Veteran Yoruba actor Rasaq Olayiwola, popularly known as Ojopagogo, has opened up about one of the most heartbreaking moments of his life—the sudden death of his wife Olayiwola Funmilayo, on a movie set, a tragedy that continues to haunt him to this day.
In a deeply emotional interview, Ojopagogo recounted how the incident unfolded during the filming of a movie by fellow actor and producer Olaiya Igwe in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to the seasoned actor, he initially hesitated to take the role when Olaiya Igwe reached out to him. It was his wife who lovingly persuaded him to accept the offer, encouraging him not to pass on the opportunity despite his reluctance. Unbeknownst to him, her final act of support would coincide with her last days.
Ojopagogo revealed that while on set in Abeokuta, he received an emergency call informing him that his father had fallen seriously ìll in Oyo State.
He left the set immediately, unaware that something far more devastating had occurred. It was not until later that he learned his wife had collapsed and dièd right there on the movie set—a truth that had been kept from him by the crew, who didn’t know how to break the tragic news.
Ojopagogo described the incident as a haunting memory he would rather not revisit. “It’s a scar that will never fade,” he said, adding that while life has continued, that day remains frozen in his heart.
©️AYENI ABAYOMI
