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Nollywood has lost 15 of some of its best in the first five months of 2019 and it’s been a sad occurrence.
The 15 Nollywood stars, who have passed away in 2019, include practitioners from different tribes and sectors of the Nigerian movie industry.
Every year, the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Best Of Nollywood awards honour movie practitioners in their In Memoriam segments. And organisers of the three award ceremonies will have many talented entertainers to remember at the 2019 editions of the movie award ceremonies.
Nollywood started recording deaths of its practitioners in 2019 with the death of popular Yoruba actor, Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde on January 3. 
ALSO READ: Nollywood has lost 8 of its stars in the first quarter of 2019 and it’s sad
Here are the 15 Nollywood stars that have died in 5 months.
Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde [Whatzup], Abe Ishola Monsurat Olabisi [Facebook] and LinChung Oliver [Facebook] died between January 2019 and April 2019.
 1. Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde
Gbenga ‘Burger’ Akintunde died on Thursday, January 3, after visiting the hospital to complain of malaria. He is best known for his role in the movie, ‘July 7’.
Death Cause: Malaria (according to Kunle Afod, who announced his death)
Age: 47
2. Adewale Olanrewaju 
Adewale ‘I show Larry’ Olanrewaju died on Monday, January 21. The actor was also a producer with films that include ‘Agbara,’ and ‘Ole’. 
Death Cause: Undisclosed
Age: 36
3. Funmilayo ‘Ijewuru’ Ogunsola
Funmilayo Ogunsola aka Ijewuru passed away on February 4. [Goldmyne]
Funmilayo ‘Ijewuru’ Ogunsola passed away on Monday, February 4 at her residence in Ibadan. She was a popular actress and was married to the late movie star, Ishola ‘I show Pepper’ Ogunsola. 
Death Cause: Undisclosed (suspected heart attack according to reports)
Age: 58
4. Benson Akindeju
On March 4, film producer, Benson Akindeju passed away. Before his death, Akindeju ran a film and TV studio, AK Media concept and produced a popular sitcom on TV, ‘Face 2 Face.’
Death Cause: Cancer
Age: 59
5. Rotimi Alfred Popoola
The late Alfred Rotimi Popoola was a member of TAMPAN, Abeokuta chapter before his death. [TAMPAN]
Alfred Rotimi Popoola passed away on Thursday, February 27 in Abeokuta, Ogun state. Popoola has featured in several Nollywood movies including ‘Aiye Foreign,’ and ‘Ropo Ijogbon.’
Death Cause: Health challenge (according to TAMPAN) 
Age: 51
6. Tony Anyasodor
Tony Anyasodor died in the early hours of Thursday, March 7. His death was announced by one of his colleagues on Facebook. Anyasodor starred in various Nollywood movies.
Death Cause: Undisclosed (suspected diabetes according to reports)
Age: 51
7. Paul Emema
Paul Emema passed away at the age of 52 after an undisclosed ailment. [QED]
Nollywood veteran, Francis Owochei announced the death of producer, Paul Emema. The producer, who is known for producing soap operas like ‘Behind the Clouds’ and ‘Supple Blues’, was confirmed dead on March 12.
Death Cause: Undisclosed (suspected heart attack according to reports)
Age: 52
8. Abe Ishola Monsurat Olabisi
Olabisi Monsurat Abe Ishola passed away on March 30, 2019 [Facebook/Abe Ishola Olabisi Monsurat]
Abe Ishola Monsurat Olabisi passed away on Saturday, March 30. Her death was announced days after she delivered a baby girl. 
Death Cause: Health challenge
Age: 39
9. LinChung Duke Oliver
Duke ‘LinChung’ Oliver passed away on April 2. He passed away after a car crash on his way to Lagos from his mom’s burial. He’s famous for his role as Sylvanus in the sitcom, ‘Do Good.’
