A few weeks ago, actress Henrietta Kosoko idea in a Lagos hospital. Her colleagues in the industry in this new interview with Encomium, have now recounted her last moments with them. Excerpts:
‘She maintained a very good and cordial relationship with everybody in the industry’
-NIKE PELLER
“Aunty Henrietta Kosoko was a nice colleague. She was a cheerful
giver. With the little she had, she always looked for whom to share it
with. I really loved her but God loves her the more. We’re very cordial
and that’s how she was to almost everybody in the industry. Her death
was a shock to me; I couldn’t even believe it because we spoke a few
days to her death. She even asked me to buy original honey for her when I
told her I was going to Iseyin, in Oyo State which I did and was
delivered to her. She paid N4,000 for the honey, and that’s on Sunday, a
day prior to her death. That’s why I was shocked when I heard she
passed on. She was so nice and will be missed by everybody in the
industry. May her soul rest in peace.”
‘She lived as if she knew she was going to die young’
– MONSURU OBADINA (FALA)
“Henrietta’s death is painful and incredible. She was a very nice and
respectful woman. She was always there for everybody around her. She so
much respected all of us who are her husband’s friends. She lived like a
traveller in transit, as if there would be no tomorrow. She always
tried to contribute to other people’s lives and careers. She was so nice
a woman. The industry as a whole has lost a gem and will be missed by
all.”
‘I can’t believe Henrietta is gone’ -YINKA QUADRI
“I was shocked when I received the news of her death. It’s even
difficult for me to tell others because I couldn’t believe she’s gone.
She was a fantastic woman and a very good actress. The industry,
especially Yoruba movie sector has lost yet another good hand. May her
soul rest in perfect peace. And I pray Almighty Allah grants her
husband, Uncle Jide Kosoko the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable
loss.”
‘Henrietta’s death was a big loss’-BAYOWA
“No doubt, her death was a big loss, not only to Jide Kosoko’s family
or her family, but to all of us in the industry. But we thank God for
her. She lived a good life. Her years as an actress were very eventful,
and everybody loved her. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. And I
pray God will grant Prince Jide Kosoko and those she left behind the
fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
‘She was always there for me’ – JAIYE KUTI
“She was such a wonderful woman. She’s my friend. I started the
Yoruba ANTP with her group. The first day she saw me, she said she liked
me. She’s a wonderful person to me, friendly, accommodating, words
can’t just express her nature. We were friends, on the long run we
became a family. She was always there for me. I remember my sister’s
wedding, she was the chairperson. At my father’s burial, she was there.
Most of the things I did, she’s always there for me. I didn’t do things
without her. I don’t just know how to describe her. She’s too good to
me.
When I got the news of her death, I thought it was a rumour. I had to
drive all the way from Owode, Ogun State to her house in Bariga, Lagos
to find out that is she was truly dead. After I had confirmed the news, I
almost fainted because it’s a shock to me. This was a woman I saw two
weeks ago. We were at a party. Hearing the news of her death was
shocking. People don’t just die like that. But in every situation, we
just have to thank God. I will really miss her laughter. All she did was
to laugh. She’s down to earth. She didn’t hide her feelings. She’s just
wonderful.”
‘She talked to everyone like a mother and a friend’ – MUYIWA ADEMOLA
It’s just very shocking to hear of Aunty Henrietta’s death. It’s
something we never expected for 20 – 30 years to come. It’s so sad and
devastating. I was shocked and for hours, I kept thinking if it could be
true? I put a call through to Sola Kosoko and Uncle Jide Kosoko and he
confirmed that she’s truly dead. It still looks like a movie to me,
probably she would wake up and tell everybody she’s alive. I will miss
her mother care, love and her role in people’s lives, especially in my
life. She talked to everyone like a mother and a friend. She was just so
wonderful. Anytime she saw you, you would hear words like Awon omo mi
nko? Bawo ni? Iyawo e nko? Aburo nko? Bawo ni ise? Igbawo lo fe se film?
Emura si oo… You know, all that motherly care is what people will miss
most about her. Her husband was the past president of our association
(ANTP). He’s a veteran actor. He’s an icon and I pray God will give him
the grace to bear the loss. Madam Henrietta was just a great woman.
