By Adedayo Odulaja and Anthonia Soyingbe
•Justus Esiri
The death on Tuesday of another veteran Nollywood actor and broadcaster, Justus Esiri, is the latest to occur in the Nigerian movie industry in recent times. The death, reported to have happened late Tuesday night, was confirmed by his son, Dr. Sid.
With the deaths of prominent actors like Pete Eneh, David Ihezie, James Iroha, Enebeli Elebuwa and Sam Loco Efe, it is an understatement to say the community of titans in Nigeria’s movie industry is fast depleting.
With Esiri joining the list, there are just a few of such authoritative thespians remaining in the land. A Member of the Order of Niger (MON), Esiri became famous for his role as the Village Headmaster in the now rested NTA drama series which ruled the airwaves more than four decades ago. Noted for his painstaking and thorough depiction of characters as well as long-drawing baritone, Esiri succeeded Femi Robinson and Ted Mukoro, as Village Headmasters of the fabled Oja Village School before charting a distinct path in the home video genre where he also became an authority in no time.
Aside his role as the headmaster in the popular TV series then, Esiri recorded a monumental achievement by handling the choreography session of the Modern Dress exhibition during the 1977 FESTAC event, the same time another late peer of his, Sam Loco Efe, was making an impact as Akara Ogun at the festival.
A native of Urhobo from the present Delta State, he was born in 1942 in Oria, Abraka.
He attended Catholic Secondary School in Warri after which he proceeded to Maximillan University in Munich, Germany in 1964. Believing in the essence of education, Esiri continued at the Professor Weners Institute of Engineering, West Berlin and the Ahrens School of Performing Arts in years to follow.
Speaking once on how he came onto the scene to be part of the Village Headmaster cast back then, he said, “at the National Theatre on that day, everyone was seated and they said they were going on location by the weekend. I had never seen the script before then, so I took it home and read it through. The location was in Badagry. On that day, everyone including Late Elsie Olusola, Kabiyesi Funsho Adeolu, Joe Layode, Ibidun Allison, Kabiyesi Wole Amele, everybody sat down watching because I had not worked with them before. To my surprise, by the time I finished that sequence, they were all clapping.”
A recipient of many awards, Esiri, spoke fluent German and is survived by his wife. Omiete, and six children among which is Sidney Esiri better known as Dr. Sid, who is signed onto Don Jazzy-led Marvin Records. Details of the real cause of his death remains sketchy, with low blood pressure and diabetes among age-related ailments he was said to be nursing being cited as possible causes of his death.
Esiri, unlike most of his peers, who have to battled one ailment for long before succumbing to death, was graceful even in his last days. He was present at the church service of late Enebeli Elebuwa which held at Obalende.
As expected, eulogies are pouring in from different corners of the entertainment industry.
In a statement, Actors Guild of Nigeria president, Ibinabo Fiberesima, said: “This is indeed another blow on me and my entire colleagues, it’s so saddening but we are praying to God to intervene as well as seek solace in Him only. My condolences to the Esiri family.”
Bimbo Akintola tweeted, “I can’t believe he is gone, I can’t believe I won’t ever be able to watch his smiles, hear him talk. I can’t believe Uncle Justus is gone, Adieu sir.”
Actress and glo ambassador, Chioma Akpotha tweeted: “Words fail me!”
Michael Collins also known as Don Jazzy, simply said: “RIP Justus Esiri” while female rap artiste, Kel also wrote on twitter: “RIP Justus Esiri…. In God’s peace may you rest sir.”