By Vivian Ihechu
Olu Jacobs carried theatre’s ancient fire in his voice, transforming every pause into thunder and every character into a mirror of humanity’s contradictions.
From The Dogs of War to Blood Money, where he inhabited stories like a seasoned traveller, leaving footprints across generations, cultures, screens, and imaginations, to The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, where his presence carried the warmth of old wisdom and Dry, where he revealed cinema’s power to confront society’s deepest wounds.
His eyes became windows into unwritten worlds, whether commanding Glamour Girls or bringing gravitas to Family Battle, delivering performances steeped in enduring authority.
Like an ancient baobab resisting restless winds, Jacobs towered over Nigerian movie industry, sheltering younger talents beneath the vast canopy of his enduring craft.
Born Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs on July 11, 1942, “Uncle Olu” grew over the years to become one of the foundational Godfathers of the Nollywood industry.
Of Egba Yoruba descent from Abeokuta, Ogun State, Jacobs spent much of his early childhood growing up in Kano, Northern Nigeria.
Holding dual citizenship-Nigerian by birth and British by naturalisation—he obtained his primary school leaving certificate in Kano State before completing his secondary school education in Lagos State, where he earned his West African Senior School Certificate.
His inspiration to pursue acting as a career came strongly in 1970 after he attended the annual concert party of the late Chief Hubert Ogunde, a renowned Nigerian actor, playwright, and manager, held in Kano.
Driven by this passion, Jacobs travelled to the UK in 1964 to study Theatre Arts at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in England, where he gained his professional qualifications and early-stage experience.
He secured his first UK role after accompanying a friend to an audition; persuaded to audition as well, he immediately impressed the panel of judges.
His screen debut came with AA Productions in the film, The Vigilante.
Following this entry, he featured across various British television shows and series throughout the 1970s, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, The Venturers, Angels, 1990, The Tomorrow People, The Professionals, Night and Day, Pirates, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend, and The Witches and the Grinnygog.
He also starred in John Irvin’s war film, The Dogs of War, alongside several other international film projects in the 1980s.
The Dogs of War unveiled another facet of his artistry, where conflict became theatre and his performance moved like smoke through corridors of memory.
After working for decades in the UK, the renowned actor returned to Nigeria in the early 1990s as a pioneer of Nollywood, contributing immensely to the growth and structured development of the industry.
Over his career, Jacobs acted and featured in over 100 Nollywood films.
Married to veteran actress Joke Silva, Jacobs was widely seen as a vital bridge between the old and new breed of actors in the Nigerian film space.
The pair met in his forties during the pre-production of a stage play, one year after his return from England. They eventually married and were blessed with two sons. Silva retains her maiden name professionally.
The Nigerian creative sector was thrown into mourning when news of his passing on Sept. 16, was broken by his son, Olusoji, in an Instagram post, describing the late actor as “The Lion of Lufodo”.
The industry awoke to the reality that it had lost not merely an actor, but a luminous storyteller whose voice had become a shared cultural inheritance.
Jacobs, a multi-award-winning actor and film executive, co-owned the Lufodo Group alongside his wife, Joke Silva. Founded in 1985 and formally incorporated on Sept. 25, 2000, the enterprise encompasses Lufodo Productions, Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA), Lufodo Assets, Lufodo Consult, and Lufodo Distribution.
The group provides comprehensive training across the filmmaking spectrum—including acting, scriptwriting, directing, producing, set design, makeup, costume, editing, photography, and modelling. Its corporate branch, LAPA Consult, provides specialized executive training for corporate bodies and professionals.
Now, as memories gather like evening mist, Olu Jacobs remains an artistic lighthouse, casting golden beams across Nigerian theatre, film, television, and generations yet unborn.
Tributes and National Reactions
Paying tribute to the late icon, former Vice President and Presidential Candidate for the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, described Jacobs as an institution and a cultural beacon.
He said “I am profoundly saddened by the passing of Olu Jacobs at the age of 84. Nigeria has lost far more than a great actor; we have lost an institution, a cultural icon and one of the finest ambassadors of our creative spirit.
“For generations of Nigerians, Jacobs was a familiar and commanding presence in our homes.
“That unmistakable voice, the dignity he brought to every role and the sheer force of his talent made him one of those rare artists who did not merely act before an audience, but became part of our collective memory.
“Long before Nollywood became a global phenomenon, Olu Jacobs was already carrying the Nigerian name with distinction.
“Through decades of dedication to his craft, he helped lay the foundations upon which an entire industry would rise.
“He gave life to our stories, dignity to our culture and inspiration to countless younger actors who followed the path he helped to clear.
“His passing, therefore, feels deeply personal to a nation that watched him, admired him and grew up with him.
“The curtain may have fallen on an extraordinary life, but the characters he gave us, the standards he set and the generations he inspired will continue to speak for him.
`My heart goes especially to his beloved wife and lifelong partner, Joke Silva, their children and the entire Jacobs family.
“I pray that the memories of the beautiful life they shared with him will bring them strength through this painful season.
“I also extend my condolences to the Nollywood family, the wider African creative community and millions of admirers around the world who mourn a truly remarkable man.
“Olu Jacobs gave Nigeria his talent, his voice and a lifetime of excellence. Nigeria will remember him with pride, affection and profound gratitude.
“May God grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his family in this hour of grief. –AA.”
Also, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, commending his artistry, wrote, “Consummate actor; quintessential professional; god of the screen and legend of the stage; role model and perfect gentleman. Olu Jacobs. Rest in peace.”
Actress Ini Edo paid tribute, writing, “Rest well Uncle! You will forever be in our hearts.”
Popular entertainer Broda Shaggi shared, ”May his soul find eternal rest at the right hand of God, and may his memory live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.”
Actress Bisola Aiyeola added, ”Eternal Rest Grant unto him oh lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace Amen.”
Honours and Filmography
Jacobs made an indelible mark as an actor, businessman, writer, producer, scriptwriter, philanthropist, television personality, and broadcaster. His decades of professional achievements earned him extensive local and international recognitions, including:
Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR): National honour conferred by the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan.
Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA): Best Actor in a Lead Role (Dancing Heart, 2007); Lifetime Achievement Award alongside Joke Silva (2016); Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Oloibiri, 2017).
Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA): Most Prominent Actor in Nigeria; Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Acting (2013).
Golden Icon Movie Academy Awards: Best Actor of the Year.
City People Entertainment Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award (2015); Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria (2015).
AFRIFF Globe Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to the movie industry (2021).
His extensive filmography spans classic productions, including Days of Gloom, Ashanti, League of Gentlemen, A Can of Worms, Aba Riot, Mission to Africa, The Kingmaker, Beauty and the Beast, Kingdom Apart, A Time to Die, and Eye of the Gods.
As he transits, Jacobs’ legacy extends far beyond screen credits; it lives in gestures, silences, laughter, and indelible emotions planted within audiences across Africa and beyond.
(NAN)
