Nigerian Celebrities Who Died in 2023 [Music and Movies Industry]

There was lots of mourning in Nigerian's Music and Movies Industry in the year 2023. We pray that such sorrows should never come our way again. We created this article as a rememberance and to honours their legacies and celebrate the lives they lived.

2023 etched itself onto the hearts of Nigerians with the indelible ink of loss. The vibrant tapestry of the music and film industries witnessed the dimming of several stars, leaving behind legacies etched in laughter, melodies, and moments of pure magic. From the comedic genius of Papa Ajasco to the soaring vocals of veteran musicians, e.g MohBad, each passing left a void resonating across the nation.

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It wasn't just the industry that mourned; the fans, the hearts that beat in rhythm with their music and laughter, felt the sting of each farewell. These individuals weren't just celebrities; they were storytellers, weavers of dreams who painted the canvas of Nigerian life with their art. Their absence is not merely a gap in entertainment, but a personal loss for those who found solace, laughter, and inspiration in their creations.

Here are Nigerian celebrities that died in 2023:

1. Sunday Akinbi Akinola: Sunday Akinbi Akinola died in January 9, 2023. He was a popular Yoruba actor who died of Kidney failure at the age 80 years. He became well-known for his role as "Mogaji" in the series "Feyikogbon" which aired on NTA channel 7 in the southwestern Nigeria.
2. Peace Anyiam Osigwe: Her caused of death wasn't discloused. Before she died, she was he President of the Association of Movie Producers. She also established the Africa Film Academy in 2005. More so, she's won lots of awards including the one marked as the most recognised awards for Africans in film-making. Peace Anyiam Osigwe died on Tuesday, January 10, in a hospital in Lagos State. As mentioned earlier, her cause of death wasn't known.
3. Femi Ogunrombi, popularly known as Papa Ajasco: He was a popular star in the Wala Adenuga Film Production. He died on January 14, 2023.
4. Favour Agiounim Daniels: She was a skit maker and social media influencer. She passed away at the age of 26 on February 5, 2023 in a boat accident in Lagos.
5. Ojo Arowosafe, popularly known as Fadeyi Oloro: He was a popular Yoruba actor who died on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023 at the age of 66 years old.
6. Chris MBA: He died on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 after a long heart illness. He eventually died in the Lagos State University's Teaching Hospital.
7. Obinna Nwafor, popularly known as Saint Obi: He was an actor and movie producer. He died as the age of 57 years on May 7, 2023.
8. Adedigba Mukaila, popularly known as Alafin Oro: He died on May 13, 2023 with not further disclose details about his caused of death.
9. Murphy Afolabi: He was a popular Yoruba actor who died on May 14, 2023 few days after rejoicing his 49th womb escape. He was reportedly fallen in his house's bathroom at Ikorodu, Lagos on Sunday Morning.
10. Chikezie Uwazie: He was a popular Nollywood actor who died while undergoing Brain Surgery in the United States of America (USA) on Sunday, May 14, 2023.
11. Afeez Agoro Oladimeji, popularly known as the tallest man in the Nollywood industry. He died on 15 June, 2023 after a long illness. Agoro was 7½ft tall.
12. Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as MohBad: He died at the age of 27 under questionable circumstances with a viral video of him pleading for help from community to save him from threats. MohBad eventually died on September 12, 2023.
13. Cindy Amadi: Nollywood actress, Cindy Amadi, who is known for her role in the lesbian-themed movie titled, “Ife”, also died in September 2023. The producers of the movie, “Ife”, disclosed her demise in a statement on their Instagram page on Thursday, Sept 14.
14. Oluyemi Adeyemi: He was popular Nollywood actor and a fame in Wale Adenuga Film Production's Super Story. Oluyemi Lawrence Adeyemi, popularly known as Suara, died on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

Yet, amidst the grief, a flicker of resilience remains. The spirit of these artists lives on in the melodies they crafted, the laughter they ignited, and the stories they shared. Their legacies become constellations guiding the next generation, a testament to the power of art to transcend mortality.

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As Nigerians move forward, they carry these memories close, a silent promise to keep their stories alive, to dance to their rhythms, and to laugh in their echoes. For even in the face of loss, their art continues to bind, to inspire, and to remind us that even the brightest stars leave behind a trail of light, illuminating the path for those who follow.

So, while 2023 may be remembered for the dimming of some lights, it is also a year that reminds us of the enduring power of art. The music will continue to play, the stories will continue to be told, and the laughter will echo, carrying the legacies of these fallen stars into the ever-evolving tapestry of Nigerian entertainment.