Nollywood figures honour Olu Jacobs at Lagos burial rites

Nollywood actors, industry veterans and government officials gathered in Lagos for the final burial rites of veteran actor Olu Jacobs, an evening marked by tributes, music and personal recollections. Jacobs’ wife, actress Joke Silva, attended with their sons Gbenga and Soji. The gathering included figures such as Sola Sobowale, Ahmed Yerima, Norbert Young, Kate Henshaw, Hilda Dokubo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Desmond Elliot and the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.

Soji Jacobs opened the tributes by describing his father’s role within the family. He said that despite his public stature, Jacobs made family his priority and protected his sons’ privacy from the demands of the entertainment industry. Colleagues recalled Jacobs’ work and influence across theatre, television and film.

Norbert Young spoke about their time on the 1980s detective series Third Eye, saying Jacobs’ discipline and advice helped shape his own development as an actor. Playwright and scholar Ahmed Yerima combined humour with remembrance, recalling a performance in which Jacobs’ emotional intensity moved beyond what Yerima had expected from the written scene. Hilda Dokubo remembered feeling nervous when she first worked with Jacobs and Silva, while Kate Henshaw praised his preparation and care for cast members during difficult shoots.

Sola Sobowale said Jacobs’ early public recognition of her ability strengthened her confidence. Richard Mofe-Damijo also remembered Jacobs as a mentor, citing his lesson that performers should pay attention to every line and every actor in a production. The tributes portrayed Jacobs as more than a colleague, with speakers describing him as a supportive and influential figure whose standards shaped careers in Nigerian entertainment.

Singer Yinka Davies performed a piano-assisted medley during the ceremony, adding music to the farewell. The event brought together multiple generations of the Nigerian creative industry to honour Jacobs’ contribution to theatre, television and cinema.