Death has a strange way of amplifying a person’s legacy, and in the entertainment industry, it often cements a celebrity’s place in history. Many Nigerian stars, despite their remarkable contributions while alive, only gained widespread recognition after their passing. For some, their death amplified their celebrity status and popularity.
From the sudden passing of vibrant actors like Junior Pope to the unexpected deaths of musicians like Mohbad, the impact of their loss shook the industry. Their names trended in ways they hadn’t before, and their works saw a resurgence.
This article explores the lives of Nigerian celebrities whose deaths made them even more popular, delving into their careers, the circumstances of their passing, and how their legacies continue to shape the entertainment industry today.
1. Sam Obiago
Sam Obiago was a Nollywood actor known for his roles as a king or an elder in epic movies specifically, movies largely shown on Africa Magic Epic channel on DStv and GOtv. The actor was popularly known mostly amongst avid viewers of the channel.
He died in 2021 with most people not talking about it until 2024. In 2024, his son, Shalom Obiago was featured in Jade Osiberu’s Prime Video original movie, Christmas in Lagos and he told the story of his father and how he misses him so much as part of the PR for the film with fans remembering the late actor.
Attention was brought back to the actor and his craft all over social media. His popularity skyrocketed. Clips of his performances circulated widely on social media, with fans reminiscing about his commanding presence and deep voice.
His passing also sparked discussions about the frequent losses in Nollywood and the industry’s treatment of veteran actors. Sam Obiago died at the age of 57.
2. Junior Pope
Junior Pope was a vibrant Nollywood actor known for his energetic performances, especially in action and village-themed movies in Asaba-wood (a kind of branch of Nollywood that focuses on low budget production of movies and using YouTube as their platform).
Before his death, Junior’s level of popularity was not high up. Many Nigerians didn’t really pay attention to his career as an actor until his death. His tragic death in 2024, after a boat accident while filming, sent shockwaves through the industry. Many who may not have paid close attention to his career before lent their voices to the tragic way he died, making him trend after his death.
Junior Pope was filming for a movie called The Other Side of Life, produced by Adanma Luke. Junior and other crew members died on their way back from River Niger where they went to shoot a scene.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria has suspended Adanma Luke over the death of Junior Pope. His passing also reignited conversations about safety measures on Nollywood sets, highlighting the risks actors take to entertain audiences.
3. Karibi Fubara
Karibi Fubara was a talented Nollywood actor and filmmaker whose career was on the rise before he succumbed to cancer in 2021. He was diagnosed of cancer in 2020.
Karibi was not the kind of actor one would classify as “popular”. The two movies, that in a way, enhanced his popularity was “God Calling” in 2018 and “The Smart Mooney Woman” in 2021. He died 3 months after the release of The Smart Money Woman.
His popularity took a notch higher after he died because of what killed him – cancer. Especially as he died a year after being diagnosed of the illness.
His death amplified his impact, as fans revisited his performances in Smart Money Woman and God Calling. Tributes poured in from industry colleagues who celebrated his resilience and artistry.
4. Mohbad
Signed to the Marlian music record label when he started out in the industry, the music star met his untimely death in 2023. Mohbad was a rising star in the music industry with some major hits.
His passing, under controversial circumstances turned him into a posthumous icon with his music topping charts globally, including “egwu” by Chike featuring Mohbad and released two months after his death. The song topped charts on Spotify, Apple music and everywhere.
Mohbad’s death caused protests in some Nigerian states to cause the authorities to investigate the root cause of his death and grieve the music icon properly. It was after his death that the artiste gained massive popularity. He was on every blog, on every social media post. This was not the reality when he was alive and making music.
His death was a remarkable moment in Nigerian history where fans marched the streets to demand justice for him especially as information linking the Marlian music boss, Naira Marley to his death came up.
5. Ada Jesus
Mercy Nmesoma Obi Nnadi, known professionally as Ada Jesus, was a young female comedian and skit maker whose fame grew after her death due to her controversial illness and beef with some spiritual figures like Odumeje. Her personality as a skit maker was growing but reached a different level when she died.
She was said to have laid false accusations against Odumeje, the founder of Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry and Rita Edochie. She accused Pastor Odumeje and Rita Edochie for conniving and staging fake miracles to deceive people in his church.
Whilst battling a kidney ailment that destabilized her body, she tried to gain forgiveness from Odumeje and Rita, but Odumeje added that nobody speaks against him and goes scot-free.
Her passing in 2021 boosted her popularity with many people wondering if Odumeje was that powerful and can cause the death of anyone who speaks ill of him.
6. Rico Swavey
Rico Swavey was a Big Brother Naija reality TV star from Season 3 and a budding musician before his tragic car accident in 2022 leading to his death.
After Big Brother Naija Season 3, Rico’s popularity did not stand out like some of his fellow housemates especially those that finished top 3 and some that just capitalized on the platform BBNaija gave to be in everybody’s faces.
News about him and who he was became a topical issue when Alex Unusual, also a housemate from the Season 3 edition of BBNaija posted about his accident Instagram.
His death made him trend, with many celebrating his calm personality on the Big Brother Naija show. Videos of his moments in Biggie’s house and his music gained more attention after his passing.
7. Odogwu Mara
Odogwu Mara was a talented TikTok dancer known for his energetic, really fast dance moves and engaging content on the platform. He was effectively rising in the celebrity status.
Reports emerged that he had passed away after allegedly consuming Indian hemp laced with poison. His death raised a lot of questions from people who didn’t know him prior to his death on why youths resort to drugs.
It was also reported that this TikTok account saw a large increase in followers when the news of his passing spread like wildfire.
8. Chinedu Bernards
Chinedu Bernards Nwankwo, best known as Chinedu Bernards, was a Nigerian-born Nollywood actress and photographer from Enugu State, Nigeria.
She was best known for roles in movies like The Regret, Big Mama’s Stick and Money Fever. She tragically passed away in April 2022 while in her 20s.
She was said to have collapsed while cleaning the chapel of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Enugu on 29th April. She was confirmed dead after being admitted in the East Side Hospital in Enugu.
Her death spread like wildfire because of the way she died. Her popularity rose and caused the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) to demand an autopsy to determine the cause of her death especially as bruises were seen on her face.
9. David Mela
David Mela was a promising young actor, model and fashion designer who had begun making a name for himself in the industry before the cold hands of death took hold of him.
The Imo State Bron actor died on January 11, 2021, after battling an undisclosed illness. His fans flooded his Facebook page with condolence messages and lamentations over his death.
The deceased actor was said to have been complaining of body pains two days before he died whilst suffering an unknown illness. His death was covered by many Nigerian blogs skyrocketing his popularity.
David was said to be in his mid-twenties before he passed away. He started in more than a dozen Nollywood movies. His death left fans and colleagues in mourning.
10. Olamide David
Olamide David was a Nigerian child actor who died at 15 years of age. He rose to fame for playing the lead role in the movie “Cobweb” which won him an award in the industry.
He won the award for “Best Male Actor” award at the Best of Nollywood awards in 2015 for his role in the movie. He was previously nominated for that same category in 2013 and 2014.
David was fast-rising in the industry and would’ve been the next big thing until death happened. He died on 18th January 2016 at the Ikeja General Hospital after sustaining a fatal injury from playing football.
David died in a period where viewers were wondering what was killing the Nigerian actors. His death gave him another level of fame that he was not alive to witness.
