ENTERTAINMENT: Top Nollywood stars pay emotional tribute to late Bukky Ajayi

Bukky with Toyin Aimakhu, Yomi Fagboyo and others

Veteran actress Bukky Ajayi passed away at the age of 82 at her residence in Lagos today and has been buried according to Islamic rites.

Bukky with Toyin Aimakhu, Yomi Fagboyo and others
Top celebrities have penned emotional tributes to the thespian. Actor Richard Mofe Damijo wrote, apologizing for delaying his plan to visit her.:

“Aunty Bukks, I am sorry. Sorry I did NOT visit you in your last days, not because I didn’t want to but because I took for granted the gift of life and procrastinated. To think that I spoke to Abounce kunle your son (whom I share the TV series Hush with where he is such a star now as Ruffy Jackson. Taking after you) several days ago to ask for the best time to come see you…if I knew it was time I would have come that very day to see you but who would have thought that the bold, strong Aunty Bukks who has consistently defied every circumstance and risen above every situation will go to sleep so soon.

It is my birthday today and as I sit here writing you, I can only think how ironic it is that you have completed the circle of life.

I am deeply pained by your passing but I am extremely proud that you are a part of my life and I yours.

I love you very much Aunty Bukks and will NEVER trade the memories of you for anything.

Sleep well in Gods bosom.”


Actor Femi Branch shared a video on his Instagram page after he learnt of the passing of Bukky Ajayi. In the video, Femi said after he heard she had died, he took his phone to call her only to realize he didn’t have her number on his phone. According to him, he felt so ashamed. He then asked his colleagues to reach out to each other more often…

“I just found out that Aunty has passed on and I picked up my phone immediately to call her and I couldn’t find her number and I felt so ashamed and this is what happens to us a whole lot of times especially in this profession. When work brings us together, we dance, we rejoice, we celebrate, we play. If you see us at that moment you would think we reach out to each other everyday and we relate so well but once we have left that location that is it. We hardly relate with each other only to find out things about ourselves on the passages of newspapers, blogs.. We need to reach out more” he said

Mr Pretty Okafor, the National President of PMAN, mourned the late actress, extolling her contributions to the growth of Nollywood and the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

“She was an enviable professional, who inspired us with her outstanding roles in many home movies.

“Her exit will leave an indelible footprint on the entertainment industry generally,” he said.


Mr Agility Onwura, the Chairman, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the AGN, told NAN Ajayi died at a time when the young generations of actors were still drawing from her wealth of experience.

Onwura said: “The news of her death came to us as a surprise.

“She died when her wealth of experience and guidance were most needed by the younger generation of movie stars.

“Though at 82 one can say she was quite old, but we in the entertainment industry were still learning from her,” he said.

May her soul rest peace.