The Nigerian film community is in mourning after cinematographers Johnson Ododife and Chigo Gozman died in a tragic car crash returning from a wedding in Port Harcourt.
- The victims, Ododife and Gozman, were returning to Asaba after attending a colleague’s wedding in Rivers State.
- Johnson Ododife was the Delta chairman of the Cinematographers Society of Nigeria; Gozman was a content creator.
- Yul Edochie and other Nollywood colleagues shared tributes, expressing grief over frequent untimely deaths.
Producer Stanley Ontop broke the news on Instagram, calling it a “Black Sunday in Nollywood.” His emotional tribute reflected the pain of losing close colleagues. Reactions from actors and fans online reveal shared sorrow and shock, highlighting the fragility of life in the creative industry.
As the industry mourns, the loss sparks deeper questions: Can better travel support or crew safety practices prevent such tragedies? How can Nollywood honor the memory of its fallen behind-the-scenes heroes?
