‎10 Things To Know About Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’

‎Alhaji Taiwo Babatunde Hassan, widely known by his stage name Ogogo, was a towering figure in Nigerian cinema who embodied principles of honour, dignity, and cultural pride for decades on screen.

‎Here are 10 things to know about the actor who will reportedly be buried on Monday, August 24, 2026, at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground, Ilaro, by 10:00 a.m.

1. Origin & Twin Lineage: Born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State, he hailed from a family with a strong lineage of twins—both his father and grandfather were twins. His name, “Taiwo”, reflects his heritage as the firstborn of a twin pair.

‎2. Background as an Automobile Mechanic: Before becoming a household name, he trained in technical education and worked as an automobile mechanic at the Lagos State Water Corporation for about 13 years before leaving in 1994 to focus fully on acting.

‎ 3. Early Acting Career: He started his acting journey in 1981 under the tutelage of veteran theatre practitioner Chief Afeez Oyetoro and joined the Ademola Group theatre outfit.

‎4. The Origin of “Ogogo”: His famous moniker, Ogogo, stems from a traditional family praise-name (Oriki) associated with his ancestral lineage, which he adopted as his professional identity.

5.‎ Breakout Role in Owo Blow: While already known in stage and Yoruba home video circuits, his performance in Tade Ogidan’s 1996 classic movie Owo Blow elevated him to superstar status in Nollywood.

6.‎ ‎Signature Acting Style: Throughout his career, Ogogo was celebrated for playing calm, principled, authoritative, and morally upright characters, often embodying traditional leadership or noble figures.‎

7. ‎‎Collaboration with Yinka Quadri: He co-founded Odunfa Caucus, a major Yoruba movie industry production group and training platform, alongside his longtime friend and fellow veteran Yinka Quadri.

‎8. ‎ ‎Recent Blockbuster Performances: Even in his later years, he continued to star in hit epic productions, including Kunle Afolayan’s acclaimed Netflix film Aníkúlápó (2022) and its series spin-off Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre (2024), where he played Alaafin Ademuyiwa.

‎9. ‎‎Cultural Advocacy: A devout Muslim and traditionalist at heart, he consistently advocated for using indigenous films to preserve Yoruba heritage, language, and moral values rather than strictly copying Western trends.

10. ‎‎Passing in August 2026: Taiwo Hassan passed away on August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, after a battle with stage-four cancer, leaving behind a profound legacy as one of Nollywood’s most respected icons.

‎