Actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has sparked a debate on social media after sharing a birthday message on Monday, the same day veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, was buried in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State.
Akindele, who celebrated her birthday on Monday, took to Instagram to express gratitude for another year and reflect on her journey.
“Today is my birthday. My heart is full of gratitude to God for all He has done, all He is doing, and all that is still to come,” she wrote.
“May my life remain a testimony, and may the way I live inspire others to believe, to dream and to keep going. Thank You, Lord. Happy birthday to me,” she added.
While the message was largely centred on thanksgiving and personal reflection, its timing attracted criticism from some social media users. The backlash came largely from those who felt that celebrating publicly on the day Ogogo was being buried was insensitive, particularly given that both actors were prominent figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Ogogo, 66, died on Sunday after battling stage-four cancer. He was buried on Monday in Ilaro according to Islamic rites, with family members, colleagues and well-wishers paying their final respects to the veteran actor.
One social media user, @papiexploring, criticised Akindele's decision to share the birthday message on the same day as Ogogo's burial.
“Mrs Funke Akindele, I understand that life goes on and everyone has the right to celebrate their birthday, but posting a birthday celebration so soon after the passing of Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) feels insensitive,” the user wrote.
“Sometimes, it’s not about whether you’re right or wrong to celebrate. It’s about knowing when to tone things down out of respect for someone who has just passed away.”
Another user, @Seun Durojaiye, suggested that Akindele could have postponed the public celebration.
“What if you cancelled this year’s birthday celebration and do for next year?” the user asked.
However, not everyone agreed with the criticism. Some users defended the actress, arguing that grief and personal celebrations can coexist and that Akindele should not be expected to suspend her life simply because a colleague had died.
@moseswade9 said: “If you genuinely don’t like Funke’s birthday post, you can simply scroll past it. Nobody is forcing you to engage with it. Aunty Funke, whether they like it or not, you’re on their lips”.
Similarly, @francisdayforu described the criticism as unnecessary, saying people should not expect Akindele to put her birthday on hold because of the death of a colleague.
“The fact that some Nigerians expected Funke Akindele to put her birthday on hold because a colleague passed away is baffling. grief doesn’t mean life has to stop. What exactly were they expecting her to do, mourn forever?” the user wrote.
Another commenter, @anikybee, also defended the actress, pointing out that death is inevitable and that Ogogo had been ill before his passing.
“It’s her birthday. What level of bitterness are you guys displaying in the comment? Death is inevitable. Ogogo has been sick. So she should pause her life or happiness because her colleague died?” the user commented.
The reactions have since opened up a wider conversation about how public figures should navigate personal celebrations when major tragedies involving colleagues or other members of their community occur.
While some believe public celebrations should be toned down out of respect for the deceased and their family, others argue that mourning should not necessarily require everyone around the deceased to stop living or celebrating important personal milestones.
Ogogo, a respected figure in the Nigerian entertainment industry, was laid to rest in Ilaro on Monday following his death on Sunday after a battle with stage-four cancer.