Tragedy hit the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, in the early parts of 2021 as a popular Yoruba actress, Folake Aremu, popularly known as Orisabunmi, is dead. The veteran thespian was 60 years old.
The death of the popular actress came four months after her ex-husband, Jimoh Aliu, aka Aworo passed on. They separated two decades ago.
The Theatre Arts And Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) confirmed the death.
A member, Tunde Ola-Yusuff, expressed grief in a Facebook post, Wednesday morning.
“She left without goodbye. The sudden death of Mrs Folake Aremu (Orisabunmi) has been announced.
“Really a shock on everyone. Iya Oosa, may God rest your soul among the righteous,” he wrote.
Prince Jide Kosoko, who also confirmed her death on Wednesday, expressed grief and prayed to God for the repose of her soul.
Kosoko, who described her death as a terrible blow to the Nigerian theatre industry, also prayed for God to comfort her family members and her loved ones.
He said, “No doubt, Folake was a thoroughbred actress. She was an amazon in the industry and we respected and valued her for her contribution. She gave her all to her career and she was recognised for her worth.”
The President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Bolaji Amusan, popularly called Baba Latin, said Orisabunmi died late Tuesday night.
Her death came months after the demise of her former husband, Jimoh Aliu, popularly called Aworo, under whose tutelage she rose to prominence in the film industry.
Aremu was well known since the 80s for her roles as a priestess, pacifist and the good witch in movies.
Folake was born on October 10, 1960, in Ilu Ola, Kwara State.
She attended Eruku Commercial College, worked as a teacher, and later as a secretary at Sunny Radio in Ilorin, before going into the theatre industry.
