Death is inevitable and often comes leaving lots of pain. This is the case with the death of some renowned personalities and celebrities in Nigeria who passed away during the year. These are the top 10 popular Nigerian celebrities who died in 2022.

Kamal Adebayo

Kamal Adebayo, popular yoruba actor and the father of popular skit maker Bae U Barbie, died on Wednesday, December 27th 2022. Sir Kay as he was popularly known, died a few months after Isbae U surprised him with N1 million cash as a birthday gift. demise was made public by his colleague Yomi Fabiyi on December 27 who expressed sadness over the sudden tragic news.

The cause of his death is not known yet, although he is believed to have been battling an ailment for a period of time.

Sammie Okposo

Okposo passed away in the early hours of Friday, November 26, 2022 in Abuja. Sammie Okposo was buried on Friday, December 16, in a private cemetery in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The organisers of the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards have renamed the best soundtrack in the movie category after the late singer, who took the gospel to new heights when he was alive. He was 51 years old at the time of his death.

Rico Swavey

Former Big Brother Naija season 3 housemate,Patrick Adebowale Fakoya, popularly known as Rico Swavey, died from the result of injuries sustained from a motor accident on October 13th. The 29-year-old was said to be in a coma for days before his death.

A night of tribute and a candlelight walk took place at Retro Citi, Victoria Island, Lagos, on October 19–22. More so, a private service was held at the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu Square, before he was buried at Ebony Vaults, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Biyi Bandele

Movie Director Biyi Bandele, who directed ‘Half of the Yellow Sun’ and the 2022 EbonyLife much-talked about movie, ‘Elesin Oba’, died on August 7 2022. His sudden death was confirmed by his daughter, Temi Bandele, on Monday, August 8, 2022, via a Facebook post.

News of Bandele’s demise came barely a month before the historical TIFF premiere of Netflix and EbonyLife Film’s ‘Elesin Oba’, the adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s ‘Death and the King’s Horseman,’ which he directed and adapted for the screen.

In what was a very sad event, he was laid to rest in a quiet ceremony attended by friends and industry colleagues in Lagos on Friday, September 23, 2022. He was 54 years old at the time of his death.

Sola Onayiga

A day after the movie industry and social media were shocked to hear about the death of Ada Ameh, the news of Sola Onayiga’s death hit everyone with a double blow. The movie veteran who played the role of Ireti in Amaka Igwe’s popular soap opera, Fuji House of Commotion, passed away on Monday, July 18, 2022, at age 63.

Her death was announced by a renowned movie critic and film specialist, Husseini Shaibu, via his Twitter page. Onayiga was widely known for her comic role in the classic TV drama series Checkmate.’

Ada Ameh

Ameh died on July 17, 2022 after she suddenly slumped at an event. She was reportedly rushed to the NNPC hospital in Warri, Delta State, where she was confirmed dead. The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Emeka Rollas confirmed Ameh’s death. Few weeks before her untimely death, the actress revealed that she was going through some mental health issues.

The cast of ‘The Johnsons’ hosted a night of tribute in her honour as the lead actress of the series on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at Freedom Park, Lagos. She was buried at her family’s compound at Otukpo, Benue State on Friday, August 26.

Ada became famous following her role as Anita in the movie ‘Domitilla’ in 1996, and was more recently adorned for her comic characters especially in the series, The Johnsons. Ada died at the age of 48. Her death came two years after the demise of her daughter.

Osinachi Nwachukwu

Gospel singer and worshipper, Osinachi Nwachukwu died at an Abuja hospital on Friday, April 8, 2022. Initial reports claimed that she died of terminal disease, but further questioning attributed her death to domestic violence she suffered at the hands of her husband.

She was buried in her hometown, Amakpoke Umuaku community, in Abia State on Saturday, June 25, 2022. Osinachi died at the age of 42, and is survived by a husband and four children.

Kunle Adetokunbo (Dejo Tunfulu)

Adetokunbo died on April 1, 2022. He was a Yoruba film comic actor who was widely loved for his hilarious comedic tropes and unique comic style. It was gathered that the 53-year-old had battled with chronic kidney disease for several years, but he became critically ill in the early hours of March 31.

During his lifetime, the late actor was famed for playing the role of a clown in movies, bringing laughter and joy to his fans across the country and beyond. He died at age 49.

Lari Williams

Williams died on February 27, 2022, after a brief illness. On Friday, April 15, 2022, the AGN and the Artistes Village community commemorated the multi-talented artist’s life and times. He was buried on Thursday, April 14, 2022, in his hometown, Yala Nkum, in the Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State. The late actor was the inaugural president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) with his career spanning over 50 years. He was 81 years old.

Ezekiel Atang

Popular pastor, Ezekiel Atang, was one of the popular names taken away by death this year. The Akwa Ibom based clergyman and family life coach died on Monday, 21st February 2022, three weeks before his 50th birthday. In his last ministration, he said several things prevented him from coming for the church service, including a sharp pain he had on his chest.

Until his death, he was the founder and Senior Pastor of God’s House Of Refuge in Nigeria.

Honourable Mentions

Alaafin of Oyo: Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III

Alaafin passed away on April 22, 2022. He was the 45th monarch of the Oyo Empire and the traditional ruler of the Yoruba town of Oyo. Alaafin died at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, in Ekiti State, after complications associated with prostate enlargement, according to Premium Times. He was 83 years old. The Monarch ruled the Oyo Empire for 52 years, the longest reign of any Alaafin.

Chinedu Nwadike

A popular figure in the South-East, Chinedu Nwadike who was known for his hit song ‘God of Vengeance’, died on March 27th in Abuja after health complications.

The 39-year-old Imo-born gospel singer was reportedly said to have recovered from kidney disease and was scheduled for further medical treatment in India before he died. He was survived by a wife, Dorah Nwadike, and three children.

Osmond Gbadebo

Gbadebo died on May 30, 2022. The Yoruba film actor and producer died after battling with an unnamed terminal illness. The report was made by a fellow member of the industry, Fausat Balogun, on her Instagram page.

Several industry colleagues and fans took to their social media pages at the time to pay tribute to the Nollywood actor and producer.

His burial service and interment took place at the Atan cemetery in Yaba, Lagos, on June 4. Osmond played numerous roles in the Nigerian film industry and was widely known. He was 45 years old at the time of his death.