Olu Jacobs: Nigeria’s creative community pays tribute as Nollywood star takes a bow

By Godwin Okondo

THE curtain has fallen on one of Africa’s most celebrated actors, Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, who died peacefully on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His death marks the end of an extraordinary career that spanned theatre, television and film, and helped shape the development of Nigeria’s modern entertainment industry. Revered across generations as the “Lion of Lufodo” and one of the foundational figures of Nollywood, Jacobs leaves behind a legacy defined by artistic discipline, commanding stage presence and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

The news of his death immediately triggered an outpouring of tributes from across Nigeria’s creative sector, with cultural and professional bodies describing his departure as the loss of a towering figure whose influence extended across theatre, television and film.

The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), in a condolence message to the family, described Jacobs as a man who “bestrode the earth like a colossus”, leaving behind legacies that would continue to reverberate within the Nigerian creative ecosystem and beyond. The organisation also highlighted the humility he radiated in his relationships with colleagues, associates and younger members of the profession, describing the combination of his exceptional qualities, carriage and humility as a rare endowment.

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), in its tribute, described Jacobs as a titan of Nigerian and African cinema and theatre, noting that his rich, booming voice, impeccable diction and unmatched gravitas set a high standard for acting across the continent. The board said his contribution went beyond individual performances to elevating the cultural prestige of Nigerian film and demonstrating that Nigerian stories deserved to occupy the grandest stages.

The Federal Government also mourned Jacobs’ death, with the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy describing his passing as a monumental loss to the nation and the entire creative industry.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Nneka Anibeze, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa described Jacobs as “not just an actor” but “a national institution” and one of the most important pillars of Nigeria’s entertainment industry. Musawa said that for more than five decades, Jacobs’ voice, presence and craft had given life to Nigerian stories and dignity to the country’s creative industry.

She also pointed to his contribution beyond acting, particularly through the Lufodo Academy, which, according to the minister, trained hundreds of actors, directors and filmmakers who have gone on to play leading roles in Nollywood. Yet, Jacobs’ legacy extended beyond his performances.

His personal and professional life was closely intertwined with that of veteran actress Joke Silva, whom he married in 1989. Together, they became one of the most prominent couples in Nigeria’s creative industry.

Their partnership extended into institution-building through the establishment of the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts. Through these platforms, they invested in the development of emerging talent, providing training and mentorship to actors, directors and other members of the production community.

Jacobs was not merely a performer but also a mentor and custodian of professional standards within the Nigerian entertainment industry. His influence was consequently felt not only through the characters he portrayed but also through the practitioners he inspired, trained and mentored.

Olu Jacobs

The National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) described his passing as “the loss of one of our own”, stressing his role in connecting the discipline of Nigeria’s old theatre tradition with the possibilities of modern screen storytelling.

According to NANTAP, Jacobs belonged to a generation of practitioners who demonstrated that Nigerian stories could travel, Nigerian talent could command international respect, and the country’s theatre and screen arts could stand confidently among the best anywhere in the world.

The Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) also mourned Jacobs as one of Nigeria’s greatest theatre artists, recalling how he performed on what Shakespeare described as the world stage with passion, conviction, dexterity and brilliance.

His contributions earned him numerous honours during his lifetime. In 2011, the Nigerian government conferred on him the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). He also received the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, as well as several lifetime achievement recognitions from cultural and entertainment organisations in Nigeria and abroad.

His death has consequently reverberated across an industry in which his influence extended well beyond the roles he played on screen. For colleagues and protégés, Jacobs represented a generation of performers who carried the traditions of professional theatre into Nigeria’s rapidly growing film industry.

For NANTAP, his legacy is not limited to the characters he portrayed but also to the example he set through training, discipline, perseverance, collaboration and devotion to the performing arts.

The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, on behalf of the Federal Government and the creative community, also extended its condolences to Dame Joke Silva, Jacobs’ children and other members of the family.

He is survived by his wife, Joke Silva, his children and a vast community of colleagues, protégés and admirers around the world. As tributes continue to emerge from across the entertainment and cultural sectors, the family has appealed to the public and the media to respect its privacy as it mourns the veteran actor.

For generations of viewers, however, Olu Jacobs will remain present in the characters he created and the performers he inspired. His voice, bearing and unmistakable screen presence have become part of the history of Nigerian cinema. The Lion of Lufodo may have taken his final bow, but the legacy of Olu Jacobs remains firmly etched in the story of African theatre, television and film.