Remembering our screen heroes

Despite their demise; their impact is still felt

Nigeria had recorded several losses of great citizens who have contributed to the growth of the nation in their respective fields as beings on earth. These late individuals have served as role models and figure heads to younger generations who merge their personality with the one they imbibe from these models. This explains why we, especially Nigeria as a nation, will never run out of talents. It is of course impossible to make a list. However, in no particular order, MUTIAT ALLI AND FOLARIN LEONARD looked into the profile of some of these Nigerian heroes who we will still miss as a result of their contributions in their various field.

Bukky Ajayi
Your heroes aren’t limited to men alone. Zainab Bukky Ajayi was a well-respectedNollywood actress who usually played the role of a mother or grandmother. She was born on the 2nd of February 1934 and had been on your screens since 1966.The late role model was awarded a scholarship by the federal government of Nigeria to school in England, United Kingdom. On her return to Nigeria, became a presenter and newscaster for Nigerian Television Authority in 1966.

During her acting career which began with The Village Headmaster, a pioneering series, she featured in several films and soaps including the popular “Witches”, Diamond Ring and Critical Assignment among many more. Bukky was lastyear (2016) awarded the Industry Merit Award at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards.Bukky impacted so much in the Nigerian movie industry and that is fact beyond challenge. She featured in films like Amoye in 2008, Keep My Will alongside Justus Esiri, Women of Faith, Thunderbolt and a very long list of amazing movies you would wish to see again.

Bukky Ajayi died on the 6th of July 2016 at her residence in Surulere, Lagos State. She was an inspiration to many and top Nollywood actors can testify to that as they all paid their last respect. Rest on! Our beautiful mother.

Fela Kut

Another great Nigerian to remember is the legendary Olufela Olusegun OludotunRansom-Kuti (Fela Anikulapo Kuti). Fela a multi-instrumentalist and not just a respected musician but the pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre we are presently familiar with. This unique performer was born on the 15th of October 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Fela is a first cousin to Nobel Laureate, Woke Soyinka.

Many are unaware of Fela’s involvement with record labels. He was actually associated with Barclay/PolyGram, MCA/Universal, Celluloid EMI Nigeria and Knitting Factory among others. He left for London to study medicine but switched to music at Trinity College where he had to play the piano and other instruments. He chose the trumpet. He formed a band ‘Koola Lobitos'(renamed- Nigeria ’70), playing a fusion of jazz and highlife.

Fela setup a center for performance and presentation known as Afrika Shrine, where he spoke about social and political issues. Fela sang about government activities and peoples suffering. He sang on brutalization and abuse of power which landed him in trouble with the government as his kalakuta residence was raided and he was brutalized and jailed on many occasions.

However, that development didn’t stop his effective lyrics. One of the songs on this note is ‘Zombie’. Fela’s style of songs were also usually as long as 10 to 30 minutes. Fela was so vocal with politics that he contributed columns in print Medias such as The Daily Times. He went on to form a political party called Movement of the People (MOP). He decided to run for presidency considering the number of hearts he already won. He couldn’t achieve this as he was rejected as a candidate.

Fela died on the 2nd of August, 1997. Fela’s funeral was attended by over a million fans who ensured he had a street funeral as he was a man of the people.
Adebayo Faleti

Adebayo Mosobalaje Faleti was born on the 26th of December 1921. He was a poet, writer, journalist, Africa’s first newscaster, Africa’s first stage play Director, and actor and film director, Africa’s first film editor and librarian with the first television station in Africa (WNTV/WNBS), Nigeria’s first Yoruba presenter on Television. He was responsible for translating Nigeria’s National Anthem from English to Yoruba. He was also a translator as he translated any important message put in English to Yoruba for his audiences. Late Faleti in his lifetime published a dictionary of the formal or official use of Yoruba names.

Faleti was born in Agbo-Oye, Oyo State. He attended the University of Dakar in Senegal and obtained a Certificate of proficiency in French Language and Civilization. He also graduated from the University of Ibadan Nigeria, with an honours degree in Lit-in-English. He further went on to receive a certificate in Television Production at the Radio Netherlands Training Center in Hilversum, Netherland. He was an award winner of different categories who had three wives initially.

He was affiliated with movies such as the popular “Thunderbolt” and “Afonga”. He died on the 23rd of July 2017.
Dagrin

Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun popularly known as Dagrin. He was born on 21st of October,1987 in Ogun State, Nigeria. – 22 April 2010), was an award-winning Nigerian rapper from Ogun, [2] A film of his life entitled Ghetto Dreamz was released in April 2011.

