Amaechi Muonagor: Nigeria mourns Nollywood comedy legend

Nollywood star and comedy legend Amaechi Muonagor has died aged 61, a relative told BBC.

He died on Sunday after suffering kidney failure and was on dialysis, local media reported.

The actor’s cousin Tony Muonagor, also known as Tony Oneweek, confirmed his death to BBC News Pidgin.

Last week, Mr Muonagor pleaded for financial assistance in a video posted to social media to help him pay for a kidney transplant abroad.

Nollywood is still reeling from the loss of another industry legend, John Okafor, better known as Mr Ibu, who had also asked for help.

Tributes are pouring in for Mr Muonagor, who brought joy to many African households through his performances.

“Your skills and display on screen were extraordinarily generous, brilliant and most incredible. Replacing you won’t be easy,” wrote one person on Facebook.

During his career, Muonagor appeared in dozens of films, including Aki and Paw Paw, one of his most famous roles where he played the father of two mischief-making, over-exuberant teenagers.

Another person wrote on Facebook: “Aki and Pawpaw movie is still fresh in my mind. This man entertained us alot.”

He was nominated for the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for Best Actor.

The actor’s health issues first came to public attention last November when a relative said he had kidney disease, according to local media.

The death of Muonagor and Mr Ibu, earlier this month, highlight a huge problem facing Nollywood actors and their healthcare.

Actors are paid on a film-by-film basis and many are not part of a health insurance scheme or able to make regular payments.

Although the Actors Guild of Nigeria says it has been able to get an insurance company to cover the industry, not all performers have signed up.

Source: BBC