‘Don’t cry, my princess,’ Ogogo told daughter weeks before death

Nollywood has lost a veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who passed away at the age of 66. His daughter, Kira Taiwo, shared a poignant message exchanged with her father just weeks before his death, revealing the actor's deep affection and his struggle with stage-four cancer.

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How are you? I heard you are crying. Seeing you and your sisters smile is making me strong. If you cry, it will make me sad, and I will start to think.

In their conversation dated July 26, Ogogo, a devout Muslim, reassured Kira and her sisters, urging them not to cry. He expressed that seeing them smile gave him strength. "If you cry, it will make me sad, and I will start to think," he wrote, adding, "Be strong. I am strong. Nothing is going to happen to me, insha Allah. If you do, then don’t cry, my princess."

Kira responded to her father, assuring him she was not crying and expressing her faith. "Daddy, I’m not crying oo… don’t mind Haleemah. I trust in Allah, sir. I love you very much," she wrote. Ogogo replied with "Love u too, my princess."

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Be strong. I am strong. Nothing is going to happen to me, insha Allah. If you do, then don’t cry, my princess.

The emotional exchange occurred shortly before the family publicly disclosed Ogogo's battle with advanced cancer and appealed for medical assistance. His daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, made separate appeals on Instagram as his condition deteriorated. Lima explained that the family had only recently learned the severity of his illness, as his physical appearance had not initially indicated a serious condition. Kira further elaborated that his cancer was at stage four, and the hospital could no longer administer chemotherapy, prompting the search for alternative medical options.

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Daddy, I’m not crying oo… don’t mind Haleemah. I trust in Allah, sir. I love you very much.

Ogogo died on Sunday afternoon, according to a burial announcement by veteran actor Jide Kosoko. He was buried on Monday in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, according to Islamic rites. A lying-in-state ceremony was held earlier that day, followed by burial prayers. Ogogo was a significant figure in the Yoruba film industry, with a career spanning decades as an actor, filmmaker, and director.

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Love u too, my princess.