Video throwback: Late I-Show Pepper, Ogogo led Hubert Ogunde’s burial procession in 1990

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A video has emerged showing late veteran actor and traditional chanter, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, leading chants during the burial procession of renowned theatre practitioner, Hubert Ogunde, in 1990.

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The video courtesy of the Ogunde Museum showed the performance of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners during the lying in state at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, on Thursday, May 3, 1990.

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The throwback footage, posted on X and Facebook by Yemi King via his handle, #TheYemiKing, on Monday, showed Ogogo eulogising (Oríkì) and chanting as Dr Ishola Ogunsola, popularly known as I-Show Pepper, led the dirge and procession during Ogunde’s burial rites.

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The footage was recorded in May 1990, shortly after Ogunde, regarded as a pioneer of Nigerian theatre and one of the leading figures in the development of contemporary Yoruba theatre, died in London on April 4, 1990.

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Ogunde was also an actor, playwright, theatre manager and musician.

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In the video, a very young Ogogo, who would go on to become one of the recognisable faces of Yoruba-language cinema, is seen performing the traditional role of a chanter at the funeral of another major figure in the Nigerian theatre tradition.

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Watch the video here:

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𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈-𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫, 𝐎𝐠𝐨𝐠𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞’𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟎

Credit: X | TheYemiKing

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August 24, 2026

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I-Show Pepper, who led the dirge and procession in the footage, later died on December 28, 1992.

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More than three decades after participating in Ogunde’s burial, Ogogo died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66.

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His death came after his family disclosed that he was battling stage-four cancer and appealed for medical assistance as his condition deteriorated.

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Reports said his daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, sought urgent medical intervention for the actor after doctors reportedly informed the family that chemotherapy could no longer continue because of his condition.

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Ogogo was buried in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, August 24, in accordance with Islamic rites, PUNCH Online reports.

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His remains were taken to Ilaro ahead of the final rites, with the funeral prayer held at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground.

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Born and raised in Ilaro, Ogogo became a prominent actor, filmmaker and traditional chant performer in the Yoruba film industry, with a career spanning several decades. He was known for his roles in Yoruba-language films and his contribution to the preservation and promotion of Yoruba culture.

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Ogunde, whose burial Ogogo helped lead in 1990, was one of Nigeria’s foremost theatre practitioners.

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He founded the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria and was widely recognised as a major figure in the development of contemporary Yoruba theatre.

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The late Ogunde also produced and directed films including Jaiyesinmi, Aiye, Aropin N’Tenia and Ayanmo.

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The throwback video was captioned: “Video Throwback: Late veterans Ogogo, I-Show Pepper chant, lead burial procession of late Hubert Ogunde in 1990: Òkú ń sunkún òkú, Akáṣọlérí ń sunkún ara wọn.”

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It also noted that I-Show Pepper later joined the ancestors and that Ogogo, who participated in the burial procession decades ago, had himself died and was being buried in Ilaro.

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The footage therefore captures Ogogo at a much earlier stage of his career, performing at the funeral of a theatre icon, before his own death and burial more than 36 years later.

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