Death Cause: Auto crash
Age: 45
10. Ifeanyichukwu Onyeabor
Ifeanyichukwu Onyeabo passed away on on Friday, April 19, 2019, in Jos ( legit )
Ifeanyichukwu Onyeabor died on duty while filming in Jos, the capital of Plateau on April 19. He was an AMAA nominee and will be remembered for some of his works that include ‘New Jerusalem,’ ‘My Mother’s Heart,’ ‘5 Apostles,’ ‘Darkest Knight,’ and ‘One Good Turn.’
Death Cause: Undisclosed (suspected heart attack according to reports)
Age: 51
11. Prince Dammy Eke
Prince Dammy Eke died on April 28. The actor reportedly slumped and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. He appeared in several Nollywood movies.
Death Cause: Undisclosed (suspected heart attack according to reports)
Age: 41
12. Binta Kofar Soro
Binta Kofar Soro died on May 5, 2019. [Instagram/Bintakofarsoro]
Hajia Binta Soron Dinki died on May 5. She’s popular for playing the onscreen mother in many Kannywood movies.
Death Cause: Unknown
Age: 50
13. Adio Majester
Adio Majester passed away after a battle with health challenge. [Legit]
Gbolahan Adio Majester passed away on Tuesday, May 7 in the intensive care of an undisclosed hospital. He featured over 45 movies and a number of stage plays in his career as an actor. 
Death Cause: Diabetes
Age: 50
14. Eddie Ugboma
Eddie Ugbomah died on May 11, 2019 at the age of 78-years-old. [Yes International Magazine]
Eddie Ugboma died on May 11 after a health challenge. He is notable for producing and starring in over 14 celluloid films. He would be remembered for his role as Oyenusi in a film of the same title.
Death Cause: Terminal illness (High Blood Pressure and Diabetes)
Age: 78
15. Henry Okoro
Henry Okoro has died following injuries sustained during a fatal accident that occurred on May 11. He was an actor before taking a backseat to work as director and producer after a decade.

Daddy Showkey has a message for the Nigeria government over the style at which Naira Marley was arraigned in court.
Daddy Showkey has come out to slam the government over the manner at which Naira Marley was treated during his arraignment in court.
The veteran singer took to his Instagram page on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, where he shared a video and expressed his shock and dismay over the number of security details present at Naira Marley’s court trial. According to him, he wonders why the government has failed to use the same energy applied in arraigning Naira Marley in court to face corrupt politicians in the country.
“Eye wey cry 😭 dey see road O na weytin this boy do self wey we never see before, na him kill people will Bomb 💣 na him thief nigeria money yeye dey Smell #showdonshow #daddyshowkey #lionclan #asalamamovement #ajegunletotheworld #positionurself,” he captioned the video.
Eye wey cry 😭 dey see road O na weytin this boy do self wey we never see before, na him kill people will Bomb 💣 na him thief nigeria money yeye dey Smell #showdonshow #daddyshowkey #lionclan #asalamamovement #ajegunletotheworld #positionurself
Daddy Showkey’s reaction is coming barely 24 hours after Naira Marley was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos over Internet fraud charges.
Naira Marley was brought in by men of the EFCC amidst a watertight security [PULSE]
A few days ago, Daddy Showkey had slammed Naira Marley for insulting his elders even though he pleaded on his behalf for a soft landing in the hands of the security agency.
Daddy Showkey slams Naira Marley for insulting his elders, appeals for his release
Naira Marley’s controversial statement on Internet fraud has sparked off a lot of conversation [Instagram/NairaMarley]
A few days ago, Daddy Showkey came out to speak on Naira Marley’s recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as he appeals for his release even though he thinks he made a mistake by insulting his elders. The veteran singer took to his Instagram page on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, where he posted a video. 
“A lot of una dey call me because of Naira Marley, una dey say I nor wan put mouth for Naira Marley matter. Me, I nor go put my mouth for where small pikin dey insult em elders and some people dey try to make the elder look stupid when he dey talk the truth. But I go only talk say pikin no go bad, we go say make them kill am.
