Some goodbyes are hard to say. Whether you’re bidding a loved one farewell for real or concluding your time with a beloved character, the end of any relationship can be heartbreaking. It can also be hard when the filmography of an actor you adore comes to a tragic end. Both scenarios played out last Friday at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki, Lagos. It was not supposed to be a funeral. For 40 years, they were Olu and Joke – one name, one love story. But on that fateful afternoon, that story was separated by death. At exactly 10am, the ebony casket bearing the remains of Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs was wheeled to the front of the auditorium to commence the final journey of a thespian who “soared freely” across the world of cinema. The live broadcast captured what words could not. Joke Silva, his widow of 40 years, sat in the front row in royal blue, flanked by their sons Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs and grandson Oludayo. She did not wail, instead she stared endlessly into space. When the body arrived at the funeral mass, what went through Joke’s mind was not just grief. It was the end of a performance that lasted 40 years, and the beginning of a life where she will have to learn to take a bow alone. Those close to her were sure that in that moment, a flood of memories returned:
The weight of a final goodbye
For years, Joke Silva had been his caregiver, his voice, his shield as Jacobs battled Dementia with Lewy Bodies. She had protected him from public pity. Now, sighting the casket, the fight was over. It was the moment the private battle became a public farewell. From their days at the National Theatre, to Lufodo Academy which they built together, to the Darey Art Alade “Pray For Me” video where they played lovers on screen one last time. Observers said when Darey performed that same song at the funeral mass, Joke Silva broke down, because that video was their love letter to the world. She was singing along with Darey, reliving fond memories of their love story. Those in the congregation said she kept reaching for her sons’ hands as the casket passed. For decades, she was the matriarch. Even in grief, she was still holding the family together, dressed in matching green outfits – the colour they chose to honour their lion. The funeral mass was filled with dignitaries: Lagos First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun and former Ekiti First Lady Bisi Fayemi, but for Joke, the room was empty except for the man in the box in front of the auditorium. As tributes poured in – Sola Sobowale recalling how Olu once told a room “Have you seen Sola Sobowale? She is a great actor”, RMD describing him as a mentor in humility ..Joke Silva nodded, smiled faintly, and clutched a handkerchief. She has said before: “We did not have a perfect marriage, we had a real marriage.” The Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, said Jacobs was more than “an icon of theatre and arts.” “He was a big brand and a movement. When we look back at the annals, the trajectory of what makes the country great, our Awolowos, our Nnamdi Azikwes, somewhere in the conversation, there is going to be Olu Jacobs because he was part of the greatness of not only Nigeria, but also in the global community,” Musawa said. The funeral rites followed a Night of Tributes held earlier at Glover Memorial Hall on Lagos Island, where Nollywood stars and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of the fallen thespian. At the event, many described Jacobs as one of Nollywood’s most dependable character actors, whose performances brought humour and authenticity to hundreds of films and television productions. But despite the tributes, one thing was certain, and it was the fact that the death of Jacobs marks the end of a celebrated love story of a power couple. While the later years of Jacobs were punctuated by battle with prolonged illness, forcing him to slow down his acting career, Joke stood by him, reaffirming her unwavering love for her husband. In an interview, she expressed her undying love for him and acknowledged that although he had changed, he remained her hero. The couple, known for their strong bond, is admired in the entertainment industry. Silva explained that she has accepted the reality of the situation and cherishes the memories of the husband she once knew. Despite his health challenges, Joke never failed to emphasize Jacobs’ incredible qualities as a father and husband. His last birthday on July 11, when he turned 84, offered Joke one final opportunity to celebrate the husband of her youth. According to a pastor close to the family, it was Jacobs’ happiest moment, as he knew it might be his last birthday on earth. With that, the final rites for Olu Jacobs came to a close , a farewell that celebrated his life, his illustrious career and his enduring legacy in Nigerian cinema.
