The Nigerian entertainment industry has lost several notable actors and musicians to cancer over the years, sparking renewed conversations about the disease and its impact.
While some of the entertainers publicly shared their battles with cancer, others kept their conditions private until their deaths.
The most recent and shocking among them was the death of Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo, who reportedly passed away on May 11, 2026 following complications from kidney cancer.
Below are some Nigerian entertainers who reportedly died from cancer:
Tom Njemanze
Veteran actor Tom Njemanze died on July 18, 2025 at the age of 75 after battling prostate cancer. He reportedly passed away weeks after seeking financial assistance for surgery.
Ify Onwuemene
Actress Ify Onwuemene died on May 25, 2021 after a long battle with stage 4 endometrial cancer. She underwent multiple chemotherapy sessions and also had a hysterectomy before her death.
Aishat Abimbola
Popular Nollywood actress Aishat Abimbola, also known as Omoge Campus, died in Canada on May 15, 2018 after battling breast cancer.
Doris Chima
Veteran actress Doris Chima died in August 2021 after complications from breast cancer. She had reportedly lost one breast during treatment.
Karibi Fubara
Actor Karibi Fubara died in December 2021 from kidney cancer. He had previously undergone surgery to remove a large portion of a kidney tumor in 2020.
Majek Fashek
Legendary reggae singer Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek, died in June 2020 after battling esophageal cancer.
Sonny Okosun
Music icon Sonny Okosun died on May 24, 2008 in Washington from colon cancer.
Aduke Gold
Gospel singer Aduke Gold passed away on August 11, 2024 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan after battling cervical cancer.
Sound Sultan
Singer Sound Sultan died on July 11, 2021 in the United States after battling a rare blood cancer known as angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
These deaths have continued to raise awareness about cancer and its devastating effects within and beyond the entertainment industry.
