By Ghazali Ibrahim
Veteran Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri broke down in tears on Monday as his longtime friend and colleague, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, was laid to rest in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State.
Quadri was among the prominent Nollywood actors and mourners who gathered in Ilaro to bid farewell to the Yoruba film icon, who died on Sunday at the age of 66.
The emotional moment came as Ogogo’s remains were taken to the burial ground following funeral prayers at the Ilaro Central Mosque. Quadri, visibly overcome with grief, struggled to hold back tears as he mourned his longtime friend.
The two actors shared a decades-long friendship and were among the prominent figures who helped shape the Yoruba film industry.
Other Nollywood stars, including Jide Kosoko, Fathia Balogun, Dele Odule, Olaiya Igwe, Mister Latin and Kolawole Ajeyemi, also converged on Ilaro for Ogogo’s final rites.
Ogogo’s remains arrived in Ilaro early Monday before the burial, with family members, friends, colleagues, traditional chiefs and residents gathering to pay their final respects.
The veteran actor was buried according to Islamic rites at about 10:50am, bringing to an end the funeral ceremonies for one of the most recognisable figures in Yoruba-language cinema.
Ogogo died on Sunday, August 23, after a reported battle with stage-four cancer. His death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, fans and prominent Nigerians.
