The death of Nollywood star Alexx Ekubo last week, following a private, courageous battle with advanced metastatic kidney cancer at the age of 40, has deeply shaken the Nigerian entertainment industry.
The reality of this has hit some of his close friends. Among the most heartbroken is his longtime friend, actor and media personality Uti Nwachukwu. Uti shared a deeply emotional, raw tribute on social media expressing his shock, anger, and the heavy grief of losing someone he considered his first best friend in the industry.
”It Felt Like You Were Sleeping,” Uti penned his state of mind.
”I still cannot put my thoughts together. I am angry. I am devastated. I am sad. I am confused. I am drained. You were my best friend for years. Alexx! Na so? It felt like you were sleeping. I felt like if I tapped your shoulder, you would laugh and wake up and say, ‘Psyche! See how una dey cry!’ And then we’d all laugh and say, ‘Don’t try this nonsense again, oh!” Uti lamented.
Uti noted that Alexx’s signature smile, even in death, provided him with a small sense of solace that his friend was finally in a better, peaceful place.
Uti and Alexx’s friendship dates back to the very beginning of their careers in the early 2010s, right as Uti was fresh off his Big Brother Africa win and Alexx was transitioning from his Mr Nigeria runner-up success into mainstream acting. Over the years, they were an inseparable duo at events, which often made them targets of intense public scrutiny and media rumours.
He recalled their early years together, their travels, family visits, celebrating new jobs and devices, and reaching new heights in the industry.
Uti explicitly addressed the online bullying and relentless trolling that Alexx faced throughout his life. He admitted he had to hold himself back from publicly slamming critics, reminding himself that Alexx always chose peace over conflict.
Uti concluded his tribute by admitting that he is nowhere near okay and doesn’t quite know how to process the loss of a younger brother figure.
”Nobody will ever understand the brotherhood we shared… I miss you, my friend. I miss you. You were the younger bro and my first best friend in the industry. I am not okay. How am I supposed to say goodbye?”
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