The Nigerian film industry woke up to painful news on Wednesday morning. Yoruba movie star and producer Temitope Kofoworola Osoba, known to fans and colleagues simply as Tope Osoba, had passed away the evening before, on Tuesday, 4th August 2026. She was 40 years old.
The announcement was first made public by her colleague and close friend, actor Alesh Ola Sanni, who shared an emotional tribute on Instagram. ‘Couldn’t sleep since last night. It’s well. Rest in peace, my dearest sister, Temitope Osoba. We had an amazing time and so many beautiful memories together. Till we meet again, I really don’t know what to say,’ he wrote.
Tope Osoba’s health struggles had been visible to those who followed her for nearly two years. In late 2024, she discovered a lump during a self-examination, which was a moment that marked the beginning of a deeply personal medical journey she chose not to keep private. 
She battled breast cancer through multiple surgeries, and at a particularly difficult point, she openly asked for financial support to help cover her treatment costs. Fans and fellow actors rallied around her, turning what could have been a moment of vulnerability into a demonstration of how much she was loved within the industry.
Doctors eventually declared her cancer-free. Then, in August 2025 (exactly one year before her death), she made an emotional return to the screen. The industry welcomed her with open arms and on August 4th that year, she posted an emotional video on Instagram reflecting on all she had been through. She expressed gratitude to all those who had stood by her, saying the prayers, messages and support she had received had given her the strength to carry on. She also spoke about returning to Nollywood with new roles, fresh stories and renewed purpose. She used the platform to raise awareness about breast cancer, urging women to perform regular self-examinations.
This video has since resurfaced following the news of her death, and it has moved many of her followers all over again.
In the months after her comeback, she maintained a lower public profile, largely for health reasons. The details surrounding her passing haven’t been released by her family.
SEE ALSO: 5 Nigerian Celebrities Who Died After Battling Cancer
Who She Was
Tope Osoba built her name through years of consistent, dedicated work in Yoruba-language cinema. She was well known for her performances in films such as Gucci Girls, Ile Owo, Omo Iya Kan, and others; projects that showcased her range and earned her a respected place in the industry. Beyond acting, she was also a producer, contributing to the creative foundation of Yoruba Nollywood in ways that extended well beyond the screen.
Those who worked with her remembered her as warm and committed, someone who brought the same energy to a conversation off-camera as she did to a role in front of one.
Her death at 40 (just over a year after her cancer treatment and celebrated return) has left the industry in shock. Fans and colleagues have flooded social media with tributes, remembering her resilience, talent, and the distinctive light she brought to Yoruba cinema.
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