EFCC parades Naira Marley, Zlatan and others over Internet fraud allegations [LindaIkeji]
“We go find a way to save am…Me, I go beg the EFCC make them temper justice with mercy make them look around way to go about this investigation because this young man just dey grow. Make em take this one learn lesson, make em know as he go put em mouth for word,” he said.
Daddy Showkey scolded Naira Marley for insulting his elders on social media but appealed to the anti-graft agency to find a way of freeing the young musician. It would be recalled that a few weeks ago, Naira Marley and Ruggedman had an online fracas which went on back and forth.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Sola Sobowale have joined two Hollywood stars to feature in a new film, ‘Shadow Parties’.
Shadow Parties features Ekeinde, Sobowale and Yemi Blaq amidst two Hollywood acts.
The movie which already has gone through the post-production stage is produced and directed by seasoned filmmaker Yemi Amodu.
Omotola is the lead actress with hunk actor Yemi Blaq plays her opposite while energetic actress Sola Sobowale joined the other cast of Lucien Morgan, Hollywood actor, and producer known for An American Wolf in London(1981), Theft Unexpected(2013) and Return of the Don (2016), and Magdalena Korpas, Poland-born Paris-based film, and stage actress.
Speaking on the upcoming flick, Amodu said movie lovers should watch out for a very good movie with a twisting plot and an enriched production.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Sola Sobowale team with Hollywood Stars In New Flick, ‘Shadow Parties’
He explained that it was pretty easy choosing Omotola as the lead actress, not just because she is marketable but for the fact that she is a good actress and interprets role excellently.
Other casts in the movie include Segun Arinze, Prince Jide Kosoko, Hafiz Oyetoro, Said Balogun, Sola Kosoko, Rotimi Salami, and others.
Lucien Morgan, Hollywood actor, and producer known for An American Wolf in London stars in the new movie [Mandy]
A paradox of communal clash, ‘Shadow Parties’ encapsulates the endless political intrigues that would later transform into blood business of arms and ammunition and of course the killings of innocent residents, which is an exposition of reality.
Jide Kosoko
Amodu explained; “This is a story on communal clashes; like the issue of the herdsmen. We have so many issues bordered on insecurity in the society that needs to be talked about. As a filmmaker, it’s my duty is to help the society. ‘Shadow Parties’ has a lot to do with the society. It is not just producing a film for fun; though we have different themes in the movie. There’re drama elements that are entertaining, but the story is didactic enough to teach moral and exposing the evil involved in communal clashes.”
Toyin Aimakhu joins the list of the exciting cast of the movie [Instagram/ToyinAimakhu]
‘Shadow Parties’ shot across major South-west cities of Lagos, Ibadan, Erin Ijesha, Akure and Ekiti, will soon hit the cinemas after a round of exhibitions at major international film festivals across the world.
‘Shadow Parties’ is a story about Aremu (Ken Erics) who hails from Aje, a town that neighbours Iludun, where his wife, Arike (Toyin Aimakhu) was born. Known for fratricidal wars, which had claimed the lives of Arike’s parents, the towns were one more time thrown into war after the kinsmen of Aremu decided to burn his wife and child claiming she was an enemy which then triggered a reprisal attack from the Iluduns led by Lowo (Yemi Blaq), Arike’s brother.

Both rappers are victims of their own hunger to feed the beast that is social media, and milk every popularity they get from it.
On one earth, on two planets, two rappers, rapping in different languages fed the beast of social media while their hands were dirty. Now, theyre paying with their freedom.
On April 20, 2019, Nigerian news circles swirled with the news that Nigerian singer, and heartthrob to Nigerian Generation Zers shook a bottle of coke and shattered what would have been his lunch.
If u know about slavery u go know say yahoo no b crime..
He attempted to justify internet fraud with slavery. He used a global subject of black pain as cheap validation for illegality. Inevitably, Twitter NG erupted and battered his ignorance with angry threads and vitriol.

He trended with consistency over the following days as he started social media and real life feuds with his fellow celebrities like Tunde Ednut, Ruggedman and Simi.
