Veteran Nollywood Actor, Fabian Adibe Is Dead

By Akinwale Kasali

Fabian Adibe, Veteran Nollywood actor, popular for his role in the classic TV series, Things Fall Apart, is dead.

The legendary Adibe who celebrated his 80th birthday in February 2025,  died peacefully around 2:30 am on Wednesday.

His death was confirmed by his family members who are mourning and  celebrating his time on earth.

Adibe gained widespread admiration for his iconic portrayal in the adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’, and his calm demeanor and powerful performances endeared him to generations of viewers.

The actor and television personality who led Nigeria to her first Commonwealth Art Festival in 1965 began his acting career in 1987 in the acclaimed Nigerian TV series, “Things fall apart.”

He played the role of Ogbuefi Uzowulu and acted alongside Pete Edochie. His other co-actors, Justus Esiri and Sam Loco Efe, in the series are now deceased.

It would be recalled that before his demise, he had left Nollywood.

In an interview with Nigerian travel journalist, Chinelo Okafor, Adibe had said he left Nollywood because of “packaging.”

He said: “I left them (Nollywood) because one of their boys came and told me that they are starting a thing called ‘packaging.’ So I asked him what packaging is, and he said they would give you three scripts.

You will do two and get paid while the other would be for them. Why would you want me to do one for you for free? I said I wouldn’t? I told the boy I would not be part of that packaging.’’

He featured in over 300 movies, some of which include ‘Slave Warrior’ (2012), ‘White Kingdom 2’ (2014), and ‘Father’s (2014).

The revered actor also featured in foreign movies, including “Soweto,” a story about the struggle in South Africa, and “Mr. Johnson,” a Hollywood film.

The actor was a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority until he was retrenched on May 25, 1984.

Tributes are already pouring in from colleagues, fans, and industry stakeholders mourning the loss of a true legend.