Actress Moji Afolayan has spoken candidly about the difficult circumstances surrounding the passing of the renowned actor and filmmaker Adeyemi Afolayan, often known as Ade Love, As the family celebrates 29 years since the passing of her father,
In an emotional reflection, Moji revealed that her father’s death came as a shock to the family because he had shown no signs of illness before they travelled to their hometown in Kwara State during the 1996 Christmas holidays.
Moji said, “My father wasn’t sick before we left Lagos. We had gone to our hometown for Christmas, and one of his father’s co-wives was also celebrating an event. It was there that he suddenly became ill.”
According to her, Ade Love was first taken to Ilorin for medical attention but insisted on returning to Lagos to see his personal doctor. Sadly, his health deteriorated further and he died on December 30, 1996.
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“He was taken from Ilorin to Lagos. While leaving, he asked his youngest wife to follow him, but she said she wanted to stay back and take care of things. Then he said, ‘What if we don’t meet again?’ We didn’t understand what he meant at the time,” Moji recalled.
“My father was a very good man. I pray that I come through him in my next life. He was good and caring to the core,” she added.
Adeyemi Afolayan, popularly known as Ade Love, was one of the pioneers of the Yoruba-language film industry. A gifted actor, filmmaker and producer, he was best known for his roles in and production of classics such as Ajani Ogun, Ija Ominira and Kadara. He is also the father of award-winning filmmakers and actors Kunle Afolayan, Gabriel Afolayan and Aremu Afolayan.
Ade Love died at the age of 56, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape Nollywood and the Yoruba film industry. His children, particularly Kunle and Gabriel, have carried on his legacy with critically acclaimed works that have garnered both local and international recognition.
In 2021, Kunle Afolayan paid tribute to his late father by featuring his face on merchandise used for the premiere of his Netflix original Swallow, further cementing the influence of Ade Love in the Nigerian cinematic landscape.
