By Benjamin Njoku

Amaechi Muonagor, who died last Sunday in his home town, Obosi, in Anambra State, after a protracted illness has been described by his colleagues as one of the foremost movie personalities that shaped the Nigerian movie industry.

Muonagor was diagnosed with diabetes and kidney disease last November while he sought financial assistance from his fans and Nigerians online.

The actor’s demise which sent a shock-wave across the industry came weeks after the industry lost yet another vibrant actor, Mr Ibu.

Paying tribute to the deceased, Bob Mauel-Udokwu, popular actor and a special adviser to the Anambra State governor, Chukwuma Soludo, said even though the industry would not be the same again with the death of Muonago, the deceased, however, left an indelible imprint in the consciousness of humanity that would endure for generations to come. “My relationship with him was cordial with mutual respect as expected since we both hail from Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State. On movie sets, Muonagor related very cordially with both fellow cast and crew members no matter what age differences that existed,”Udokwu said.

He also recalled how the First Lady of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo visited the late actor on Christmas day, last year, while he was hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit of the Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Anambra State. “He was overjoyed at our visit and was optimistic that he would leave the hospital soon enough. Sadly he didn’t make it,”Udokwu recounted.

On his own, veteran Nollywood producer, Zeb Ejiro described the late actor as “one of the early players of Nollywood”, adding “his contributions cannot be measured.”

Another popular actor, Clemson-Cornell Ágbogidi Nnonyelu, who’s best known for playing Chief priest in movies, said he had known Muonagor long before the advent of Nollywood, way back in their undergraduate days at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. “In fact, we were in the same hostel, Mbanefo and belonged to the same Nze na ozo society i.e. igwe en council. We were both prominent ichies. I was the chief priest of the nze na ozo society of our hostel by name Ezeoranyelu, while Muonagor was a stunt master in acrobatic somersault by name Onyemaluife ga ese during outings”, he said.