In his tribute, Afod wrote: “It saddens my heart as I announce the passing away of our great legend, a great actor who passed away this evening after a brief illness… BABA GEBU. May your soul rest in peace.” Though no further details have been publicly shared regarding the precise nature of his illness, the shock that has spread through the Yoruba-language and broader Nollywood community is palpable.
A Storied Career in Yoruba & Nollywood Cinema
Baba Gebu hailed from Ile-Ife in Osun State and built a remarkable career in Yoruba-language film, television, and theatre that spanned decades. His enduring presence on screen and his contributions behind the scenes earned him the status of a “great legend” in the industry.
One highlight of his late-career resurgence was his role in the 2020 film Citation (directed by Kunle Afolayan), where he portrayed a senior academic panel member examining a sexual harassment case. This performance demonstrated his versatility and commitment to relevant storytelling in contemporary Nigerian cinema.
Baba Gebu’s deep involvement in Yoruba film—moving from traditional theatre into the video era, and navigating changes in production, distribution, and audience consumption—meant he became a mentor to younger actors and filmmakers even as he maintained his own craft.
The Human Side: Loss, Resilience & Renewal
In a 2024 interview, the veteran actor opened up about the personal turmoil he had faced, most prominently the death of his wife after a short illness in 2021. He explained that returning to acting was both his healing mechanism and his way of avoiding the depths of depression following such a profound loss.
During that period, colleagues—including Kunle Afod—stood by him, offering emotional encouragement and professional support. According to reports, as film roles became scarcer for him, he turned to writing scripts and invested time in reading extensively. He also took up farming—both fish and livestock—to sustain himself as the industry’s dynamics shifted.
This chapter of his life speaks volumes about his resilience, his adaptability and his enduring passion for meaningful work even when opportunities marginalised him.
Why His Passing Resonates
The death of Baba Gebu marks more than the loss of an actor—it signals the fading of a bridge between older traditions of Yoruba stage and theatre and the newer era of digital-age Nollywood film. His career connected generations, working across formats and eras, mentoring younger talent, and reminding audiences of the rich storytelling heritage of southwestern Nigeria.
As one article notes: “The Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, has lost another of its revered figures.” That reverence is rooted in not just longevity, but authenticity—Baba Gebu embodied a style of performance anchored in cultural nuance, theatre roots and cinematic evolution.
For the industry, his passing raises larger reflections:
On how veteran actors are reintegrated (or sidelined) as the business model and audience tastes change;
On the need for preservation of the heritage embodied by such practitioners;
On mental-health, support systems and transition mechanisms for artists as they age or their roles evolve.
What Comes Next & Industry Response
At the time of writing, funeral arrangements and specific plans for memorialisation have not been announced publicly. Colleagues and fans have begun sharing tributes on social media platforms, emphasising his kind heart, humour, dedication and mentorship.
As the Yoruba film community—and the wider Nollywood ecosystem—grapple with the loss, there is likely to be a groundswell of retrospectives on his work, archival screenings of his filmography, and perhaps initiatives to honour his legacy (awards, scholarships, mentorship programmes).
For audiences and aspiring actors, Baba Gebu’s life provides take-away lessons: the value of versatility, the importance of sustaining one’s craft beyond momentary success, and the power of giving back to the industry and community.
The curtain has fallen on the life of a true stalwart of Nigerian cinema. Baba Gebu’s departure is a reminder of the impermanence of even the most enduring stars—but also a celebration of the indelible mark they leave. His journey—from theatre to film, from hardship to adaptation—reflects the ebb and flow of the industry he gave so much to.
As colleagues, fans and the next generation of actors bid him farewell, the hope is that the values he embodied—commitment to craft, humility, mentorship and resilience—will continue to live on through both his body of work and those he inspired.
May the soul of Prince Oyewole Olowomojuore (Baba Gebu) rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to illuminate the path of Nigerian cinema for years to come.
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