Nollywood Icons Honour Olu Jacobs at Lagos Night of Tributes
Colleagues, relatives and admirers of the veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs filled Glover Memorial Hall on Lagos Island on Wednesday for a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs in his memory.
Jacobs, often referred to as the "Lion of Lufodo," passed away on 16 September at the age of 84.
The ceremony, which started at 4:00 p.m. at the Marina venue, drew a large turnout from the entertainment industry. Among those present were Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami (widely known as Oga Bello), Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Saka, Desmond Elliot, Ejike Asiegbu, Keppy Ekpenyong, Norbert Young and the Minister of Arts, Hannatu Musawa.
A candlelight procession formed part of the evening as those in attendance honoured Jacobs' life, his body of work and his impact on Nigerian theatre, television and cinema.
His widow, the veteran actress Joke Silva, was there with their sons, Gbenga and Olusoji, known as Soji.
The programme included Bible readings, musical and dramatic performances, and personal reflections from colleagues who had worked with Jacobs at various points in his career.
Soji Jacobs opened the tributes by speaking about his father's role within the family, noting that despite his public fame, he was first a father at home.
"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.
He also said his father made a conscious effort to keep his public and private lives apart and guarded the family's privacy closely.
Norbert Young, a fellow veteran actor, spoke about their time together on the television series The Third Eye. He described Jacobs as a disciplined professional whose guidance and experience helped shape his own career.
"He loved to talk back then, and I loved to listen," Young said, explaining that absorbing Jacobs' insights during The Third Eye shaped his growth as an actor.
Playwright and scholar Ahmed Yerima offered a lighter recollection, describing how Jacobs' intense emotional reading of a scene once made him lose track of his own lines.
Actresses Hilda Dokubo and Kate Henshaw both spoke of Jacobs' kindness and his readiness to assist colleagues on set. Dokubo remembered how he helped calm her nerves when they first worked together, while Henshaw recalled his thorough preparation and generosity during productions.
Sola Sobowale shared how Jacobs boosted her confidence early in her career by praising her talent in front of others. According to her, he once asked colleagues, "Have you seen Sola Sobowale? She is a great actor."
Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, recounted a lesson Jacobs taught him about the value of every performer and every line in a production.
"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," RMD recalled Jacobs telling him.
Performances punctuated the tributes, including a soulful rendition by singer Yinka Davies, as guests looked back on Jacobs' decades-long career.
Jacobs worked in theatre, television and film for more than 50 years. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, performed in British theatre and television, and later returned to Nigeria, where he became one of the most recognisable faces in the country's film industry.
The Night of Tributes is the first major public event in the funeral arrangements announced by his family. Attendees were asked to dress in shades of blue.
The funeral service is set for Friday, 2 October, at 10:00 a.m. at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, with guests requested to wear shades of green. A private burial is expected to follow.
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