Alex Ekubo: Names of Nigerian actors, singers that died from cancer
Nigerian Entertainment Industry Mourns Loss of Notable Figures to Cancer
The Nigerian entertainment sector has endured significant losses in recent years, as numerous prominent singers and actors have succumbed to cancer. While some entertainers have publicly shared their struggles with the illness, others chose to keep their battles private until their passing.
The rise in cancer cases among these figures has sparked considerable discussion online.
One of the most recent and shocking fatalities is that of Alex Ekubo, a well-known Nollywood actor, who reportedly died on May 11, 2026, due to complications from kidney cancer.
The industry also mourned the loss of veteran actor Tom Njemanze, who passed away from prostate cancer on July 18, 2025, shortly after publicly seeking financial assistance for urgent surgery.
Ify Onwuemene, known for her role in “Everyday People,” lost her battle with stage 4 endometrial cancer on May 25, 2021. Throughout her struggle, she underwent eight sessions of chemotherapy and ultimately had a hysterectomy before her death.
Aishat Abimbola, popularly known as Omoge Campus, died in Canada on May 15, 2018, after fighting breast cancer.
Doris Chima, another seasoned actress and former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria’s Lagos State chapter, died in August 2021 following complications related to breast cancer.
Actor Karibi Fubara passed away in December 2021 from a kidney tumor. His death came a year after he survived surgery to remove a significant portion of the tumor.
Reggae icon Majek Fashek, known as Majekodunmi Fasheke, succumbed to esophageal cancer in June 2020.
Sonny Okosun, the renowned musician and political activist, passed away from colon cancer on May 24, 2008, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 61.
Nigerian gospel singer Aduke Gold died from cervical cancer on August 11, 2024, at the University College Hospital in Ibadan.
Finally, Olanrewaju Fasasi, widely recognized as Sound Sultan, passed away in the United States on July 11, 2021, at the age of 44 after battling a rare form of blood cancer known as Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
The losses have highlighted the impact of cancer on the entertainment community and raised awareness of its prevalence among public figures.
