Moji Olaiya, Aisha Abimbola, Other Celebrities Who Left Us Far Too Soon, We Totally Miss Them

We’d like to look back at some Nigerian celebrities who left us far too soon. Some, died pretty young, others had a successful year before dying at a ripe old age. Today, we’re honoring celebs like Tosyn Bucknor, Sam Loco, Aisha Abimbola, Justice Esiri and more who left us too soon. Take a trip down memory lane by scrolling down.

1. OAP Tosyn Bucknor

On Monday night, November 19, talented on-air personality Tosyn Bucknor was reported dead. The deceased was found dead by her French husband Aurelien Boyer when he returned from work. Celebrated event planner Funke Bucknor revealed that her sister died from sickle cell complications.

2. Actress Aisha Abimbola

The actress who had been fighting cancer went to Canada for scheduled chemo. Unfortunately, the heavy treatment badly affected her body, and her heart stopped beating. According to her colleague, Bisola Badmus, the 46-year old Aishat Abimbola died in Toronto on Tuesday, May 15. The actress had two children.

3. Actor Sam Loco

Sam Loco’s death took the Nollywood industry by storm back in 2011. The veteran was found dead in his hotel room after suffering from an asthma attack. We sure do miss one of the ‘evil and funny men’ of Nollywood.

4. Actor Justus Esiri

Late dad of singer, Dr Sid, passed on back in 2013. Considered to be one of the pillars of Nollywood with an acting career that goes way back to the 1960s, his death at age 70 came as a shock to the industry.

5. Reggae singer Ras Kimono

Singer Ukeleke Onwubuya better known as Ras Kimono died on Sunday, June 10, in Lagos. Ras Kimono was reportedly supposed to travel to the United States (US) on Saturday, June 9, before he complained of feeling down. He was rushed to a hospital in Ikeja, where he was later referred to Lagoon Hospital on the Island where he died. Unfortunately three months after the reggae musician’s death, his wife, Ege Mena Okedi, also passed away on Sunday, September 23.

6. Singer Goldie

With a vivacious personality and humble spirit, Goldie’s death was a great blow to the industry. After returning home to Nigeria from the 2013 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, she complained of a headache and was rushed to hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The Nigerian pop star died of ‘hypertensive heart disease,’ which triggered an “intracerebellar hemorrhage.” Goldie died at the young age of 29 and was laid to rest at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, Lagos.

7. Singer Kefee

Who can ever forget ‘Branama’ singer, Kefee? A fulfilled Gospel artist with sales both national and international that ended up dying after one of her lungs failed. Kefee passed on at a hospital in Los Angeles, California on June 12, 2014 after been in a coma for 15 days.

8. Actress Moji Olaiya

Popular Yoruba movie actress, Moji Olaiya, passed on in Canada barely two months after she welcomed a child. She died on May 17 after she reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest.The 42-year-old star actress was the daughter of legendary Nigerian highlife maestro, Victor Olaiya.

She welcomed her first child in Canada a few months after she officially divorced her first husband. Her death came as a rude shock because her last post on Instagram was less than 24 hours. She is best known for her roles in films such as No Pains No Gains, in which she played Ireti, Sade Blade (2005), Nkan adun (2008) and Omo Iya Meta Leyi (2009). She also starred in the Agunbaniro

9. Comic actor Baba Sala

Late Nigerian comic actor Moses Adejumo popularly known as Baba Sala was reported dead on Sunday, October 7, in Ilesha, Osun state. The actor died at the age of 81. According to his media assistant, Isaac Hastrup, he revealed that the actor died due to old age related sickness. Baba Sala was one of the pioneers of comedy movie in the Nigerian movie industry. His works cut across the borders of the African continent. He would be truly missed.

May God continually bless the family of the deceased!