Top Nollywood actor Ayo Akinwale dies, fans and colleagues mourn

The Nigerian movie industry seems to be the worst hit this year as another top actor Ayo Akinwale has been declared dead.

Akinwale, a Yoruba veteran actor, who is also a lecturer at the Department of the Performing Arts at the University of Ilorin, reportedly died on Sunday 13th of September 2020.

Many fans, followers and students of the actor have taken to their various social media page to mourn him, however, not any of them mentioned what led to his sudden demise.

Prof Akinwale had written several books and articles on Theatre Arts in Nigeria.

Some of his publications include; ‘From Compound Space, to the Living Stage’ Nigerian Theatre Journal. Vol. 2, No. 1. (1998); ‘Theatre and Democracy in Nigeria’ Nigerian Theatre Journal. Vol. 6, No. 1, ‘Nigerian Playright’; Zulu Sofola (2005); ‘The Nigerian Theatre and Economic Viability.’ Arts Administration in Contemporary Nigeria; The Nigeria Broadcaster’ Media Nigeria; ‘The Theatre and Nigeria’s New Democratic Environment: A Sociological Overview,’ and many more.

He won the Best Indigenous actor award at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards. He featured in quite a number of movies as an actor and producer; he has produced many home videos in Nigeria. He featured in movies such as; Sango, Ladepo Omo Adanwo, Clash of the Gods, Iranse Aje, Eti Keta among others.

Prof Akinwale’s contribution to the theatre and movie industry in Nigeria gave him the leverage of being assigned South-West Zonal Co-ordinator for the Abuja Carnivals, and also a judge for the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST).