The death of Fabian Adibe was confirmed by Seun Oloketuyi, CEO of Best of Nollywood, in a social media post.
“Things Fall Apart’ actor Fabian Adibe is dead. He passed away at 2:30 a.m. this morning,” he announced.
The veteran was born in Owerri, Imo, on December 1, 1943. He was one of Nollywood’s most respected pioneers, graduating with a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan.
Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to the art of performance.
His first major recognition came in 1965 when he represented Nigeria at the country’s inaugural Commonwealth Arts Festival, marking the beginning of his career on stage and screen.
Mr Adibe became a household name in 1987, when he starred as Ogbuefi Uzowulu in the Nigerian Television Authority’s adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’, which featured some of the era’s finest actors, including Pete Edochie, Justus Esiri, and Sam Loco Efe.
He went on to feature in classics such as Living in Bondage and later appeared in hundreds of titles, including My Sister, My Love, White Kingdom, and Slave Warrior. His versatility took him beyond Nollywood, landing roles in international projects like Soweto and the Hollywood film Mr Johnson.
He also left his mark on stage and television, with memorable appearances in Broken Plate, Peacemaker, and Evil Desire.
In his later years, Mr Adibe withdrew from Nollywood, openly criticising the poor pay and the industry’s disregard for veteran actors.
His career was further cut short by failing eyesight caused by glaucoma, a struggle he said exposed the neglect faced by many pioneers who laid Nollywood’s foundations.
Married in 1978, Mr Adibe was a father of four, including actress Chioma Adibe and filmmaker Emeka Adibe.
