Introduction
Grief is usually private. It’s seen as an intimate, lonely experience shared within families and friends. But for celebrities, mourning often plays out in the spotlight. Fans demand tributes, the press hounds for statements, and every tear becomes news.
In Nigeria, this tension between private pain and public expectation has been on full display in recent years, as Nollywood and the entertainment world have faced a heartbreaking string of losses.
From Wizkid dedicating an album to his late mother, to Davido and Chioma’s unimaginable loss of their son, to Uriel Oputa sparking a national debate about “fake love,” these moments reveal not only how stars grieve but also how Nigerians collectively mirror and process that grief.
Here are ten recent cases that show the fragile dance between public grief and private pain.
1. Wizkid: Honoring His Mother Through Music
When Wizkid’s mother, Jane Dolapo Balogun, passed on August 18, 2023, the Afrobeats star went silent. For months, fans worried as he retreated from social media. Then, in November 2024, he returned with Morayo, his sixth studio album named after his mother’s middle name.
The album became more than music; it was a son’s public eulogy. Nigerians responded by flooding timelines with the hashtag #MamaWiz, sharing prayers, personal stories of losing mothers, and a collective sense of mourning.
2. Davido & Chioma: The Tragic Loss of Ifeanyi Adeleke
On October 31, 2022, Nigeria was shaken by the tragic death of Ifeanyi Adeleke, the three-year-old son of Afrobeats superstar Davido and his partner (now wife) Chioma. Reports said the boy drowned in a swimming pool at the family home in Lagos.
The news spread like wildfire, bringing an avalanche of grief across the country and beyond. Celebrities canceled events, fans flooded social media with prayers, and hashtags like #PrayForDavido trended for days.
Davido and Chioma went silent for weeks, only reappearing months later. When Davido finally addressed the tragedy, he said:
“Stepping away after losing my son and being able to look back into my career, gave me a refocus of how I wanted to move going forward. It changed my life.”
For many Nigerians, Ifeanyi’s death felt personal. Parents saw their own children in him, while fans who had followed his playful moments online grieved like extended family. It was one of those rare instances where the entire nation seemed to pause in collective sorrow.
3. Funke Akindele: The Actress Who “Almost Died” From Grief
When Funke Akindele’s mother, Dr. R. B. Adebanjo-Akindele, died on February 7, 2023, the actress initially bottled up her emotions. Later, she admitted:
“I almost died after my mother’s death. I was bottling everything inside, the pain, the pressure. My heard was aching. It nearly broke me.”
Her honesty resonated with many Nigerians who hide grief behind busy schedules or stoic faces. Funke’s grief became a mirror, validating others who felt suffocated by their own silent mourning.
4. Peju Ogunmola: A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
On September 2, 2025, tragedy struck when veteran actress Peju Ogunmola lost her only son, Oluwasinaayomi. Reports said she was on a film set when the news broke. Shina had just finished NYSC and was stepping into adulthood.
Colleagues like Jide Kosoko, Odunlade Adekola, Toyin Abraham and Adebayo Salami took to social media with tributes.
For Nigerians, especially parents, Peju’s pain was relatable, a reminder that fame offers no shield from life’s cruellest blows.
5. Uriel Oputa and Fabian Adibe: A Family’s Pain Turns Into Debate
When Nollywood veteran Fabian Adibe died peacefully on August 20, 2025, his niece, BBN star Uriel Oputa, mourned openly on Instagram:
“I’m just waiting for the fake love to start… Nobody checked on my uncle when he was alive.”
Her bluntness divided opinions. Actress Etinosa Idemudia fired back:
“His colleagues and fans have every right to show sadness over his passing whether they checked on him or not. Your uncle didn’t check on anyone either when he was strong.”
The exchange sparked days of heated debate about authenticity in public mourning. Nigerians asked: Is it hypocritical to mourn someone publicly if you weren’t present while they lived? Uriel’s grief, while personal, became a national talking point about sincerity, community, and how we show care.
6. Chief Kanran: Yoruba Cinema Bids Farewell
Veteran Yoruba actor Chief Kanran (Segun Remi) passed away on August 15, 2025, at 72. News broke via filmmaker Seun Oloketuyi, and tributes poured in from colleagues and fans.
Clips of his iconic roles resurfaced on Instagram and TikTok, with fans writing: “Baba made my childhood. May his soul rest.” His death reflected how Nigerians preserve cultural memory by replaying art and how grief is sometimes expressed through nostalgia and celebration.
7. Seun Confirm: A Rising Star Lost Too Soon
The industry was hit with another blow just a day earlier, on August 14, 2025, when actor and producer Seun Confirm (Seun Osundiya) died from complications linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Actress Jaiye Kuti wrote:
“Not now lord ! 😭😭😭😭😭Aaah
Odun mi (I’m pained)😭😭😭😭😭 High BPH. May God console your family tor.”
His passing sparked conversations about men’s health and doing regular checkups. In mourning him, Nigerians also turned grief into advocacy.
8. Mike Ejeagha: Farewell to the Gentle Folk Legend
On June 6, 2025, Igbo highlife and folk legend Mike Ejeagha died at 95. Known as the “Gentleman,” his songs were rich in proverbs and moral lessons.
Fans shared clips of his evergreen tracks like Omekagu and Time na Money, flooding timelines with tributes. For many, his passing wasn’t just a death; it was a cultural reckoning. Nigerians mourned by celebrating his wisdom, ensuring his legacy lived on.
9. Kayode Peters: The Mentor Behind the Camera
The death of Kayode Peters on June 28, 2025, in Toronto was a huge blow to Nollywood. Known for Flatmates and 13 Letters, Peters was celebrated not only for his creativity but also for mentoring young filmmakers.
Colleagues described him as “a bridge-builder” and “a silent force behind the industry.”
His grief spilled beyond family to mentees and admirers, showing how celebrity deaths ripple across professional and cultural communities.
10. Sanku: Digital Mourning for a TikTok Star
On September 1, 2025, TikTok comedian Raji Samad Adetola aka Sanku (Mr. Sanku Comedy) reportedly died in a car crash in Ibadan. His sudden death shocked Nigeria’s Gen Z community.
It also struck a chilling note for followers, coming barely 25 days after he released a skit imagining life after death. In the August 4 video, he portrayed himself in heaven lamenting the absence of familiar faces, before urging his partner to head to hell so they could “enjoy life together.” That skit, along with his last post hinting at life’s uncertainties, has since been seen by fans as a farewell.
The digital mourning was swift, massive, and emotional showing how online communities now serve as both obituary and therapy.
The Bigger Picture: Public Mourning as Collective Healing
Across these ten stories, one thread connects them: Nigerians don’t just watch celebrities grieve; they grieve with them. Wizkid’s silence became fans’ silence. Davido and Chioma’s loss turned into nationwide prayer. Funke Akindele’s honesty encouraged others to speak. Uriel Oputa’s anger triggered a nationwide debate. Sanku’s fans turned timelines into shrines.
But this collective mourning comes with tension. Celebrities often feel pressured to “perform” grief, while fans project their own emotions onto public figures. Yet, at its heart, this shared grief serves a purpose. It allows Nigerians to process loss together, finding healing in community.
In the end, grief, whether in the privacy of a home or in the glare of the spotlight reminds us all of our shared humanity. When stars cry, Nigeria cries with them. And when they heal, so does the nation.
