Renowned Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late actor Olu Jacobs, calling the experience of filming the veteran star one of the most treasured milestones of his career. Jacobs, a celebrated figure in both British and Nigerian cinema, died on Wednesday at the age of 84.
Kelani recalled first meeting Jacobs in 1978 while studying at the London Film School. He and fellow Nigerian classmates were adapting Amadu Maddy’s novel *No Past, No Present, No Future* into their diploma film, *Trying Times*. Jacobs, then a regular presence at the Africa Centre in Covent Garden, agreed to lead the student production without a fee, requesting only a meal for the three‑day shoot. His performance helped the film secure a place in the Governors’ Screening.
“From that very first encounter, he left an indelible mark on me: a consummate, classically trained actor with a commanding presence, yet generous enough to lead our student production without asking for a fee,” Kelani said.
Years later, Kelani served as director of photography on M‑Net’s New Directions initiative, *Twins of the Rainforest*. There he captured Jacobs alongside his wife, actress Joke Silva, on 16 mm celluloid film. Kelani praised their on‑screen chemistry as “electrifying,” noting that the camera “never forgets” the rare intensity he was able to record.
Jacobs, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, built a strong reputation on the British stage, in television and in international cinema, including a role in Roman Polanski’s *Pirates*. He later returned to Nigeria, embracing the nascent Nollywood industry despite its infrastructural limitations. A native of Abeokuta in the rolling hills of Egbaland, Jacobs was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and received numerous lifetime‑achievement awards, cementing his status as a founding patriarch of modern Nigerian screen performance.
His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced the actor’s passing, describing his father as “The Lion of Lufodo.” Nollywood, now one of the world’s largest film industries, continues to build on the legacy of pioneers like Olu Jacobs, whose contributions helped shape its early development.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