His opinions split Twitter, just like it split Nigerian celebrities like a frustration can split coconut. Ideals were questioned; on his actions, some blamed ignorance, some blamed clout-chasing and others blamed immaturity. Others even brazenly alleged Marley’s involvement in crime, and questioned why he was in Nigeria, and not the UK.

Like that was not enough, he made a second video and defiantly cursed all those who disagreed with him with the confidence of Socrates. He then gleaned the inadequacies of the government and corruption as validation for internet fraud before he started a back-and-forth with Ruggedman that Davido attempted to settle but couldn’t.
Naira Marley x Zlatan – Am I A Yahoo Boy (Official Video)
The culmination of this saw Naira Marley channel all the negative energy into a song, ‘Am I A Yahoo Boy?’ which has since been Nigeria’s most-watched video on YouTube over the past two weeks with over one million views. The spotlight was on him, he was popping and trending.
He even planned to release another music video for another single, ‘Opotoyi,’ after the Ramadan fasting. Little did he know what was to happen…
Tekashi 6ix9ine
In faraway New York City, US, another rapper and serial hitmaker that became the toast of American radio around – late 2017 – the time Naira Marley started popping is Tekashi 6ix9ine.
This was after the 2015 incident where then 17-year-old 6ix9ine appeared to grope a then 13-year-old. Instead of facing a potential three-year prison sentence, he took a deal, and was ordered to take his GED, refrain from posting explicit content on social media and not commit an offence for two years.
6ix9ine On Why He Loves Being Hated, Rolling With Crips And Bloods & Why He’s The Hottest
6ix9ine went from obscurity to the spectacle of American pop culture. His maiden appearance on Power 105.1 radio show, The Breakfast Club became the most-watched video the show ever had – 6ix9ine also predicted this feat during the interview.
GUMMO [Prod. Pierre Bourne] by 6IX9INE
His single, ‘Gummo’ became a hit and it then launched his career. But as his music career soared, so did his appetite for controversy at a worse level than Naira Marley’s. One most days between June 2018 to November 2018, the questions was ‘What is 6ix9ine going to do?’
He stared feuds with ordinary and gangster rappers. He moved with Bloods and Crips like it was ordinary while confidently issuing a call to America to “test my gangster.” He was a defiant machinery of recklessness and made the conversation about everything else but the music.
Even worse, he reveled in the attention and somewhere, he probably felt like the controversy drove his music. Maybe it did, but that strategy was never going to last long. The self-acclaimed hottest rapper in New York at the time was so preoccupied with vanity that his soaring career was suffering and he didn’t even notice.
Coca Vision: 6IX9INE
On a show, one of the many veteran rappers who warned 6ix9ine to calm down was Fat Joe. He lectured Tekashi of how American Law enforcement enjoyed making scapegoats of rappers but Tekashi did not listen. By this time, he was allegedly rolling with Nine Trey Gangsters, a violent sect of the Bloods street gang.
Even though he had allegedly cut ties with the sect by the time he got arrested, Federal Law Enforcement found enough evidence to make him complicit throughout the time he was involved with the sect.
6IX9INE: THE MOVIE | The Rise & Fall of Tekashi 6ix9ine
He has since been incarcerated since November 2018.
Arrest and arraignment
Naira Marley was arrested alongside four others on Friday, May 10, 2019. While the other four were released after five days, Marley was charged to the Federal High Court on alleged credit card fraud. Earlier today, he was arraigned in court where he pled not guilty to all 11 counts of fraud.
EFCC parades Naira Marley, Zlatan and others over Internet fraud allegations [LindaIkeji]
His bail hearing was also adjourned till May 30, 2019.
On his part and upon his arrest, 6ix9ine was charged with federal RICO and firearms offences, including conspiracy to murder and armed robbery. He faces up to life in prison. His bail application was denied by the Judge who felt him a danger to the community.
