By Benjamin Njoku
The Nigerian movie industry is mourning again as another veteran actor Zulu Adigwu has succumbed to death.
Adigwe died on Tuesday evening. His death was announced on Facebook by popular film producer and singer, Mike Nliam.
He wrote, “An Icon passed on today. A rare gem with a fantastic sense of humor!
” I watched Uncle Zulu on TV as Mr B on the hit Ken Saro Wiwa’s hit TV series ‘Bassey & Company’ that was when I was in secondary school in the 80s.
” We became close in 2003 when I cast him as part of the cast of the movie “Blood Diamonds”which was shot on location in Sierra Leone immediately after the country’s civil war.
“The film, which also starred other Nollywood greats as well as Sierra Leone star actors was written by Mucktarr Tejan Cole , financed and produced by Sam Kargbo and directed by Teco Benson.
“Uncle Zulu until his death starred in “a thousand and one” Nollywood movies and endeared himself to audiences across d world with his great baritone voice and his acting skills.
‘He was also a music enthusiast which led him to collaborate with Abay Esho and my humble self in a song he wrote titled “Ugo Buluum”.
“Unfortunately I’ve not seen Uncle Zulu for a couple of years now before his passing but I remember the times I worked together with this simple, jovial, humble achiever with great nostalgia. Uncle Zulu was indeed a jolly good fellow. May his soul rest in d bosom of d Lord,” Nliam wrote.
Also , confirming the sad news on Instagram, another film producer Stanley Nwoko wrote, “I regret to announce the passing of a veteran actor, late Mr Zulu Adigwe.
“What caused his death is yet to be reviewed. Rest in peace good actor,” he added.
Adigwe had his secondary school education in Germany and was the few Nigerians to receive first class honours at the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Ibadan.
During his career, Adigwe was famous in the movies: “Living in Bondage”, “Breaking Free” among others .
Adigwe death was coming weeks after the industry lost five practitioners in a boat mishap in Anambra State.
