VETERAN Nigerian actor Justus Esiri has passed away after a brief and
undisclosed illness in a development that has sent shockwaves across
the entertainment industry.
Regarded as a pioneer in the Nigerian acting industry, Esiri's career
spans back to the 1960s and up until his death, he was still a leading
Nollywood figure. He came to the limelight in the 1970s when he featured
in the sitcom Village Headmaster where he played the headmaster and up
until last year, was one of Nollywood's leading lights, featuring in
films like the Assassin's Practise.
Declared one of the strong men of the African film industry, Esiri
attended Urohobo College, Warri and later went to Germany to study
engineering where he developed an interest for theatre. It was in
Germany that he began his acting career and during one of his stage
performances there he was spotted by a Nigerian delegation that
subsequently invited him to perform in a government sponsored programme
back home.
After his performance, he decided to remain in Nigeria. Esiri, who
was proficient in German, has since acted in over 100 films and
television productions including Forever, Things Fall Apart and recently
Foreign Demon starring alongside Yvonne Chaka-Chaka.
He was the only Nigerian male performing on stage in 1968/69 and also
worked for the Voice of Nigeria German Service as a translator. Justus
is the father of popular Nigerian musician Dr Sid.
A regular visitor to the UK Justus was a member of the Nigerian caste
of stars who attended the London 2012 Olympics, where he last spoke to
Nigerian Watch. Details of what ailment he was suffering from are still
being awaited.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa
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