The final burial rites for legendary stage, television, and silver screen icon Olu Jacobs commenced in Lagos with an evening defined by solemn hymns, evocative performances, glowing tributes, and humorous recollections of a life extraordinarily lived.
At the heart of the gathering was his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, elegant in grey lace, flanked by their sons, Gbenga and Soji, both in traditional white agbada.
Surrounding the family was a distinguished audience of Nollywood pioneers, contemporary stars, and government dignitaries, including Sola Sobowale, Ahmed Yerima, Norbert Young, Kate Henshaw, Hilda Dokubo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Desmond Elliot, and the Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.
Opening the tributes, his son Soji shared intimate reflections on growing up in the shadow of a titan, emphasising that despite his father’s immense public persona, family always remained his top priority.
“I didn’t really watch his films back then. For me, he was simply Dad. We were very close because he was magnetic and genuine in his movement,” he said.
“As much as the industry loved him and as possessive as they were of him, he always drew a fine line between that world and ours. He protected our privacy fiercely.”
Colleagues spanning decades of Nigerian theater and television took the stage to recount their shared journeys with the man fondly remembered as the ‘Lion of Lufodo.’
Actor Norbert Young reflected on their years working together on the iconic 1980s detective series Third Eye, highlighting Jacobs’ discipline and professional mentorship.
“He loved to talk back then, and I loved to listen,” said Young. “I became the actor I am today from listening to him at least once a week during the time we shot ‘Third Eye.’”
Playwright and scholar Ahmed Yerima brought warmth and laughter to the solemn occasion, sharing a lighthearted anecdote about the intensity Jacobs brought to every role.
“The only time I forgot the lines in my own play was when Uncle Olu and I were playing a scene, and he started crying. I was like, ‘I never remembered writing tears into this scene.’ But he made that moment unforgettable,” the professor said.
Actresses Hilda Dokubo and Kate Henshaw focused their tributes on Jacobs’ paternal nature behind the scenes, recounting the quiet ways he cared for cast and crew members on set.
Dokubo remembered being starstruck when she first found herself working alongside Jacobs and Silva.
“I was mopping and not looking. He later touched me and I thought I would jump out of my skin, but he calmed me down and said, ‘Don’t worry, everything will be OK. Read with me.’ That was how I finally got comfortable,” she told the gathering.
Henshaw recalled his legendarily thoughtful preparation and generosity during long shooting days.
“Uncle Olu always came prepared with snacks and coffee. Once, when we were almost stranded on a remote set, Uncle Olu just said, ‘Never mind.’ He brought out his leather bag, and inside were mixed vegetables, sausages, and everything we needed,” she added.
For many of Nollywood’s most celebrated figures, Jacobs was more than a colleague; he was the benchmark of excellence whose praise could launch or define a career.
Sola Sobowale connected her long-standing friendship with Joke Silva, tracing back to an early industry circle that included Ayo Mogaji and Ngozi Nwosu, to share how Jacobs’ early validation fueled her confidence.
“Uncle Olu stood among us, looked at me, and said to the room, ‘Have you seen Sola Sobowale? She is a great actor.’ That moment changed everything for me,” Sobowale said.
Richard Mofe-Damijo expressed deep gratitude for Jacobs’ personal mentorship, recalling an unusual story Jacobs once shared about forgetting a line on stage to teach him a lifelong lesson about humility and focus.
He said, “That lesson has lived with me all my life. He said to me, ‘There are no small actors, and there are no small lines. But if you are not mindful of the small lines, you will become a small actor.’”
The evening of memories was garnished with a soulful performance from singer Yinka Davies, who delivered a stripped-back, piano-assisted medley that drew warm appreciation from the crowd, offering a harmonious farewell to a giant of African culture whose legacy remains firmly etched in history.
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