NOLLYWOOD STARS EULOGISE DEAD COLLEAGUE

The Nigerian movie industry, otherwise known as Nollywood, has again been thrown into another round of mourning following the death of one of their talented colleagues, Francis Agu.

The actor died two Fridays ago a few weeks after another prolific script writer and director, Paul 'Ebereonwu' Obinali, also met his untimely death in an auto crash.

Now, the ultimate question on the lips of the make-believe personalities is: "Why has death pitched its tent in the industry?"

Not too long ago, the industry lost a multi-talented actor and song writer, J.T. Tom West.

Speaking with NollywoodReel on the series of tragedies that have hit Nollywood, particularly the recent death of Ebereonwu, versatile actor, Ernest Obi, noted that, “Ebereonwu was like you and I. And I always tell people that he is a spirit embodied in the flesh of a human.

"He was not the kind of person who was proud. He held strongly to whatever he believed in. And that is what makes a man.

"We will miss him not only because he was a producer or director, but because he was a unique person. These are the kinds of things that happen and you tend to ask God: 'Why?'”

Popular script writer, Emeka Obasi, described his late colleague as a “great director, script writer and a great poet of his time.

"When I heard the news of his death from my friend Dickson Iroegbu, I wept like a baby. I respected him so much because he was one of the most creative persons we have in this industry.”

And for the National Secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Acho Ugenyi, Ebereonwu was simply a rare gem whose vacuum will be seriously felt in Nollywood.

According to award-winning producer/director, Dickson Iroegbu, who is also the chairman of the burial committee of the deceased, a wake-keep ceremony will be held at his Lagos residence on Friday while his final journey home will take place on 3 May in Imo State.

Iroegbu wrote this poem in memory of his senior student at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria:
“The man who lives above fear lives above death
The man who lives above death lives forever
He, the most high!
He alone is above every 'All'
For Ebereonwu
A creative comrade
Tears of your unannounced
Departure still flows.”