Fuji star Wasiu Alabi describes Taiwo Hassan’s death as a painful loss to Yoruba cinema after the veteran actor’s burial in Ilaro
Fuji music star Wasiu Alabi, popularly known as Pasuma, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, mourned veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, describing the 66-year-old actor’s death as a devastating loss to Yoruba cinema and Nigeria’s creative industry.
Also read: Obasa mourns Ogogo, hails yoruba cinema legacy
Pasuma shared the emotional tribute on his official Instagram page a day after Ogogo was laid to rest in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State, according to Islamic rites.
The burial drew family members, friends, fans and prominent figures from the Yoruba film industry, who gathered to honour the veteran actor’s decades-long contribution to Nigerian entertainment. (The Guardian Nigeria)
“My heart is completely broken; writing this feels like a nightmare I can’t wake up from,” Pasuma wrote.
The Fuji icon described Ogogo as a dear brother and reflected on the lasting impact of his presence in Yoruba-language cinema.
“My dear brother, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Ogogo, you fought so hard, but Allah loves you more.
Yoruba cinema will never be the same without your towering presence and beautiful soul; the tears won’t stop falling, but I find comfort knowing you are resting in perfect peace,” he added.
Pasuma also prayed for the late actor’s family, asking Almighty Allah to grant Ogogo eternal rest and comfort those left behind.
“May Almighty Allah grant you Al-Jannah Firdaus and wrap your beautiful family in His comfort. Sun re o, egbon mi,” he wrote.
Ogogo died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66 after battling stage-four cancer.
His death came days after members of his family publicly sought urgent medical assistance as his condition deteriorated. (NTA – Nigerian Television Authority)
The actor was buried in Ilaro on Monday, August 24, with mourners gathering at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground for prayers and the final rites.
Several leading figures in Yoruba cinema, including Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Fathia Balogun, Femi Adebayo and Mr Latin, attended the funeral. (Pulse Nigeria)
The farewell was marked by deeply emotional moments, with veteran actor and Ogogo’s close colleague Yinka Quadri visibly breaking down in tears as fellow mourners consoled him. (The Meteor Digital Newspaper)
President Bola Tinubu also mourned Ogogo, describing him as a distinguished artiste whose decades-long career helped shape Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema.
“Alhaji Taiwo Hassan was a gifted artiste who used his talent to tell Nigerian stories, preserve our cultural heritage and entertain audiences at home and abroad,” Tinubu said. (State House)
The President said Ogogo’s passing represented a significant loss to his family, the Yoruba film industry, Nollywood and Nigeria’s wider creative community.
Ogogo’s career spanned more than four decades. Before becoming a full-time actor, he worked as a mechanic with the Ogun State Water Corporation for about 13 years.
He began acting in 1981 and eventually left his mechanical career in 1994 to devote himself entirely to the entertainment industry. (State House)
His contribution to Yoruba cinema extended beyond acting, with his distinctive screen presence and commitment to indigenous storytelling helping establish him as one of the industry’s most recognisable veterans.
For Pasuma, whose own career has long crossed between Fuji music and Yoruba popular culture, Ogogo’s death represents a personal loss as well as the departure of one of the figures who helped shape the cultural landscape shared by both industries.
Also read: Nollywood mourns as Ogogo is buried in Ilaro
As tributes continue to emerge following Ogogo’s burial, his colleagues and admirers have increasingly focused on preserving the legacy of an actor whose work connected generations of Nigerian audiences with Yoruba language, history and storytelling.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
