Nollywood star, Yomi Fash Lanso has rejected suggestions that the recent death of many movie stars from the Yoruba land may have spiritual connections.
He said this while admitting that the demise of talented actress and friend, Moji Olaiya, has caused the industry serious pain.
Mrs. Olaiya died in Canada shortly after giving birth to a baby in March – two months before her actual delivery date.
Her death followed that of notable Yoruba actors such as Adeshina Adesanya and Olumide Bakare.
Lanso featured in the first movie Olaiya, titled, “Owo Ale” and he noted that her sudden death had thrown them into more misery, especially with the industry yet to fully recover from the deaths of Olumide Bakare and Adesina Adesanya.
He said, “We are still concluding arrangements for the burial of Pastor Ajidara when the news of Moji’s death hit us.
“It is like piercing hot iron into an open wound. It came at a time when we have not even recovered from the loss of Olumide Bakare, one of the veterans of our industry.
“I have worked with her for so many years and she is so loving and professional. In fact, I acted with her in the very first movie she appeared, Owo Ale.
“So, our friendship dates back in time. She was a really nice and wonderful person. Her demise is a big loss to the industry.”
He added, “I do not agree that there is a spiritual reason behind all these deaths in the industry because there is nobody that would not die.
“People die every day, but when it happens to prominent people, the society begins to read all sorts of meanings into it.
“I don’t believe that there is any spiritual connection. Her death is very painful to us; she was a very young woman.”