On February 1, 2019, he pled guilty to nine charges and faces up to 47 years in prison. On February 16, a document revealed the possibility of 6ix9ine being released if he testifies against his gang members.
Brothers in clout-chasing
In both cases lies two young men basking in ignorance and the infectiousness of social media without understanding the power it wields. For both Naira Marley and Tekashi 6ix9ine, social media was their greatest tool and it was also the greatest loudspeaker for the infamy they both perpetrated.
While 6ix9ine’s case is much greater, there are parallels in both cases that point to how both young men ruined themselves with the vanity and clout that only social media can provide. Even worse, they ignorantly kept at their respective actions while their hands were seemingly not clean and while Law enforcement could easily ties both of them to crimes.

On his path, 6ix9ine lost shows and endorsements. He fell from the very top of virality. On his part, Naira Marley seemed an endorsement inevitability before this madness. Now, no company that values its image in this woke world will touch him with a 100-foot pole, lest it risks a boycott.
The borderline is how clout-chasing and thirst for popularity and virality can wrongly impact you. Naira Marley expected his Instagram post that drew inference between slavery and internet fraud to blow up. I wager that it was a calculated effort to get him back into conversations.
That happened, and like 6ix9ine, he milked it. He created a storm from an harmless situation with singer, Simi. He kept having Instagram Live sessions and unrepentantly stuck to his guns and kept attacking his detractors.
YG Co-Signs The Game Message To Tekashi 6ix9ine
For 6ix9ine, he probably felt he was bringing the 90’s back to Hip-Hop. His video sets were shot up by goons, he was creating problems with gangsters in Houston, Texas. At one point, it became apparent that nobody could be that troublesome, and that he intentionally fed the beast of social media which came back to bite him.
In this age and era, publicity is good, but you cannot put excessive focus on publicity and clout over your career. It’s good to not get too addicted to keep milking that avenue.
Even worse, they both underestimated the Law and its tendency to scapegoat. Their lives are now a cautionary tale on what to and what not to do.
#NairaMarley allegedly released on bail
Like that was not enough, a video of Naira Marley seemingly hanging with his friends has since surfaced on the internet. At a time when attention is on him, why he chose pointless defiance again, over a simple low profile is beyond everyone.
Even if the police gave him time to hang with friends and family, why did a footage have to end up on social media where he sent defiant subs to the EFCC?
In the end, this is a lesson on the perils on social media, clout-chasing and the addictive nature of it all. The fake adulation from like-minded people will only make clout-chasing worthwhile for a minute, it is not value.
People should learn from Tekashi 6ix9ine and Naira Marley.

The audience of Game of Thrones has reacted to the last episode which aired on Sunday night, May 19, 2019.
After a historic 73 episodes, 8 seasons, numerous and memorable characters, Game of Thrones has come to an end.
The TV show lasted eight whole years and the audience have been thrilled, saddened and awed at the plot, characters and interesting scenes from the 73 episodes.
While some have praised the producers for a job well done, others have criticised the last episode and the entire Season 8 saying it was rushed.

Teebillz drags Ruggedman on Instagram over Naira Marley’s arrest.
Teebillz has joined the list of people who have called out Ruggedman since the arrest of Naira Marley.
The music executive made his frustrations known on Monday, May 20, 2019, via his Instagram page. Teebillz prayed that Naira Marley is able to weather the storm as he goes through his court charges. He then took a swipe at Ruggedman over his comments on Naira Marley prior to his arrest.
“May the grace of God be sufficient for the needs of this talented young man during his trials…… we all make mistakes and my personal take is that most of this young guys don’t know better and I feel it’s our obligation as the older ones to put them right instead of just calling them out on social media for unnecessary validation! OG Rugged Man, I hope you can do that shit privately next time sir! I know you don’t want that smoke with me, bro, if you take my message the other way bros!” he wrote.
May the grace of God be sufficient for the needs of this talented young man during his trials…… we all make mistakes and my personal take is that most of this young guys don’t know better and I feel it’s our obligation as the older ones to put them right instead of just calling them out on social media for unnecessary validation! DON’T CONDOLE FRAUD OR IGNORANCE!!!
