LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Death has continued to cast a dark shadow over Nigeria’s entertainment industry as several beloved actors and musicians lost their lives to different forms of cancer over the years.
From legendary singers who shaped generations with their music to Nollywood stars who became household names on television screens, the industry has repeatedly been thrown into mourning by painful losses that left fans heartbroken across the country.
The recent death of Nollywood actor, model, and all round entertainment star Alex Ekubo, also known as Chief Ikuku, has once again dropped the curtain on the growing number of entertainers who silently battled the deadly disease before passing away.
On this list that features 13 notable entertainers, the stories behind their final moments continue to leave a painful gap that fans still struggle to forget.
1. Alex Ekubo
Nollywood star Alex Ekubo died on May 2026, at the age of 40 after suffering complications linked to kidney cancer.
His death came as a devastating shock to fans and colleagues, especially because he fought his battle privately while staying away from social media and public life.
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His charming personality, strong screen presence, and witty videos have made fans miss him even more.
2. Tom Njemanze
Veteran actor Tom Njemanze died on July 2025, after battling prostate cancer.
The 75-year-old actor’s death became even more heartbreaking because it came only weeks after he publicly appealed for financial assistance to undergo urgent surgery.
3. Ethel Ekpe
Veteran actress Ethel Ekpe, famous for her memorable role in Basi and Company, reportedly died in February 2024 after battling cancer.
The passing of the 60-year-old actress who made many childhood memorable saddened many Nigerians who grew up watching her on television during the golden era of Nigerian entertainment.
4. Stella Ikwuegbu
Nollywood actress Stella Ikwuegbu reportedly lost her battle with leg cancer in June 2024 at the age of 64.
Fans and colleagues mourned the actress, describing her death as another painful reminder of the health struggles many entertainers quietly endure.
5. Baba Olofa Ina
Veteran Yoruba actor Baba Olofa Ina was also reported to have died from cancer-related complications in January 2024 at the age of 73.
His death marked another painful loss for the Yoruba movie industry, where he remained a respected figure for decades.
6. Aduke Gold
Popular gospel singer Aduke Gold died at the age of 37, on August 2024, after battling cervical cancer.
Reports stated that she passed away at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, leaving gospel music fans devastated by the sudden loss.
7. Ify Onwuemene
Nollywood actress Ify Onwuemene, known for her memorable role in hit TV series ‘Everyday People’ died on May 2021, after years of battling stage 4 endometrial cancer. She was 61.
Before her death, she reportedly underwent eight chemotherapy sessions and also had her womb removed during treatment in a desperate fight to survive.
8. Doris Chima
Veteran actress Doris Chima reportedly died in August 2021 from complications linked to breast cancer.
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The actress had previously lost one of her breasts to the disease before her condition worsened and eventually led to her death.
The 63-year-old actress battled the illness bravely for six years before she died.
9. Karibi Fubara
Nollywood actor and producer Karibi Fubara died in December 2021 at age 46, after battling kidney cancer.
A year before his death, the actor underwent surgery that reportedly removed about 90 percent of the tumour in his kidney, giving many fans hope that he would recover.
Sadly, he passed on after a brave fight.
10. Sound Sultan
The death of music icon Sound Sultan, born Olanrewaju Fasasi, broke hearts across Nigeria in 2021.
The singer died in the United States on July 11, 2021, at the age of 44 after battling a rare blood cancer known as Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Many Nigerians described his death as one of the entertainment industry’s most painful losses because of his influence, humility, and socially conscious music that became popular anthems.
11. Majek Fashek
Legendary reggae singer Majek Fashek died in June 2020 at the age of 57, after battling esophageal cancer.
Known for timeless songs that dominated African music for years, the reggae icon left behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians across generations.
12. Aishat Abimbola
Popular Yoruba actress Aishat Abimbola, widely known as Omoge Campus, died in Canada on May 2018, after battling breast cancer.
The 57-year-old actress’s death shocked fans who admired her energetic performances in Yoruba movies.
13. Sonny Okosun
Veteran musician Sonny Okosun died at the age of 61 from colon cancer on May 2008, in Washington, United States.
Beyond music, heremained widely respected for using his voice to speak on political and social issues throughout his career.
The repeated deaths of entertainers from cancer-related illnesses have left a painful void in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Still, fans continue to remember their beloved stars for the legacies they built and the courageous battles they fought against the disease.
In their honor, many still share their pictures, pay tributes during death anniversaries and posthumous birthdays, while their movies and songs continue to keep their memories alive.