Everyone would miss her.
‘I will give my best to keep her legacy’ – MERCY AIGBE
Mrs. Henrietta Kosoko was my senior colleague. She’s more than just a
colleague, she’s my big aunty. We were very close. She advised me on
some personal issues, she encouraged me. She’s just a wonderful person, I
must say. It is so painful losing someone great like Henrietta Kosoko.
When I heard the news, I was shocked. I didn’t believe it was real until
I got there. This is really sad, it’s touching. I feel bad about her
death. I just pray the Lord God grant her family the fortitude to bear
the loss. May the Lord’s protection be upon the young ones she left
behind.
She’s such a fantastic actress. I had the opportunity to work with
her on some movies and she also featured in one of my flicks entitled
Osas. She played the role of my mom in the movie. We went to Benin and
shot some part of the movie. She’s just pretty wonderful, accommodating
and understanding. So painful that she’s no more. Aunty Henrietta, we
all loved you but God loves you the most. In my own little way, I will
give my best in making her legacy remain alive. She stood for good job,
good production. So, I will try to protect what she stood for. I will
give my all to the family.
‘She was amiable and loving’ -RIKARDO AGBOR
“Henrietta was very amiable and loving. She was also very
professional in terms of her career. Her death was really shocking. I
think one thing we really need in the industry is that kind of
comradeship and getting to know about everybody. I think she was
diabetic. Maybe if she had shared this with few people, she might be
counseled on what to do and what not to do. No one is an island of
knowledge.
But in all, God knows best. Henrietta was a fantastic actress and she
has left a vacuum. But as the tradition of the industry demands,
nothing is ever left open for too long. There’s always somebody, but for
you to have somebody of her quality, it may take a while. But I think
God is awesome, and I will always want to leave that to Him.”
‘We should start to check on ourselves’ – REMI SURUTU
She’s peaceful and wonderful. As a colleague, I never saw her upset.
She was my friend. It’s just a rude shock to everyone. I wasn’t
expecting Henrietta to just die like that. It remains a rude shock to
everyone. When I saw it online, I didn’t believe it. I said they must be
joking. I thought it was just a rumour. I never even thought about it
until I started receiving calls from friends about her death. It’s just a
big loss to the industry. It’s very sad because her children are still
very young. I just pray to God to grant the children the fortitude to
bear the loss. In the industry, we should learn to check on ourselves.
We should make it a point of duty. Gathering like this (wake keep) is
bad. I don’t like it, we should start checking on ourselves.
‘Her death is so painful’ -MUKA RAY
“Henrietta Kosoko’s death was so painful that I am still in shock.
Gone so soon. She was a fantastic colleague, who was known with her good
role interpretation. And she was nice to everybody. The industry will
surely miss her.”
‘She was a pleasant woman’ -YOMI FABIYI
“Henrietta was a very pleasant and never aggressive woman. Her best
make up were her smiles. She always gave me so much respect anytime we
met and so said everybody she came across.”
‘Henrietta was very nice’ -FUNKE ETTI
“The news of her death was quite shocking, and very difficult to
believe. It shouldn’t have been Aunty Henrietta that would die this
soon. She was a very nice woman. But who are we to query God. May her
gentle soul rest in peace.”
‘She was very accommodating’ -SAIDI BALOGUN
“Henrietta Kosoko was a very nice and accommodating woman. She was
easy going and hardworking. Her death was shocking and painful. We will
all miss her.”
‘She was full of encouragement’ – BABATUDE OWOKONIRAN
It was very shocking news to me. This was a woman that was full of
encouragement. She encouraged the youth to be the best. Anytime you are
on set with her, she’s willing to support and put you through, to tell
you what to do in a friendly manner. This is a big loss to the industry.
We all loved her and we would miss her so dearly.
‘She was so wonderful’ – KUNLE ADEGBITE
“She was just a wonderful person that I so much loved. She was kind,
wonderful and full of encouragement. We will miss her in the industry. I
was shocked when I heard about her death I broke down because we were
not expecting such sad news. I don’t know how to describe this but I
will greatly miss her. Our last moment was when I called her for my job
in Abeokuta. That was the last time we were n set together. It’s just so
sad