Kosoko, Salami, Others Pay Tribute To Late Nollywood Veteran ‘Ogogo’

…To Be Buried On Monday

Veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, will be buried in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Hassan died at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, following a battle with stage four cancer. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Kira, and announced by veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, on Instagram.

Kira had on Monday, August 17, disclosed that her father was battling stage four cancer, saying the family was not seeking financial assistance but connections to a hospital that could admit him for treatment. She said hospitals they had taken him to had declined to admit him because the ailment was already at an advanced stage.

In an emotional Instagram Live session on Sunday, Kira confirmed his death, saying, “My daddy is dead. I can’t believe it.”

According to a burial announcement by Kosoko via instagram, Hassan’s remains would be taken to Ilaro on Sunday, where a lying-in-state ceremony would be held on Monday.

The statement read, “With heavy hearts and profound sadness, we announce the passing of Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as ‘Ogogo’ who passed away at 3:00 p.m. today Sunday, 23rd August 2026. At 66 years.

“His remains will be taken to his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State today where the lying-in-state ceremony will take place tomorrow. Date: Monday, 24th August 2026. Time: 11:00 a.m. Venue: Pavillon, Ilaro, Ogun State.

“We pray that Almighty Allah grants him eternal rest and gives his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones the strength and fortitude to bear this great loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Ameen.”

Also reacting to his death, Nollywood actor, Femi Adebayo Salami, wrote on his Instagram account, “Sir T. Some people leave behind memories. Some leave behind a legacy that time can never erase.

“Thank you for the years, the stories, the lessons and the moments that made us fall in love with the craft.

“You were a true pillar of Yoruba cinema, and your impact will live on in generations to come. Rest well, Sir Taiwo Hassan. You will forever be Ogogo to us.”

Born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State, Hassan spent his early years in the town before moving to Lagos, where he pursued his education, learnt a trade and eventually built his acting career.

Hassan began his acting career in 1981 while still working as a mechanic. He learnt through practical theatre experience and gradually became a fixture in the growing Yoruba film industry, with a career spanning more than four decades.

Before taking up acting full-time, Hassan trained and worked as an automobile mechanic. He also spent about 13 years with the Lagos State Water Corporation and resigned in 1994.

Although his real name was Taiwo Hassan, he received the stage name Ogogo from his family’s traditional praise poetry (oriki), which includes the line “Ogogo Omo Akulodo Aringini”.

The name stuck and became his lifelong stage alias across hundreds of Nollywood films rather than originating as a character name in a single film.

His career included acting, writing and producing, particularly during the growth of the Yoruba film industry in the 1990s.

His early film credits included Agbelebu (1995), Dr Brown (1995), where he also worked as a writer, and Ekun-Ayo (Tears of Joy) (1996), on which he also served as writer and producer. He also featured as Wole Owolabi in Owo Blow Parts 2 and 3 (1996).

Over the years, Hassan featured in several memorable productions, including Owo Blow, Agbelebu, Omo Ghetto, Omin, Tenant of the House, Bank Alert and Aníkúlápó.

He played a range of authoritative and dramatic characters, including Adesina in Omin (2008), Yomi in Elewon (2009), a D.P.O. in Omo Ghetto (2010), Hon. Kasali in Tenant of the House (2019), Alhaji in Amerah (2021) and Grandpa in Bank Alert (2023).

Hassan remained active in the Nigerian film industry into the 2020s, featuring as Olalere in IGE – The Unlikely Oil Merchant (2023) and returning as Alaafin Ademuyiwa in Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre (2024).

He played the character Alaafin Ademuyiwa in Kunle Afolayan’s 2022 Netflix film, Aníkúlápó.

His performance earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, while Aníkúlápó itself received multiple nominations.

Hassan’s death comes about two months before his 67th birthday, which would have been on October 31.