The Yoruba National Community in Italy has mourned the death of veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
In a condolence message signed by its President, Bolaji Adedayo, the community described Hassan as a fearless and principled man who remained a strong ambassador of Yoruba culture throughout his career.
The group said his death was a major loss to Yorubaland, the Nigerian film industry and Yoruba people living abroad.
The community described the late actor as a true “Omoluabi and Akinkanju” who spent more than four decades promoting Yoruba culture through his movies.
It said Hassan did not only act Yoruba culture on screen but also lived by the values he promoted and helped introduce them to audiences around the world.
Hassan died on August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, after battling cancer. His illness became public less than two weeks before his death.
Adedayo said Ogogo was an important link between Yoruba people in Nigeria and those living in the diaspora, especially through his films and portrayal of Yoruba values.
“For us in Italy, he was a connection to home. We watched him all over Italy and felt home,” the statement said.
The community added that the courage and strong character Hassan displayed in his movie roles were also part of his personality in real life.
It said his death had created a big gap in Nigeria’s cultural and entertainment industry, describing him as one of the most recognised faces of Yoruba culture both in Nigeria and abroad.
“We in the diaspora have lost one of the images of culture at home. Nollywood has lost a pillar. Yorubaland has lost a cultural ambassador,” the statement added.
The Yoruba community expressed its condolences to Hassan’s wife, his children, especially his daughters, Haleemah and Kira, and the entire Hassan family of Ilaro, Ogun State.
It also sympathised with the Ogun State Government, traditional rulers, the Yoruba film industry, the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) and the wider Nollywood community.
The group prayed to God to forgive the late actor’s shortcomings and grant him Aljana Firdaus. It also prayed for strength for his family, friends and colleagues to cope with his death.
The community said Hassan’s contribution to the preservation and promotion of Yoruba culture through film would continue to inspire people and remain in the memory of future generations.
