Olumide Bakare: Artists mourn

Some artists in Lagos on Saturday expressed shock at the demise of veteran Nollywood actor, Olumide Bakare, aged 64.
They also expressed their sympathies with the family of the deceased actor.
Olumide Bakare died in the early hours of Saturday.
According to media reports, Bakare, who has been sick for more than a year, was discharged from the University College Hospital (UCH) last year after he was allegedly diagnosed with a respiratory disorder problem.
The Ibadan-based actor and former NTA staff, fondly called Chief Koko on the heels of his role in a TV series, ‘Koko Close’ back in the days, had been battling ill-health since 2013.
During his life time as an active actor, he featured in many block-buster movies and soap, notable among them was the popular soap, Papa Ajasco and Company by Wale Adenuga.
The late Bakare also starred in  `Ise onise’ (2009); `Aye Olorogun’ (2007) and `Iboji’ (2008), `Maami’ (2011), `Last flight to Abuja’, `Kofo, the first lady’, `Koboko’ and others.
The deceased was popular for his fatherly roles in many Nollywood movies.
His active career in the movie industry stopped after he took ill in 2013.
He was flown abroad for surgery and returned after, but was never active in the movie industry after.
He appealed to Nigerians in 2016 for financial assistance to treat his illness then having exhausted his savings on medical treatment.
Omatshola Iseli, popularly called Tee-Mac, a renowned musician, expressed shock at the death of Bakare, saying he was not aware that the deceased suffered heart/lungs-related disease for long before his death.
“This is quite shocking to me as I never knew he was ill; I don’t have a personal relationship with him but we met at different gatherings during his life time.
“He took acting seriously while alive; and had left a good legacy and a good name which is better than fortune,” he said.
Miss Ayo Orobiyi, popularly called Adunni Nefretitti,  said that the veteran actor was  an energetic actor, adding that she used to admire his baritone voice.
“It is unfortunate that nobody came to his rescue when he needed financial assistance. I wish him a peaceful rest and I condole with the family the deceased left behind also.
“This is a great loss and I pray God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the folk singer said.
Mr Kehinde Oluwafunsho, the Nigeria representative of The Pan African Historical Theatre Project (PANAFEST) said that the actor was very versatile, having featured in both Yoruba and English movies.
He said Bakare was a successful man who achieved greatly in Nollywood.
“He was a great veteran and good actor; born to do what he did on stage, no stress to get us arrested by his good acting.
“His voice would thunder; his big, wealthy-man posture was without equal in the industry.
“ It will be very difficult to replace this great man, may his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Fred Amata, President, Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), on Saturday said that the death would not stop his legacy from living-on in the minds of people, through the theatre.
Amata said in Lagos that thespians, even after death, were always remembered because of their contributions to the entertainment industry.
“It is sad that we have lost one of our veteran actors in the entertainment industry but we must give glory to God for He is the giver and taker of life.
“Although Bakare is dead, but he will continue to live on through his works and contributions to Nollywood, in the minds of his fans and friends,’’ he said.
Amata condoled with the family of the deceased and prayed that God would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
Emeka Ibeh, President, Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), said, “I really do not know the deceased in person but from his works and contributions to the development of Nollywood, he would be greatly missed by his fans.
“I pray that God grants his family members the strength to bear the loss, at a time like this,” he said.
Ibeh urged thespians in the country to continue to impact positively in the entertainment industry, saying that their good works would definitely outlive them.
Afeez Oyetoro, a Nigerian comic actor popularly known as ‘Saka’, said that Bakare’s death came as a shock to him, although he was aware that the deceased was very sick.
Saka said that Bakare would be greatly missed in the entertainment industry and prayed for the family to have the strength to bear the loss.
Tope Babayemi, Founder, Different Aesthetics, Arts and Culture Management, National Theatre, Lagos, expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased.
Babayemi said that the entertainment industry had lost “yet another veteran actor who had contributed greatly to the popularity of our local innovation through the theatre’’.
Miss Aishat Kazeem, a fashion designer and a fan of Bakare, said that he would be greatly missed because she enjoyed the way he acted his roles in movies, especially Yoruba films.
“Sometimes, when I have a bad day and watch a movie that Bakare features in, it lifts my spirit because he makes me laugh during his presentations,” she added.