Teebillz’ statement is coming on the heels of Naira Marley’s arraignment before a court where he is being charged for Internet fraud.
The presiding Judge concluded that Naira Marley should be remanded in prisons custody until May 30th 2019 [PULSE]
However, Ruggedman has come out times without number to deny any involvement in Naira Marley’s present ordeal.
All You Need to Know About Naira Marley’s Court Hearing
Ruggedman says he has nothing to do with Naira Marley’s arrest
For those who think Ruggedman has anything to do with Naira Marley’s arrest, he wants them to desist from making that assumption [Instagram/Ruggedman]
For those who think Ruggedman has anything to do with Naira Marley’s arrest, he wants them to desist from making that assumption. The veteran rapper released a statement on his Instagram page on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, where he debunked the news going around that he was involved in the arrest of Naira Marley by the EFCC after their online beef a few weeks ago. 
According to him, even though he said he was happy Naira Marley was arrested, the reason for that statement was because of the reawakening such actions would indicate to young Nigerians who want to get involved in cyber fraud.
EFCC arrest Naira Marley
EFCC parades Naira Marley, Zlatan and others over Internet fraud allegations [LindaIkeji]
Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley was arrested by men of the EFCC on Friday, May 10, 2019, over his alleged involvement in Internet fraud. He was paraded alongside music star, Zlatan and three others.
Naira Marley broke the Internet a few weeks ago when he made comments suggestive of his sympathy towards Internet fraudsters popularly known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo Boys.’ There were divergent views over his comments from Nigerians and even among celebrities. Even though he went on to explain the reason behind his comments, many felt he was only trying to save his face.

Watch Wizkid and Tiwa Savage show us another definition of Public Display of Affection.
The video of Wizkid and Tiwa Savage all loved up and playing around is the cutest youd see on social media today.
In a video which has now gone viral on social media, Wizkid and Tiwa Savage are seen chilling at an undisclosed place somewhere on the island in Lagos. Just in case you doubt this video, take a visit to both Wizkid and Tiwa Savage’s Instagram stories and you’d have this equation solved.
A close look at the video and you see Wizkid tapping Tiwa Savage’s bum in a playful manner and she kinda loved the gesture. Don’t we all love it when we see Tiwa Savage and Wizkid hangout together? 
Playful superstars 😆 #TiwaSavage #Wizkid
www.bellanaija.com
Even though the relationship between these two is yet to be defined, they always keep giving us the vibes that there might be something going on between them. This isn’t the first time we’ve been lucky to see Tiwa Savage and Wizkid all loved up in a video or photo.
The O2 arena scene
Tiwa Savage and Wizkid
Back in 2018, Wizkid got everyone talking when he shutdown O2 Arena in London where he performed to a 20,000 crowd. While we were still shocked at his capacity to sell out an auditorium that big, something more magical happened.
The music star during his electrifying performance, he stopped the show midway to bring Mummy Jam Jam on stage to perform their hit collaboration song, ‘Malo.’ It wasn’t the normal introduction of a co-star, as the singer called Tiwa Savage “Someone special” which got a lot of cheers from the crowd. He also added, “Stay sexy for daddy.”
The golden ‘Kiss’ at GidiFest
Just when we thought it was going to be the usual collaboration, as usual, the unexpected happened as Wizkid drew Tiwa Savage close to himself and gave her a very cute kiss on her chin!
If you missed any of the signs of the possible relationship between Wizkid and Tiwa Savage then let’s take you back to GidiFest which took place back in on Easter Friday, March 30, 2018, where all party lovers and Lagos ballers where in attendance to celebrate one of the biggest events of the year.
Among the music stars who turned up to perform on stage were Tiwa Savage and Wizkid. First to come on stage was Tiwa Savage who looked sexy as usual and was later joined on stage by Wizkid which received a lot of cheers for the fans.