The Nigerian film industry has been thrown into mourning following the reported death of actor Steven Echendu, coming shortly after the passing of veteran actor Francis Duru.
News of Echendu’s death was shared by Nollywood colleague Wisdom Nwankwo in a Facebook post, where he expressed sadness over losing two industry figures within a short period.
Nwankwo also paid tribute to Austinfair Nwaulu, a media professional who was closely associated with Nollywood activities and reportedly died earlier in the week before his burial on Tuesday.
Remembering Echendu, Nwankwo described him as one of the dedicated figures who contributed to the growth of Nollywood during its formative years. He particularly highlighted his work with OJs Production, referring to him as one of the “gladiators” who helped shape the industry.
The timing of the losses appeared to weigh heavily on Nwankwo, who noted that Nwaulu and Echendu died within five days of each other.
Reflecting on the deaths, he encouraged people to check on friends and acquaintances who suddenly become inactive on social media, noting that people can disappear from online spaces without others realising what may be happening in their lives.
The series of deaths has sparked an emotional response among Nigerians online, with many expressing shock and sadness over the latest losses in the entertainment industry.
Echendu’s reported death also came on the same day news of Francis Duru’s passing emerged, making Friday, October 23, a particularly difficult day for the Nollywood community.
As tributes continue to emerge, colleagues and fans have been left mourning the loss of industry figures who contributed to Nigerian cinema in different capacities.
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