The year 2022 has been an eventful year for the entertainment industry, as the deaths of some renowned celebrities left the industry in pain and many fans in shock.
From actors to singers and reality TV stars, the entertainment industry witnessed several deaths, which brought grief to bereaved families and fans all over the world.
It was almost impossible to put together a list, as a lot more than 10 African entertainers died in 2022.
The celebrities on this list were incredibly talented and passed ahead of their time and will be sorely missed.
In no particular order, here are some of the African entertainers who died in 2022.
- OSINACHI NWACHUKWU
Nigerian Gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, passed away on Friday, April 8, 2022 at the age of 42 after spending days in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja, Nigeria.
Osinachi Nwachukwu was a Nigerian gospel musician. She achieved popularity through the single “Ekwueme” featuring Prospa Ochimana.
Following reports of domestic violence leading to her death, the Federal Government filed 23 charges against Peter Nwachukwu, her husband, accusing him of culpable homicide.
2. RICO SWAVEY
Patrick Fakoya, popularly known as Rico Swavey, a Nigerian tv reality star, was involved in a car accident which led to him being placed on life support on October 11, 2022.
He died two days after the accident on Thursday, October 13, 2022. A private service was held at Trinity Methodist Church, Tinubu Square, Lagos , before his burial at Ebony Vaults, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Rico rose to fame as a housemate on the reality show Big Brother Naija, and until his death he was an actor and musician.
3. BIYI BANDELE
Biyi Bandele, was an award winning Nigerian novelist, playwright, director of Half of a Yellow Sun and co-director of Blood Sisters, a Nigerian series, died on Sunday, August 17, 2022.
He was buried in Lagos on Friday, September 23. 2022. The ceremony was discreet and was attended by the family and close associates of the late filmmaker. His cause of death is still unknown .
4. SAMMIE OKPOSO
Popular Nigerian gospel singer, Sammie Okposo, died in his sleep on Friday morning, November 25, 2022. He was aged 51. A tribute night was held for him on Tuesday, December 13, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Okposo started his career as a producer and soon became a became a soundtrack producer in the Nigerian movie industry. This was the official start of his career, before he became an award-winning gospel artiste.
He released his first album, “Unconditional Love,” in 2000, with the hit single “Welu-Welu”.
Okposo was buried on Friday, December 16, in a private cemetery in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
5. ADA AMEH
Nollywood veteran, Ada Ameh, died on July 17, 2022, at the NNPC hospital in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. She was aged 48.
A ‘Night of Tributes’ event was organised by the cast and crew of the popular TV series, ‘The Johnsons’, in her honour as the lead actress of the series. A celebrity football match was also held in her honour.
She was buried on Friday, August 26, 2022, in her father’s compound in their hometown of Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria.
6. PRINCE YAWSON
Prince Yawson, also known as Waakye, was a Ghanaian actor and comedian. He died at the age of 52.
Waakye, featured in many prominent movies in the Ghanaian movie industry. He passed on after a stroke, on 1, August 2022.
7. RIKHADO ‘RIKY RICK’ MAKHADO
With so many losses and advocacy talk on social media about mental health, it was painful to learn of Riky Rick’s death. He lost his battle with depression at the age of 34.
The Boss Zonke hitmaker committed suicide and the last tweet from him read: “I will come back a stronger man. This land is still my home.”
Ricky, allegedly hung himself with a rope after suffering from severe depression.
The circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear, but reports say the rapper took his own life at his home in north Johannesburg.
He rose to fame with his platinum-certified album ‘Family Values’ in 2015 after making a name for himself and asserting his influence in SA hip-hop culture.
His greatest hits include Amantombazane, Boss Zonke and Sidlukotini.
Riky Rick was the founder and owner of the Cotton Club Records record label. He was known for his fashion sense and trendsetting.
Riky Rick died on February 23, 2022.
8. BUSISIWE LURAYI
South African actress, Busisiwe Lurayi left the nation shocked when her body was found with visible bruises and blood oozing from her mouth. She met her untimely death at the age of 36.
Prior to her untimely death, the South African actress portrayed the “free-spirited” character of Tumi Sello on Netflix’s ‘How To Ruin Christmas’, which premiered in 2020.
Lurayi’s other screen credits include the South African sitcom ‘City Ses’la and’ its spinoff ‘Ses’Top La’, the drama series ‘Wild at Heart’.
In 2021, Lurayi won the SAFTA Golden Horn Award for Best Actress in a TV comedy for her role as Tumi in How to Ruin Christmas.
Busisiwe Lurayi died on July 11, 2022.
9. BOITUMELO ATHIEL ‘DJ DIMPLEZ’ MOOI
The DJ behind many South African hip-hop hits such as Riky Rick’s Amantombazane Remix and Way Up died from a sudden brain hemorrhage at the age of 30.
DJ Dimplez was known for his contribution to local hip-hop. He mentored and helped elevate many artists. He had a YouTube Channel and was the founder of a popular hip-hop event, Pop Bottles in Johannesburg.
His hit songs include; ‘Way Up’ with Cassper Nyovest and the Amantombazane remix with Riky Rick. He released his album Kubu in 2019.
He passed away on March 6, 2022.
10. HESHAM SELIM
Renowned Egyptian actor Hesham Selim passed away, at the age of 64, on September 22,2022 after a long battle with cancer.
Selim’s long standing career in the film industry puts him beside other legendary names that have maintained a prominent role in the industry across generations.
His journey to acting was sparked by a random encounter with famous Egyptian actress Faten Hamama, who was friends with his father Captain Saleh Selim, and chose him to star in her film “M Empire” in 1972.
In 2021, Selim received praises on social media after revealing his 26-year-old son Nour was completing the process of physically transitioning to a man and had already socially transitioned to the male gender.
Hesham Selim’s funeral took place on September 22, 2022 at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Egypt.