The British-African creative community is in mourning today as news breaks that Nigerian film star Alexx Ekubo has died of cancer at the age of 40. Ekubo, known for his charismatic performances in Nollywood blockbusters and his crossover appeal to UK audiences, passed away in a Lagos hospital early this morning, according to his family. The actor had been battling a rare form of pancreatic cancer for two years, a struggle he kept largely private until last month when he posted a call for prayer on Instagram.
Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to a man who wore his fame lightly. “He was more than a face on screen,” said British-Nigerian filmmaker Remi Vaughan-Richards. “He was a bridge between our worlds. He made us laugh, he made us think, and he did it with that gentle smile that could light up a room.” Ekubo’s breakout role came in 2010’s “The Wedding Party”, but he was equally at home in gritty dramas like “76” and light-hearted rom-coms. His versatility made him a staple in the diaspora imagination, a figure who reminded us that Nollywood is not just an industry but a heartbeat.
The news has hit hard in London, where Ekubo spent several months each year working with UK production companies and mentoring young actors from the African diaspora. “He was always checking in, always asking how he could help,” said actor and activist Tobi Bakare. “He understood the struggle of making it in an industry that doesn’t always see you. And he made sure the door stayed open behind him.”
Ekubo’s death comes at a time when the British-African creative scene is on the rise. It is a moment of both celebration and grief: a generation of artists is breaking through, but too many are lost to preventable diseases that poorer healthcare systems cannot catch in time. His family have called for donations to cancer research charities in Lagos rather than flowers. “He wanted no child to lose a parent the way he lost his mother to this disease in 2005,” said a statement released by his brother, Chinedu Ekubo. “We are asking for action, not tears.”
The Nigerian government and the British High Commission have offered condolences. Flags at Nollywood cultural centres in London and Birmingham are to fly at half-mast. A memorial service is planned for Saturday at the Brixton East End temple, a venue familiar to Ekubo from his youth visits to the UK. His final film, a period drama about the Aba women’s war, is due for release next month. Producers have yet to confirm whether the project will be dedicated to his memory.
For now, the grief is raw. Social media is flooded with black squares and heart emojis. But beneath the pain is a call: to fight for the health and dignity of artists who carry our stories. Alexx Ekubo is gone. But his light will not dim so easily.
