For years, Saint Obi had been missing from the silver screen and his death came as a huge blow.  Everyone, still reeling from this sad news, don’t even know what to believe right now. All we know is that Nollywood has lost a versatile and beloved actor. 

Murphy Afolabi died on the 8th of May, after a freak accident  in his bathroom. Afolabi, who clocked 49 on the 5th of May, appeared in many Yoruba films including ‘Wasila Coded Reloaded’, ‘Olokiki Oru’, ‘The Ghost and the Tout’, ‘Ayitale’, ‘Gucci Girls’, ‘Four Lions’ and ‘One Blood’. 

Afolabi has been laid to rest in Ikorodu, according to Islamic rites; his funeral attended by many of his colleagues including veteran Yoruba actor Yemi Ayebo (Yemi My Lover), Mercy Aigbe, Fausat Balogun (Mama Saje), Taiwo Akinwande (Wunmi) and the current President of the Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners, Bolaji Amusan (Mr Latin), who described Afolabi’s death as a rude shock and a great loss to the industry. 

Yesterday, another loss to the industry was reported on Instagram. This time, it was Chikezie Uwazie, actor and film maker, who passed away after a brain surgery- his second- in the U.S.

 ‘Hidden Scar’ actress Obey Etok, who shared the sad news, commented:  “ I can’t believe you are gone but God knows best. Rest on Chyko.”

The late actor’s films include: ‘Musical Whispers’, ‘Old Testament’, ‘Old Testament 2’, ‘Only Love;’ ‘Tell Me Why’, ‘Super Love’ and ‘Tears of a Saint’. 

May they rest in peace.