By OBI DAVIES

Olu Jacobs: Nollywood Loses ‘Lion of Lufodo’ at 84

VETERAN Nigerian actor Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.

His wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, and their son announced his death on Wednesday 16 September 2026.

The family described Jacobs as the “Lion of Lufodo” and said he died after a life devoted to the arts.

“It is with gratitude to God for a life well lived and fought, that we announce the passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather and uncle,” the family said in its announcement.

The statement carried Jacobs’ dates of birth and death as 11 July 1942, and 16 September 2026.

The family also appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect its privacy as it mourns.

A Career That Crossed Borders

Jacobs leaves behind a career that spanned more than five decades across theatre, television and film.

Born in Northern Nigeria to an Egba family from Ogun State, he grew up in Kano. His interest in acting developed after he watched a performance by legendary theatre practitioner Hubert Ogunde.

That experience inspired him to pursue theatre professionally.

Jacobs later travelled to Britain, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, one of the world’s respected institutions for dramatic arts.

During the 1970s and 1980s, he built a career in British theatre and television.

He appeared in productions such as The Tomorrow People, The Professionals and Till Death Us Do Part. He also featured in international films, including The Dogs of War, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend and Roman Polanski’s Pirates.

He eventually returned to Nigeria in the 1990s and became one of the defining figures in the country’s emerging film industry.

A Pillar of Nollywood

Jacobs brought extensive stage and international screen experience to Nigerian cinema.

With his commanding presence, rich voice and distinctive diction, he became one of the most recognisable actors of his generation.

He appeared in more than 120 films, including Oloibiri, Adesuwa, Dry and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel.

He also became strongly associated with the portrayal of kings and other authority figures in Nollywood.

His performances gave the “Igwe” archetype a distinctive presence and helped make him a familiar figure to audiences across Nigeria and beyond.

Beyond acting, however, Jacobs contributed to the development of the industry itself.

Building With Joke Silva

Jacobs’ relationship with Joke Silva extended beyond marriage.

Together, they built one of Nigeria’s most prominent entertainment partnerships.

The couple founded the Lufodo Group, which has interests in film production, distribution and the performing arts.

They also established the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, creating a platform for training emerging actors and other professionals in the creative industry.

Through these institutions, Jacobs and Silva contributed to professional training and the development of a new generation of performers.

Jacobs was also widely regarded as a mentor and father figure to younger actors.

His influence therefore extended beyond the films in which he appeared.

Recognition & Honours

His contribution to African cinema earned him several major honours.

He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007.

In 2011, he received the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR.

He also received the AMVCA Industry Merit Award in 2013 and the Africa Movie Academy Award Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

In 2021, the Africa International Film Festival honoured him with its Globe Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.

Together, the recognitions reflected a career that had moved from British theatre and television to the centre of Nigeria’s film industry.

Years Away From the Spotlight

Jacobs spent much of his later years away from public view as health challenges affected his appearances.

His wife had previously spoken publicly about his health condition, including dementia with Lewy bodies.

His health also became the subject of repeated false death reports.

In June 2024, Silva dismissed another report of his death, confirming that he was alive.

Those rumours eventually gave way to the family’s confirmation on September 16, 2026.

A Legacy Beyond the Screen

Olu Jacobs’ death closes a major chapter in Nigeria’s entertainment history.

For more than five decades, he worked across theatre, television and film while also contributing to the professional development of the industry.

His influence reached actors, directors, producers and students who encountered his work or benefited from institutions he helped build.

His performances also helped establish a distinctive standard of authority and professionalism on Nigerian screens.

As Nollywood mourns, Jacobs leaves behind not only an extensive body of work but also a professional legacy built with his wife, Joke Silva, through Lufodo and its performing arts initiatives.

The “Lion of Lufodo” is gone, but the work he helped build continues to shape Nigeria’s creative industry.