Veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, once revealed how he got the name that became synonymous with his identity and career in the Yoruba film industry.
Hassan, who died on Sunday at the age of 66, disclosed in a 2024 interview with City People that “Ogogo” was part of his family’s eulogy (‘Oriki’), a traditional Yoruba praise name, which he frequently recited during his early days as an actor.
In the interview published by City People on November 9, 2024, Hassan recalled that he began his acting career playing the role of an Akede Oba, a praise chanter who recites the oriki of kings and chiefs.
He said his ability to recite the praise poetry earned him the nickname “Olohun Iyo” before his colleagues eventually adopted “Ogogo” from his family eulogy.
“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,” he said.
Hassan explained that when home videos became popular, he would eulogise people as well as himself during performances, frequently using lines from his family (eulogy) oriki.
“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,” he said.
The actor said the praise name eventually became his professional identity as his acting career grew.
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,” he added.
Hassan began his acting career in 1981 and became one of the most recognisable figures in Yoruba-language cinema.
His career spanned more than four decades, during which he worked as an actor, producer, director and screenwriter and featured in numerous films.
He was also one of the co-founders of the Odunfa Caucus, a prominent theatre group that produced several notable Yoruba actors.
The actor died at 3pm on Sunday, August 23, 2026, according to a burial announcement by veteran actor Jide Kosoko.
His daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, had earlier disclosed that he was battling stage-four cancer and appealed for medical assistance as his condition worsened.
Hassan was buried in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday according to Islamic rites.
