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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

How late Nollywood legend Taiwo Hassan got the name ‘Ogogo’

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, known as Ogogo, revealed the origin of his stage name in a 2024 interview.
  • Hassan explained that "Ogogo" is a traditional Yoruba praise name from his family eulogy, which he recited during his early acting career.
  • The actor, who passed away at 66, began his career as a praise chanter before "Ogogo" became his professional identity.

Veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, widely recognized by his stage name Ogogo, shared the story behind his enduring moniker in a 2024 interview with City People magazine. The name, now synonymous with his career in the Yoruba film industry, originates from his family's traditional praise name, or 'Oriki'.

The name Ogogo is my Oriki. Many don’t know how I started my acting career. I started with the role of an Akede Oba, meaning I was always doing Oriki (eulogy). I was always reciting the Oriki of Kings, Chiefs. I did it so well that people called me Olohun Iyo then.

— Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo)Explaining the origin of his stage name and early career.

Hassan, who passed away at the age of 66, explained that he began his acting journey in 1981 playing the role of an 'Akede Oba,' a praise chanter who recites the eulogies of kings and chiefs. His skill in this area earned him the initial nickname "Olohun Iyo" (meaning 'sweet voice') before his colleagues adopted "Ogogo" from his family's eulogy.

As the use of home videos gained popularity, Hassan began incorporating his family's eulogy into his performances, often reciting lines that praised himself and others. "When we started home video, I will eulogise people and I will eulogise myself. I will say things like Emi omo Ogogo, a ku lodo……So, when we started doing modern play, my friends now said Ogogo Wa Joor, that is how the name Ogogo came to stay," he recalled.

When we started home video, I will eulogise people and I will eulogise myself. I will say things like Emi omo Ogogo, a ku lodo……So, when we started doing modern play, my friends now said Ogogo Wa Joor, that is how the name Ogogo came to stay. It is my Oriki. It is my fathers Oriki. I always recite it.

— Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo)Describing how his stage name became widely adopted.

The praise name eventually became his professional identity as his acting career flourished over four decades. Hassan was a prominent figure in Yoruba cinema, working as an actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. He was also a co-founder of the Odunfa Caucus, a significant theatre group that nurtured many notable Yoruba actors.

Emi Omo Ogogo a ku lodo, Omo ku lomi lomi……People like to hear it. I used to say it when we are doing plays on stage.

— Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo)Recalling the specific lines from his family eulogy that became popular.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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