Modinat Aramide Lawal, the Nollywood actress widely known as Iya Dabira, has held a special Salat in memory of the late Taiwo Hassan, fondly called Ogogo, after the veteran actor was laid to rest. Iya Dabira, who was one of his protégés, gathered mainly women for the prayers, with a framed photograph of the actor placed in view.
Zoyols News had reported that Taiwo Hassan died after a fight with stage 4 cancer. His daughter broke the news in a live video. The industry’s affection for him showed again when his body arrived around 10pm on Sunday in a Sienna. Crowds gathered, then family, clerics and well-wishers received him at the Central Mosque, Ilaro. He was buried on Monday amid tears, with colleagues including Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, Ireti Osaiyemi, Femi Adebayo, Fausat Balogun, Faithia Williams, Saidi Balogun, Kolawole Ajeyemi, Abbey Lane, Bisi Ibidapo, Segun Ogungbe, Jigan Babaoja, Mama No Network and Fali Werepe among those present.
A video from the funeral showed Yinka Quadri arriving inconsolable. At the premiere of his own film, Femi Adebayo also wept as he spoke of Ogogo as a great man who fought hard to stay alive. Fuji stars K1 and Malaika broke down on stage. Bimbo Thomas said the news was painful, yet God remains unquestionable. One of his daughters, Kira, recalled their last talk, when he told them their crying made him sad, asked them to be strong, and said he would stay and think, insisting nothing would happen to him.
Senator Yayi, then Ogun State governorship candidate, put up billboards in Ogogo’s honour across the state. While he was still ill, the senator had contacted top cancer specialists. Days before he died, Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Kaka Odunfa, Baba Eleso, Antar Laniyan, Fausat Balogun, Toyosi Adesanya, Lateef Adedimeji and others held special prayers for him. Yinka Quadri later thanked the public for hundreds of offers from spiritual and traditional healers, but said it was no longer possible to move Ogogo from hospital to hospital at that stage of treatment, and asked people to keep praying from wherever they were.
