The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has described late Taiwo Hassan as a fallen great tree, whose roots and fruits would nourish generations to come.
He further described the late life of Hassan as the rhythm of wisdom and art that will echo through time forever.
Veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, widely known as Ogogo, passed away at the age of 66 on Sunday, August 23rd, following a battle with stage-four cancer.
In a condolence message through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Alaafin described the late thespian as a true custodian of Yoruba’s heritage.
According to the Paramount Ruler, “the world lost a giant, whose spirit lives on in every life he inspired. An irreplaceable voice has gone quiet, but the echo of his art would ring through generations. You carried our history and our pride with grace. A single light has gone out, yet its brilliance will continue to guide us.”
Oba Owoade further pointed out that through his remarkable career, the late Hassan entertained generations while showcasing and preserving the rich cultural values of the Yoruba people on stage and screen.
The Royal Father noted that late Hassan’s commitment to theatre, Yoruba culture and the broader entertainment industry had left an enduring mark on the creative landscape of Lagos State and Nigeria.
He said poetically, “Anything you lose comes round in another form. Let the waters settle, and you will see the moon and the stars. The wound is the place where the Light enters you.
Only from the heart can you touch the sky. Lovers do not finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.
“For nothing is fixed, forever, forever, forever; it is not fixed; the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, and the sea does not cease to grind down rock.”
While commiserating with the bereaved families for the loss of their beloved one, Alaafin retorted thus, “We mourn the loss of a rare cultural pillar, yet we celebrate an immortal legacy that will forever shape our identity.”
Oba Owoade, however, sympathised with the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) over the death of one of their notable members, describing it as a painful loss.
Packaged by Dare Raji
