How Taiwo Hassan Became Known as ‘Ogogo’ — The Story Behind His Famous Name

 

Late veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, had a stage name deeply connected to his Yoruba heritage and his early career as a traditional praise chanter.

Hassan, who died on Sunday at the age of 66, had previously explained in a 2024 interview with City People how the name “Ogogo” became associated with him and eventually grew into his professional identity.

According to the actor, “Ogogo” was part of his family’s traditional Yoruba praise name, known as an Oriki. During the early stages of his acting career, Hassan played the role of an Akede Oba — a praise chanter whose duty involved reciting the Oriki of kings and chiefs.

His skill in delivering the traditional praise poetry earned him another nickname, “Olohun Iyo,” before “Ogogo” eventually became the name by which he was widely known.

Hassan explained that when home videos became popular, he frequently incorporated his family Oriki into his performances. He would praise other people and also recite his own family praise lines, including references to “Omo Ogogo.”

As he continued performing on stage and in movies, his colleagues began calling him “Ogogo,” a name that eventually stuck and became synonymous with his career.

The actor said the name was therefore not simply a nickname created for a movie role but a name inherited from his family and carried into his professional life.

Over the years, Taiwo Hassan established himself as one of the most recognisable figures in Yoruba-language cinema, appearing in numerous films as an actor, producer and filmmaker. His distinctive performances and commanding presence helped make “Ogogo” a household name among Nigerian movie lovers.

His connection to traditional Yoruba performance was also evident beyond film. In 1990, a video showed Hassan participating in the burial procession of legendary theatre practitioner Hubert Ogunde, where he performed Oriki and traditional chants.

For many fans, the name Ogogo therefore represented more than a stage identity. It reflected Hassan’s family heritage, his early experience with traditional performance and the career that eventually made him one of Nollywood’s celebrated veterans.