The month is still fresh, but there are already headliners. Here is a pick of top moviedom players who trended during the week.
Hurray! Charles Olumo Aka ‘Agbako’ Is A Centenarian
Recall a screen character called Charles Olumo or Agbako for short. Remember him? Oh, just flip back to the glory days of Nigerian cinema and movies. Olumo, a stern-looking skinny fellow was always a devious character in most movies that he featured in. In most cases, he was usually the character that would be sent to behead and clean people out in movies. Yes, that is Agbako! That’s him. The Living Screen And Stage Acting Legend whose real name is Abudusalam Sanyaolu turned 100-year-old last Sunday, and garlands have been pouring in from home and abroad for the veteran who earned the alias Agbako for his roles in Yoruba language movies. On the day he turned 100, Pa Olumo’s younger colleagues took to their social media handles to celebrate the Ogun State-born actor, who disclosed that he began acting in 1953 at The Apostolic Church, in the Mushin area of Lagos State. Notable actresses including Foluke Daramola, who has kept in touch with the centenarian through a foundation she set up to care for veteran actors shared a picture of the actor and wrote: “Happy 100 years birthday to my papa, and my prayer warrior grandpa. May God bless you and bless your new age sir. You know I love you dearly, Sir.”
In another Instagram post she made the next day, the actress wrote: “Still celebrating Baba Charles Olumo. My gist partner, one that will call me at least once a week, and will still be advising me like a 16-year-old. I once asked him how it feels to be a 100-year-old, and he said that he doesn’t feel differently from when he was 20. I laughed my heart out. But Papa as I call you, you are indeed a strong man. May God continue to bless you and bless your new age.”
Star of Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin’s Ireke Onibudo a film on celluloid released in 1986, the actor in a short inaudible message to mark his birthday anniversary admonished younger colleagues to draw their strength from God because, like him, their strength should lie in God and not man. “What has kept me is the absolute faith that I have in God and probably because I acknowledge the fact that my strength lies in God. Outside that, I eat natural food and take a lot of local herbs, and that has helped in keeping me healthy, although there is no life keeper like Allah. But I am happy and I thank Allah for sparing my life,” he said.
Olu Jacobs Of Moviedom is 81
GARLANDS also poured in for veteran actor Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs who turned 81, on July 11.
Popular as Olu Jacobs, friends, colleagues both young and old took to their social media handles to celebrate the accomplished actor and recipient of the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) award, a few seconds after his adorable wife, Ajoke Silva Jacobs, shared a post where she announced that the actor of innumerable credit, whose skills and stagecraft has lifted him to the enviable status of a world-class actor had turned 81. “Showboy…Happy birthday dearest as you add plus 1 @_olujacobs. God is good…always. Sir Js fans have been celebrating his birthday since May Note …today is the official day 11th July,” she wrote and clarified.
Notable actor and recently appointed a voting member of The Academy Awards, otherwise called the Oscars, Richard Mofe Damijo, was the first to write a terse message in the comment section of the post by Ajoke Jacobs. RMD as the actor is called for short wrote: “Happy birthday pathfinder. My knees are on the ground. Because you are, I am.”
A native of Abeokuta in Ogun State, Uncle Olu as younger colleagues simply refers to the veteran actor trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, and he has an extensive record of practice in England before returning to Nigeria in the 1980s to further his career.
Since he returned home, Olu who is married to the award-winning and celebrated stage and screen actress Ajoke Silva, has featured in countless stage, television, and movie productions.
Lights Out For Beloved Nollywood Actress Cynthia Okereke
NOTABLE Nollywood actress Cynthia Okereke, who was taken captive by kidnappers last year reportedly passed on last Wednesday. Aged 63, the news of her passing was shared by filmmaker Joseph Okechukwu who had mentioned that he was planning to pay for Cynthia’s flight ticket to the United States for a movie shoot. Sharing her photo, Okechukwu wrote: “Rest in peace, Nwanyi Oma.
I am shattered beyond words. The fact that I was about to pay for your flight ticket to come finish what we started only to hear that you have gone to be with the Lord, just last night is one of the toughest things I have ever had to deal with in recent times. I pray I can recover from this shock. Life is just a mist. One minute you have it, the next you don’t.’
A native of Enugu, in Enugu State, Okereke’s filmography includes an impressive performance in Osuofia in London (2003), its sequel, Osuofia in London (2004), A Fool At 40 (2004), Reggae Boys, Nwando, The God to Serve, Where Oceans Touch, Where Oceans Touch 2, Wisdom of the Gods, among others.
Segun Arinze, Wife, Julie Mark Wedding Anniversary
POPULAR actor, Segun Arinze and his adorable wife Julie marked their 15th marriage anniversary on Wednesday. There was no party, just a photo shoot and prayers to mark the anniversary of their journey as man and wife. In a message, he shared on his social media handles, the actor and current President of the Association of Voice Over Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA) wrote:
“Please join us in prayers and thanking God. Still basking in the glory and grace of God Almighty. Fifteen amazing years and it continues till eternity. Thank you, Jesus.”
The couple tied the knot in 2008, and their marriage is blessed with three children.
