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.