Enebeli Elebuwa, Sound Sultan, 8 other celebrities who died due to cancer

Nigeria has lost some of its most talented and beloved celebrities to cancer in recent years.

The disease, which is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, has claimed the lives of many famous Nigerians, leaving their fans and loved ones devastated.

From actors to musicians, these stars have left a lasting impact on the Nigerian entertainment industry and beyond.

In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the Nigerian celebrities who died out of cancer and their legacies.

10 celebrities who died due to cancer

1. Sound Sultan

Many Nigerians were thrown into mourning when the death of Olanrewaju Fasasi, the Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter better known as Sound Sultan, was announced.

According to reports, the singer passed away at the age of 44 following a hard-fought battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system.



2. Enebeli Elebuwa

The actor who was known for his exceptional acting skills, passed away in December 2012 after battling with colon cancer. Elebuwa's death was a huge loss to the Nigerian film industry, as he had starred in over 200 movies and had won several awards for his outstanding performances.



3. Tosyn Bucknor

Another notable celebrity who lost the battle to cancer is veteran broadcaster, Tosyn Bucknor.

The popular media personality and On-Air-Personality (OAP) passed away in November 2018 after battling with sickle cell anemia and later breast cancer.

Bucknor was a well-respected figure in the Nigerian media industry, and her death came as a shock to many of her fans and colleagues.



4. Victor Olaiya

Music legend, Victor Olaiya, also died after battling with prostate cancer in February 2020.

The highlife musician was one of Nigeria's most celebrated artistes, and his music had a significant impact on the country's music industry.

Olaiya was known for his hit songs such as "Baby Jowo" and "Omo Pupa," and his legacy continues to live on through his music.



5. Funmilayo Ogunsola

In 2019, popular Nollywood actress, Funmilayo Ogunsola, also known as Ijewuru, passed away after a long battle with cervical cancer.

The actress had been a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry for over two decades and had starred in several movies.



6. Cassandra Gabriel

Nigerian actress Cassandra Gabriel, popularly known as Sisi Caro, died of breast cancer in 2022.

The actress who was more popular playing one of the major roles in AK Media’s television drama, Face-2-Face, died in 2022 after a protracted illness suspected to be breast cancer.



7. Karibi Fubara

Before passing away on December 15, 2021, Karibi Fubara talked about how he learned he had a sizable kidney tumor that was in the middle stage of cancer.

Following his public announcement of the sad news, the actor kept his fans informed on his condition on a regular basis through his Instagram.

Karibi, who married well-known Nollywood stylist and costumier Yolanda Okereke in December 2018, was well-known for his exceptional performances in ‘Smart Money Woman’ which was released in 2021 and ‘God Calling’ also released in 2018.



8. Doris Chima

On August 16, 2021, seasoned Nollywood actress Doris Chima also passed away following a protracted battle with breast cancer.

Chima was a founding member of AGN and the vice-chair of Lagos AGN before to her passing.



9. Taiwo Bello

Nollywood personality Taiwo Bello also succumbed to cancer in 2022. Taiwo was a movie producer and director who co-wrote the movie 'Jenifa' with actress Funke Akindele and produced and directed the 2010 movie, 'Omije Mi'.



10. Yinka Craig

Ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig, who made his name with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) battled to stay alive until September 23, 2008 when he died at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States (U.S.). He received treatment for cancer of the immune system.

Renowned broadcaster Yinka Craig, who rose to prominence with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), fought for his life until passing away at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on September 23, 2008. He underwent treatment for immune system cancer prior to his sudden death.



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