The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has expressed deep grief over the passing of veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, widely known as Ogogo, describing his death as the fall of a “great tree whose roots and fruits would nourish generations to come.”
Ogogo, a titan of Yoruba theatre and modern Nigerian cinema, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66 following a battle with stage-four cancer. His family officially confirmed the tragic development, triggering a wave of tributes across the nation’s creative and political landscapes.
In a statement released on Monday in Ibadan through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Oyo monarch described the late actor as an irreplaceable custodian of Yoruba cultural heritage who carried the nation’s pride with grace.
“Though the drumbeat of late Hassan’s life has hushed, the rhythm of his wisdom and art will echo through time forever,” the Alaafin stated. “A true custodian of our heritage has gone to rest. The light of a single, brilliant flame has faded out, yet its glow remains in our collective history.”
Oba Owoade highlighted Ogogo’s decades-long career, noting how he seamlessly used both the stage and screen to entertain generations while promoting and safeguarding Yoruba cultural values. The traditional ruler added that the actor’s profound commitment to theatre left an indelible mark on the creative ecosystems of Lagos State, the South-West, and Nigeria as a whole.
Offering philosophical comfort to the bereaved family and the creative industry, the monarch remarked: “Anything you lose comes round in another form. Let the waters settle, and you will see the moon and the stars. The wound is the place where the light enters you… We mourn the loss of a rare cultural pillar, yet we celebrate an immortal legacy that will forever shape our identity.”
The Alaafin also extended his heartfelt condolences to the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), describing Ogogo’s death as a painful loss to the entire performing arts fraternity.
Born in Ilaro, Ogun State, Taiwo Hassan rose to prominence in the 1990s as a founding pillar of contemporary Yoruba cinema. Celebrated for his commanding screen presence, moralistic roles, and mastery of the Yoruba language, his death marks the end of an era for the Nigerian film industry.
