Olu Jacobs: Nollywood Says Goodbye to a Legend

Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs has been laid to rest in Lagos, bringing to a close the formal funeral ceremonies for one of the most recognisable figures in Nigerian theatre and film.

Jacobs’ funeral service was held today, Friday, October 2, at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki, Lagos, where family members, friends, colleagues and dignitaries gathered to pay their final respects. He was subsequently buried at a private cemetery in Lagos.

Among those who attended were Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and several prominent Nollywood actors.

A final farewell to a five-decade career

The funeral comes just two days after a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held at Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos. The event brought together some of the biggest names in Nigerian entertainment, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Kate Henshaw and others.

Colleagues reflected on Jacobs’ influence not only as an actor but as someone who helped shape Nigerian theatre and film over several decades.

His career extended beyond Nollywood. Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and worked in British theatre and television before returning to Nigeria, where he became one of the defining figures of the country’s entertainment industry.

He and his wife, actress Joke Silva, also established the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the development and training of performers in Nigeria.

An emotional moment at the funeral

One of the notable moments during today’s service was a performance by singer Dare Art Alade, who sang Pray for Me. The song has a particularly personal connection to the Jacobs family because the late actor and Joke Silva appeared in it.

Jacobs’ son, Olugbenga Jacobs, also presented his father’s biography during the funeral proceedings.

These moments have been circulating online as Nigerians revisit Jacobs’ work and his relationship with Joke Silva.

More than the death of an actor

There is something significant about the way Nigerians have responded to Olu Jacobs’ death.

For many people, he was not simply another celebrity. His career crossed several generations. Older Nigerians encountered him through theatre and television; later generations knew him through Nigerian cinema and Nollywood.

His career also represents an important part of Nigeria’s transition from traditional theatre and television into the modern film industry. That is why the tributes have gone beyond remembering particular films. People are talking about professionalism, training, longevity, theatre, mentorship and the evolution of Nigerian storytelling.

Jacobs’ life also reminds us that the Nigerian creative industry was built by some people long before Nollywood became the globally recognised brand it is today.

Joke Silva and the final farewell

The funeral has also brought renewed attention to Joke Silva, who was Jacobs’ wife and professional collaborator for decades.

The couple’s partnership was part of their public story, but the family had asked the public and media to respect their privacy during the mourning period. That makes it important to distinguish the family’s public tributes from the many private stories and speculations circulating online.

What is established is that Joke Silva and the family have now said their final public farewell to Jacobs.

His legacy

Olu Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His death brought to an end a career spanning more than five decades across theatre, television and film.

He received several honours during his career, including the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

But perhaps his most enduring legacy is less easily measured. It is found in the actors who watched him and learned from him; in the audiences who grew up watching his performances; and in the Nigerian creative industry that he helped build.

Today, the performances have stopped, the tributes have ended, and Olu Jacobs has been laid to rest.

But the work remains.

And that may be one of the greatest things an actor can leave behind.