Emotional Tribute: Dare Art Alade's Touching Performance for Olu Jacobs
The funeral service for veteran actor Olu Jacobs in Lagos featured a significant performance by Dare Art Alade, whose song "Pray for Me" had a music video starring Jacobs and his wife, Joke Silva. Family, friends, and dignitaries gathered to pay respects and celebrate the life of the late icon, whose career spanned over five decades in theatre, television, and film.
Veteran actor Olu Jacobs was honored with a deeply moving funeral service on Friday, held at This Present House Church in Lekki, Lagos. The somber occasion saw entertainment entrepreneur Dare Art Alade deliver a poignant performance of his song “Pray for Me,” a rendition that resonated profoundly with attendees due to its significant connection to the esteemed late actor.
Dare Art Alade’s performance held particular meaning as Olu Jacobs and his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, had famously featured in the music video for “Pray for Me.” This song, part of Dare Art Alade’s 2016 album, Naked, narrates the journey of a young man who ventures from home to pursue his urban dreams, subsequently encountering the inherent challenges. The accompanying music video, skillfully directed by Mex and filmed across diverse locations including Abeokuta, Lagos, and Johannesburg, showcased Jacobs and Silva in compelling acting roles, a collaboration Dare Art Alade had previously expressed great excitement about.
The funeral service served as a gathering point for a multitude of individuals who came to pay their final respects to Jacobs, who passed away on September 16 at the age of 84. Among those present were heartbroken family members, close friends, industry colleagues, and prominent dignitaries. A significant part of the farewell activities included Olugbenga Jacobs, one of the late actor’s sons, presenting his father’s biography, offering a deeper insight into the life and achievements of the revered figure.
The assembly of notable personalities underscored the widespread impact of Olu Jacobs. Dignitaries such as Lagos State Deputy Governor Oba Femi Hamzat, First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun were in attendance, signifying the high regard in which Jacobs was held beyond the entertainment sphere. Prior to the main funeral, members of the Nigerian entertainment industry had converged at Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Island, on Wednesday for a heartfelt Night of Tributes, commemorating the life and indelible contributions of the late actor.
Olu Jacobs leaves behind an enduring legacy, having meticulously built a career that spanned more than five decades. His illustrious journey encompassed significant roles across theatre, television, and film. He was married to the equally iconic Joke Silva, with whom he not only shared a profound personal bond but also co-founded the influential Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, further cementing their collective impact on the performing arts landscape in Nigeria.