Funke Akindele Faces Backlash Over Birthday Post as Yoruba Film Industry Mourns Ogogo

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has come under criticism from some social media users following a birthday post she shared as the Yoruba film industry continues to mourn the death of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.

Akindele, who turned 49, shared glamorous photographs of herself online to mark the occasion, expressing gratitude to God for preserving her life through different seasons and challenges. In the post, the actress thanked God for remaining her strength and shield through her wins, mistakes, lessons, and challenges over the years.

However, the timing of the celebration drew criticism from a number of social media users who felt it was insensitive, coming so soon after Hassan's death sent shockwaves through the Yoruba movie industry and its wider fanbase.

Some commenters questioned why Akindele proceeded with her birthday celebration while members of the entertainment industry and fans were still mourning Hassan. One social media user, Ayofe, asked whether the actress was aware of the mood surrounding the industry at the time, questioning her decision to share a birthday post under the circumstances. Another commenter, Olayinka Mujeeb Aden, criticised Akindele directly, describing it as inappropriate to celebrate a birthday at a time when the industry was mourning Ogogo.

Similarly, a user identified as OAR Azeez questioned whether the actress could have postponed her celebration, arguing that the death of such a prominent figure within her industry should have provided an opportunity for sober reflection instead. A commenter identified as Kanel took a more measured position, acknowledging Akindele's right to celebrate her birthday while noting that they personally would have avoided a public celebration under the circumstances.

Other critics, including a user identified as Constantinople, also took issue with the actress sharing a birthday photoshoot while a fellow industry veteran had just died. Another commenter, Oriretan Honour, described the post as insensitive, questioning the decision to carry out and publish a photoshoot while news of Hassan's death continued to dominate conversations within the entertainment industry.

The criticism directed at Akindele centred largely on the timing of her post rather than the birthday celebration itself, with several users suggesting she could have toned down the public display or delayed it out of respect for Hassan and his family. It is worth noting, however, that the reactions reflect the views of individual social media users and do not necessarily represent the broader sentiment of the Nollywood community as a whole.

Hassan, widely known by his stage name Ogogo, died after a career spanning several decades in Yoruba theatre and Nollywood, during which he became one of the most recognisable and respected figures in the Yoruba-language film industry. His death has generated widespread tributes from colleagues, fans, and prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, who described him as a distinguished artiste who made significant contributions to Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema. The President said Hassan had used his talent to tell Nigerian stories, preserve cultural heritage, and entertain audiences both at home and abroad throughout his career.

Hassan's contributions to the development of Yoruba-language entertainment have placed his death firmly at the centre of ongoing conversations within Nigeria's creative industry, with many describing his passing as the end of an era for a generation of Yoruba film pioneers.

As of the time of this report, Akindele had not issued any public response to the criticism directed at her over the timing of her birthday post. The actress has previously faced criticism and online trolling over various aspects of her public life and career, and has on several occasions responded directly to social media commentary, though no such response had emerged in relation to this particular controversy.

The episode has nevertheless sparked a broader debate over how public figures should navigate personal celebrations when significant events are unfolding within their professional circles. While some social media users maintain that Akindele should have postponed or scaled back her birthday activities out of respect for Hassan, others view the birthday post as a personal celebration that does not diminish the actress's capacity to separately mourn or honour a colleague. For now, the controversy remains largely confined to social media discussion, with no indication that Akindele intended any disrespect toward the late veteran actor or his family.