Nollywood has been plunged into mourning once again following the death of actress Atinuke Kareem, who passed away after battling breast cancer.
The President of the Ogun State chapter of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Owolabi Ajasa, announced Atinuke’s death in a statement shared on Instagram on Tuesday, September 1.
In the emotional statement, Ajasa expressed gratitude to individuals who contributed financially, offered prayers and supported the actress during her treatment.
Despite the collective efforts to support her recovery, Atinuke eventually lost her battle.
Her death comes only weeks after Nollywood mourned Temitope Osoba, another actress who had publicly battled breast cancer. Osoba, 40, had spoken about her cancer journey in 2024, underwent surgery and later returned to acting, before her death in August 2026.
The industry also suffered the loss of popular actor Alexx Ekubo, who died in May 2026 at the age of 40 after complications arising from advanced metastatic kidney cancer. His family said he had endured the illness privately and described his final battle as brief but courageous.
These successive deaths have once again brought attention to the devastating toll of cancer on Nigeria’s entertainment community, where colleagues often turn to public appeals and fundraising to support members facing serious illnesses.
As tributes continue to pour in, her colleagues and loved ones are remembering her life, career and the strength with which she faced her illness.
