By Aderinola Abimbola

The tragic demise of popular Nigerian actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has brought an end to the remarkable journey of a Nollywood icon whose legendary career is sure to leave an indelible mark on Yoruba cinema.

Ogogo, born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State, grew up in a family deeply rooted in heritage and Yoruba culture. Before becoming an household name, the actor trained and worked as a mechanic and a civil servant.

His early career which started off after training in automobile engineering at a technical college in Lagos, eventually took him to work at the Lagos State Water Corporation.

Ogogo’s passion and relationship with acting began during his time at the Lagos State Water Corporation. He once revealed during an interview that although he did not study theatre arts, he received practical training under theatre practitioner Awo Ademola Fagbemi and learnt the craft through stage performances.

Because his family was deeply rooted in Yoruba culture, he grew up familiar with praise poetry and chanting. That ability went on to become particularly useful when he joined the theatre world.

He got his first major opportunity through a stage production at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos, in the 1980s. This new and exciting experience stirred the fire within his heart for the art and it became more than a passing interest.

Ogogo then went on to join the Awo Fabunmi Theatre Company and began appearing in stage productions.

Although the Nigerian film industry had not yet become the enormous commercial machine it would later become, in 1994, the actor made the difficult decision of choosing acting over job security, deciding to quit his job at the Water Corporation after 13 years of service.

He then became associated with actors like Yinka Quadri, Abbey Lanre and Rasaq Ajao. They eventually formed a popular group known as the Odunfa Caucus. This group became an important part of the development of Yoruba home-video production.

One of the members, Yinka Quadri, once spoke about how Ogogo and other notable actors came together to form their own theatre group.

For many Nigerians, the name ‘Ogogo’ was just a nickname. However, to the actor, it was more than that. Hassan Taiwo once revealed that the name ‘Ogogo’ came from his family’s praise name. He explained that father’s family Oriki included “Ogogo Omo Akulodo Aringini,” and the name eventually became inseparable from his professional identity.

His career grew beyond acting as he also worked as a producer, director and screenwriter, building a legacy that stretched across several decades. His role in Kunle Afolayan’s Aníkúlápó as Alaafin Ademuyiwa brought his work to a new generation of viewers, extending his visibility beyond just Yoruba movie lovers.

The unfortunate news of his passing was announced by his daughter in an emotional video, days after the family publicly disclosed his stage-four cancer diagnosis and appealed for medical assistance.