Nollywood Actress Atinuke Kareem Dies After Brave Battle with Breast Cancer

The Yoruba film industry mourns another loss as the actress passes away just days after veteran actor Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) succumbed to stage-four cancer.

The Nigerian entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning once again following the death of Nollywood actress Atinuke Remilekun Kareem, who passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged battle with breast cancer. The Ogun State chapter of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) confirmed her passing. The association’s Executive Governor, Owolabi Ajasa, announced the sad news in a statement that acknowledged the collective efforts made to support the actress during her illness. Atinuke’s death comes at a particularly difficult time for the Yoruba film industry, which has lost several entertainers to cancer in recent weeks, including veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who died just days earlier from stage-four cancer.

The depth of Atinuke’s struggle became publicly known about four months before her death when she released a heartfelt video appealing to Nigerians for financial assistance to fund her cancer treatment. In the emotional video, Atinuke revealed that her family had spent a significant amount of money on her medical care and that while her association, TAMPAN, had contributed, it was still not enough to cover her mounting medical bills. She made a desperate plea, stating, “Don’t allow me to die this way; I have two young children. Nigerians, please help me with any amount you can use to help.” Her plea drew an outpouring of sympathy and financial support from fans, colleagues, and well-wishers across the country.

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In a statement signed by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Femi Solaja, on behalf of Ajasa, TAMPAN expressed deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to Atinuke’s treatment. “We sincerely appreciate everyone who contributed financially, offered prayers, encouragement, and support towards the treatment of our dear colleague, Atinuke Remilekun Kareem. Your kindness and sacrifice during her difficult moment meant so much to her family and all of us. We are deeply grateful,” the statement read. The association, however, lamented that despite all the efforts and prayers, the actress succumbed to the illness. “Sadly, despite all our efforts and prayers, Atinuke has passed on and answered the final call. We cannot question the Almighty God. We can only submit to His will and pray that He grants her eternal rest and gives her family, colleagues, and loved ones the strength to bear this painful loss,” the association added.

Atinuke Kareem was well known for her appearances in numerous Yoruba-language productions. She was recognised for her vibrant energy, comic timing, and ability to portray lively, relatable characters, which made her a familiar face to home video audiences across Nigeria and in the diaspora. She was notably among the cast of Ronke Odusanya’s popular comedy series Sàlàyé È, a production that featured other prominent actors such as Mercy Aigbe, Babatunde Hamzat, and Esther Kalajaiye. Atinuke is survived by her two young children and other family members. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by TAMPAN and her family in due course.

“I Cursed the Pastor” — Yemi Solade Reveals Why He Quit Church 13 Years Ago

Nollywood veteran says his faith remains strong despite stepping away from formal worship, citing a 2013 clash with his pastor over Sunday acting jobs

Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has opened up about why he stopped attending church services 13 years ago, revealing that the decision stemmed from a clash between his acting career and church expectations, not a rejection of his faith. The 66-year-old actor made the disclosure during a recent interview on the Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast, where he spoke candidly about his spiritual journey, relationships, and public perception.

Solade explained that his departure from organised religion began in 2013 after a pastor at his former church instructed him to stop accepting acting jobs scheduled on Sundays. The directive directly interfered with his livelihood, as acting roles on Sundays often paid his bills and enabled him to contribute financially to the church. Reflecting on the incident, Solade recalled, “I’d been told in the church that I should tell producers not to call me for work on Sundays. And I cursed those pastors. It is from that thing that you said I shouldn’t do on Sunday that I put my hand in my pocket and I drop here.” The actor argued that the same work he was being asked to turn down was what sustained him financially, and he questioned why his faith should be tied to a particular day of the week.

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Solade said staying away from church eventually brought him peace, while dismissing the belief that missing Sunday service would automatically bring misfortune. “A notion that if you don’t attend church, one’s life will nosedive, I have not seen anything change. Rather, I have peace, I do well,” he said. Solade emphasised that his decision does not mean he has abandoned his faith. On the contrary, he maintains that his relationship with God remains central to his life, even without formal church attendance. “God created me in His image. I stopped going to church 13 years ago because I was not finding it funny any longer. Though I am a child of God,” he said. He added, “My life is not orchestrated towards a particular day. There is no Sunday in the Bible. Without God, I will not be alive.”

The actor said he believes worship should not be restricted to a specific day, and that his faith goes beyond attending a formal place of worship. “I know God too well. If you get close to me, you will know that God lives in me,” he stated. Speaking on his approach to human relationships, Solade described himself as someone who keeps a deliberate distance from personal intimacy while engaging broadly with the world. “I do not have a friend. I do not roll with anybody, but I move with the world because God has instructed me to do that for myself,” he explained. He added, “I am loved by a lot of people, and I love a lot of people. But I do not have intimacy with people. It is good for me.”

On the subject of public perception and rumours, the veteran actor appeared unbothered, suggesting that the attention he receives is a reflection of his enduring relevance in the industry. “You will only speculate. You have heard things about me; most of them are not true. If I am not important, people will not talk about me,” he said. The actor, who has been a prominent figure in Nollywood for decades, continues to maintain a thriving career in the entertainment industry, demonstrating that his decision to step away from formal church attendance has not diminished his success or his faith.