Nollywood has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of award-winning filmmaker, producer and director, Dimbo Atiya.
Dimbo Atiya reportedly died on Thursday morning at the age of 52, sending shock waves across Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
The circumstances surrounding his death remained unclear as of the time of filing this report. While some reports claimed he suffered a heart attack, no official statement from his family had confirmed the cause of death.
The shocking news was first announced by the founder of the Best of Nollywood Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, who took to Instagram to break the news.
Oloketuyi announced that the top Nollywood director had passed away in the morning, adding that further details would be released later.
Actor Mofe Duncan was among the first Nollywood stars to publicly react to the tragedy.
Duncan, who worked with Atiya on the popular television drama Halita, described the filmmaker as one of the greatest minds in the entertainment industry and expressed devastation over his death.
The development came barely hours after Nollywood was thrown into mourning over the reported death of actress Tope Osoba, making Atiya’s passing another painful blow to the industry within a short period.
WHO WAS DIMBO ATIYA?
Atiya was not just a director but a major creative force whose work helped push Nigerian television storytelling, particularly stories rooted in Northern Nigerian culture, into the mainstream.
A native of Nasarawa State who grew up in Jos, Plateau State, Atiya initially studied Urban and Regional Planning before discovering his passion for filmmaking.
He began his professional creative journey in 2008 and later studied filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in the United States. He also had training at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and the National Film Institute in Jos.
Over the years, Atiya built an impressive career as a writer, producer, director and showrunner. He reportedly produced more than 500 television episodes and five feature films, creating opportunities for hundreds of actors and crew members.
He rose to prominence through projects including Sons of the Caliphate, Halita, Still Falling, Drawing Strength, The Rishantes, Dala Dala and The Plan, among others.
One of his biggest successes was Halita, the Africa Magic drama series which ran for two seasons and became widely popular with Nigerian television audiences.
Atiya also created and produced Sons of the Caliphate, the acclaimed political drama that aired on EbonyLife TV and later became available on Netflix.
His passion for Northern Nigerian stories was particularly evident in his work. In an earlier interview, he explained that growing up in Jos exposed him to the culture and nuances of Northern Nigeria, which he sought to showcase through contemporary storytelling.
His creative efforts earned him major recognition, including the 2022 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award for Best Africa Magic Original Drama Series for The Rishantes.
Beyond filmmaking, Atiya was also the co-founder and executive producer of Innovative Television Kontents, a company involved in producing television and film content.
His death has therefore left a huge void in Nollywood, with colleagues and admirers mourning a filmmaker whose career was built around storytelling, creativity and the promotion of African culture.
As tributes continue to pour in, details surrounding his final moments and funeral arrangements are still being awaited from his family.
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