In yet another unfortunate event, veteran Yoruba actress Sidikat Odunkanwi, famously known as Iyabo Oko, has passed away shortly after the demise of Yoruba Nollywood actor Murphy Afolabi.
Her daughter shared the news of her death on Instagram, revealing that the actress, who had been battling an undisclosed illness, passed away on Wednesday. While the cause of her death remains unknown, her daughter, Bisi Aisha, confirmed the sad news.
She wrote, “May your soul rest in peace, Mom.
Iyabo Oko had been dealing with health issues for years and had been absent from the movie industry. In 2022, Adebisi Odukanmi, daughter of veteran actress Sidikat Odukanmi, sought financial assistance from Nigerians and her mother’s colleagues for the ailing actress.
Adebisi had mentioned in an interview, “As a family, we would appreciate financial support from Nigerians and my mother’s colleagues to help her receive extensive medical care abroad, as recommended by her doctors. This would greatly improve her health. Although we conducted a fundraising campaign on social media a few months ago after a part of her body was paralyzed, we were only able to raise a small amount. We had already spent approximately one million naira at the hospital.”
She continued, “Since 2015, my mother has been suffering from a partial stroke. We took her to India for proper medical treatment at the end of 2016, where she stayed until early 2018 when she was discharged and returned to the country. We spent millions of naira on her treatment in India, and at that time, we didn’t inform anyone, including her colleagues, so we didn’t receive any external support. After the treatment, she was doing well for over a year until she started experiencing symptoms of illness. We managed it until she became partially paralyzed a few months ago, which led us to organize the fundraiser, but unfortunately, we only raised a small amount.”
Adebisi also appealed to Nigerians for assistance in providing her mother with a car, which would facilitate transportation to the hospital for check-ups and medical attention.
“When she had her last ‘attack,’ I had to arrange a motorcycle to take her to the junction before I could find a cab. She was diagnosed with right ischemic stroke a few years ago. The first health scare occurred about five years ago, but she didn’t want anyone to know. My older siblings even took her to China for better medical treatment, and she improved. Sadly, she had two more ‘attacks.'”
Given these circumstances, it raises a pertinent question: If Nollywood is as profitable as claimed by many, why are elderly individuals in the industry struggling while the younger generation drives luxurious cars and lives in expensive homes? Just last month, Nollywood actress Margaret Olayinka, also known as Iya Gbonkan, appealed to her fans for a car gift. Despite spending decades in the movie industry, she lamented not owning a car.
“I have been acting for decades, yet I don’t have a car. I take buses every day. If I were to die now, you would need to slaughter a cow. Celebrate me while I am still alive. I need a car from my fans,” she expressed.
It is evident that these elderly actors are often utilized by producers who pay them meager amounts that barely cover their own expenses, let alone those of their families. It is crucial for Nollywood to begin appreciating and honoring these veteran actors and actresses. Losing them means losing valuable talent, which would ultimately detriment the industry.
