Veteran actress and filmmaker Faithia Williams, also known as Faithia Balogun, has opened her heart over the death of Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, saying the late star helped shape the woman she became after years away from home.
She spoke at Ogogo’s eight-day Fidau prayer in Ilaro, Ogun State, where colleagues gathered to honour the Yoruba screen legend. Ogogo died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after a battle with stage-four cancer. His daughter, Kira, announced the death in a live video. He was buried the next day, Monday, August 24.
Faithia made it clear their bond went beyond work.
“Ogogo wasn’t just a boss to me; he was someone who contributed greatly to my person when I came back from London to join Nigerians at Odunfa. He was there for me, and I was greatly and warmly welcomed. He was honest, peaceful and irreplaceable,” she said.
According to her, returning from London to join the Odunfa theatre group could have been a lonely restart. Ogogo’s welcome gave her a place to stand. She credited his warmth and encouragement with helping her settle back into Nigeria and find her footing in the industry.
The tribute landed in a hall already heavy with grief. Other stars, including Yinka Quadri, Odunlade Adekola and Jide Kosoko, also turned out for the Fidau. Quadri struggled through his own remarks as emotion overtook him. Across the Yoruba movie space, colleagues have described Ogogo as a respected elder, mentor and one of the most familiar faces of their generation.
Odunfa Caucus, the group Faithia joined on her return, trained a long line of Yoruba screen names. Ogogo was one of the figures who helped younger actors find their way through that system. For Faithia, that welcome was personal. She called him honest, peaceful and impossible to replace.