Veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, Ogogo, will be buried in Ilaro 36 years after he led oríkì chants at theatre legend Hubert Ogunde’s burial
36 Years After Leading Ogunde’s Burial Chants, Ogogo Takes Final Bow
Thirty-six years after helping lead the oríkì chants at the burial of Yoruba theatre legend Hubert Ogunde, veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, will on Monday take his own final bow in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State.
Ogogo died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, bringing to an end a career that spanned more than four decades and cemented his place as one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba theatre and cinema.
His burial arrangements, announced by veteran actor Jide Kosoko, include a lying-in-state at 11:00 a.m. at the Pavilion, Ilaro, while Islamic burial prayers will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground.
The circumstances surrounding his final journey have drawn particular attention because of a striking connection to the burial of Ogunde in May 1990.
During the theatre icon’s burial rites, Ogogo was among the foremost chanters who rendered oríkì and dirges in honour of Ogunde. The procession was led by Dr Ishola Ogunsola, popularly known as I-Show Pepper, who died on December 28, 1992.
More than three decades later, Ogogo, who once used his voice to honour one of the giants of Yoruba theatre, is himself being mourned as a legend of the industry.
The parallel has resonated strongly among his colleagues and cultural observers, who have described his death as the closing of another chapter in the history of Yoruba theatre and film.
Ogogo amassed more than 300 film credits as an actor, producer and director during a career that stretched across four decades. His performances and distinctive presence made him one of the most visible figures in Yoruba cinema.
In the weeks leading up to his death, his daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, disclosed that the actor was battling stage-four cancer and appealed for financial assistance towards his medical treatment.
Tributes have since poured in from across the country and beyond, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar describing Ogogo as an entertainer whose talent went beyond comedy and performance.
Atiku said the actor “brought laughter into countless homes” and “used his talent not only to entertain but also to educate and inspire social rebirth.”
As Ogogo is laid to rest in Ilaro, the symbolism of his final journey is difficult to miss. The voice that once rose in oríkì for Ogunde at a burial ground in 1990 has, 36 years later, fallen silent, leaving behind a legacy that will endure in Yoruba theatre, film and popular culture.
