“Olu Jacobs is dead!” The message read.
My heart sank to my stomach, instantly ruining my day. Lord knows I couldn’t bear to lose yet another Nollywood legend. Thankfully, it was just false news. But the death scare had my heart racing and my mind spinning.
Growing up, you watch these actors bring life to their characters on screen, and you make the mistake of believing they’ll be here forever. As you grow older, sadly, your Nollywood icons die one after the other. Now, as an adult, you realise we don’t have that many Nollywood veterans left.
You constantly crave films from the men and women who made you believe in the magic of cinema. Legends like Justus Esiri, Sam Loco Efe, Pete Eneh, Bruno Iwuoha, Ada Ameh, Rachel Oniga, Bukky Ajayi, Victor Olaotan, and Ashley Nwosu. The list goes on, but you can only silently say goodbye to our fallen heroes.
This year alone, we have lost John Okafor (Mr. Ibu) and Amechi Muonagor. Nollywood has been in mourning. God rest their souls.
But with this article, I don’t want to focus on the dead. Let’s pay homage to our living legends. This legend, in particular, Olu Jacobs.
Celebrating Olu Jacobs
Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, a veteran Nollywood actor and film executive, is a pillar of Nollywood, with a career spanning over five decades. He has captivated audiences with his powerful performances and unwavering dedication to his craft. Jacobs has starred in countless films in Nollywood and Hollywood, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and inspiring generations of actors. His talent, charisma, and versatility have earned him numerous awards and accolades, making him one of the most respected and beloved figures in Nigerian cinema. He is even described as one of the godfathers of Nollywood.
To celebrate Olu Jacobs, here are my top 10 favourite Olu Jacobs projects:
1. Eagle’s Bride
2. Oloibiri
3. Potomanto
4. The Antique
5. Keeping Faith: Is that Love?
6. Beauty and The Beast
7. The Royal Hibiscus Hotel
8. Things Fall Apart
9. Adesuwa
10. Darey’s ‘Pray for Me’ – the music video
In a bid to cultivate the culture of celebrating our living legends while we still have the chance, we give flowers to Olu Jacobs and all the other living Nollywood veterans out there. Such as Pete Edochie, Patience Ozokwor, Jide Kosoko, Liz Benson, Nkem Owoh, Joke Silva, and Chinwe Owoh.
Tell me which of the projects on my list you love or comment to add your own Olu Jacobs favorites to the list.