The late rapper had a unique style of music blend with Yoruba which was uncommon at his time of stardom. Although he mixed English and Pidgin English when he spoke. Dagrin was nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards for Best Album- Chief Executive Omota (C.E.O.), Hottest Single “Pon Pon Pon”, Best Rap Act and Best Collaboration with vocals.

Dagrin produced songs reflecting on the life on the streets of Lagos. His songs carried a sense of culture as he also featured artists with street credibility such as Terry.G, Konga, Y.Q, M.I, 9ice, Iceberg Slim, Omowunmi and many others.

He died at the age of 22 on the 22nd of April 2010 after a vehicle accident in Lagos. A film titled Ghetto Dreamz was released in 2011 in his honour and story, starring Trybson Dudukoko and Doris Simeon-Ademinokan as his girlfriend. Audio tribute collaborations were also made which was aired countlessly on the radio.

Stephen Keshi

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was a Nigerian Football defender and manager, born in January 23rd, 1967. Keshi attended Saint Finbarr’s College in Akoka, Lagos and Saint Gregory’s College in Lagos also. He represented the country at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, captaining the Super Eagles to victory. He won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach. Being a manager, he achieved success by qualifying Togo for the only FIFA World Cup appearance in its history in 2006.

As a player, he earned 60 caps for the Nigerian national football team, making him the nation’s second-most capped player at the time of his retirement after he played club football in five countries.

Following Nigeria’s exit from the World Cup, Keshi’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation expired in July 2015. He had a heart attack and died on 7th of June, 2016 in Benin City.
Sam Loco Efe

You don’t have to be born in the 30’s or whenever before you identify with the late character, Sam Loco Efe. This late Nigerian actor and director played numerous roles in his time and made homes sit glued to their television sets in happiness especially when viewing movies he played fatherly role to Tom and Jerry (Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme). The screen hero was born in December 1945. On the 25th to be precise.

He was a native of Enugu State. Record has it that at his prime, he was a member various groups including a drama society that performed a rendition of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at an Eastern regional arts festival in Abakaliki in which he was later awarded the best actor of the rendition. Much went on for him before he became a member of a traveling theatre group after his secondary school and played much soccer which earned him the title- locomotive later shortened as loco.

Sam Loco started the Ovonranwen Theatre Group after returning to Benin as a Biafran fighter in 1968. He later moved to Lagos to further his ambition of soccer and worked for Michelin Tyres in Lagos, Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta. He moved back to Benin where he became a member of NTA Benin’s television series, Hotel de Jordan and also took up roles in a rendition of Ola Rotimi’s “The Gods are not to Blame”. He thereafter left sales for theatre in 1977. He further made a name for himself as he went ahead to feature in many movies like Tom and Jerry, I’ll Take My Chance and many others`.

The list is endless and includes series. The late comical actor remains one of many Nigerians who impacted in lives by ways especially natural talent.
Sam Loco Efe was found dead in a hotel room on August 7th, 2011. His death was rumored to have been caused by asthma due to the presence of inhalers beside him at the time. May he continue to rest in peace?!
Justus Esiri

Justus Esiri was a Nigerian actor who also impacted ways and manners at his dispensation. The Nigerian Film industry will miss his contribution to its growth. Esiri was an award winning veteran actor, born in November 20, 1942 in Oria-Abraka, Delta State. The Nigerian Television Authority’s TV-series – The Village Headmaster may be said to be responsible for his landing in limelight. The series was an adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s book-Things Fall Apart.

Besides honours from the Federal government of Nigeria, He was also honoured as the inaugural recipient of the “Goodluck Jonathan Lifetime Achievement award” at the Nollywood Movies Awards in 2013.

Esiri appeared in several movies including; wasted years, Six Demons, The Ghost, the popular “Keep My Will” and Doctor Bello among others. He died on 19th February, 2013 while on admission at a Lagos Hospital. A tribute night was organized by the Actors Guild of Nigeria at the National Stadium on the 8th of April 2013. May his gentle sole rest in peace!
Enebeli Elebuwa

This is another late Nigerian actor who hailed from Utagba-Uno in Ndokwa-west local Government area of Delta State. He was born in Delta State in 1946. It’s been roughly four years and some months since his demise. Nollywood keeps introducing new acts, a limitation of the past which they overcame gradually.

But before that, we saw various movies Elebuwa featured in which include; Royal War, Against My Blood, City of Kings and others.

“Dinner with the devil” is Sanya Dosunmu’s celluloid film, made in 1974 and is believed to have broken Elebuwa into the industry due to his brilliant acting in the film.
Elebuwa suffered a major stroke and was flown overseas for medical treatment. He died on admission in an Indian hospital on December 5th, 2012.