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I still remember the first moment I stumbled on Sanku’s skits. His jokes felt like a close friend whispering joy into a tired day—drawn from Lagos hustle, our hopes, and our everyday humor. Today I write with a heavy heart, saying goodbye to a star gone too soon.
Farewell to Sanku – A Nigerian Comedy Gem
Sanku wasn’t just funny; he was deeply human. You felt it in the pauses between punchlines, the warmth in his eyes on camera, the way he could make a quiet domestic scene feel like a stage. His rise from promising skit maker to a household name reflected not only talent but also relentless discipline. He collaborated widely—appearing with peers and mentors alike—proving that in our creative industry, collaboration is culture.
He also took the bold step into Nollywood, appearing in projects that hinted at an even brighter future. The screen loved him because people loved him first. It is hard to explain how someone you never met in person can feel like a friend, but that is what Sanku did for many of us. He turned ordinary into extraordinary and made the internet feel like home.
The Early Life and Rise of Sanku
Beginning around 2021, Sanku’s skits started circulating widely: short, expressive, and honest. The characters he created—animated by Yoruba and Nigerian Pidgin—were familiar without being cliché, original without posturing. As his visibility grew, so did his voice. By 2024, he had become a bona fide sensation on short-form video platforms, often trending for his blend of witty storytelling and everyday relatability.
His method was deceptively simple: take a familiar situation, twist it slightly, and let the truth peek through the laughter. He experimented, refined, and kept showing up. In an online space crowded with soundbites, Sanku built a world. He treated each post like an invitation—to laugh, to exhale, to feel seen.
The Accident That Took Him Too Soon
On Monday, September 1, 2025, news broke that Sanku had been involved in a road accident along the Oyo–Ogbomoso route in Ibadan. The details were painful to read, the images difficult to process. He was rushed to the hospital, but the injuries proved fatal. The numbness that followed across timelines showed how deeply his work had burrowed into our daily lives.
There are moments when the internet goes quiet for a second—when jokes stop landing, when trends pause—and this was one of them. The silence was a collective inhale, a fragile moment of disbelief that we all seemed to share.
Public Grief and Emotional Tributes
The tributes arrived in waves: colleagues, actors, longtime followers, casual viewers who had once laughed at a single clip. The words were simple—“Rest well,” “You made us laugh,” “Gone too soon”—but the weight behind them was immense. Many spoke of his humility, of the kindness he showed off camera, of the way he acknowledged people who were still finding their footing online.
“The pain, the effort, the strength, the struggle… nothing makes sense. I’m heartbroken.”
For many of us, these messages weren’t just updates; they felt like wake-keeping in the digital public square. It is moving—and necessary—to see a community hold space for grief, and to recognize that the person behind a handle, behind a character, was a human being with dreams bigger than any single platform.
Why Sanku’s Story Matters
We often talk about virality like lightning—quick and spectacular. But Sanku’s story was also about foundations: practice, authenticity, patience. He remained rooted in the everyday, and that is what made his work durable. In a landscape that can reward shock over substance, he chose resonance. He was proof that the testimonies of ordinary Nigerians—our language, our humor, our stubborn hope—belong at the center of our screens.
His legacy is not only the laughter we remember but the permission he gave others to try—to pick up a phone, write a skit, rehearse a line, and upload a dream. The best memorial is the work he inspired.
Lessons for Upcoming Nigerian Artistes
If you’re an upcoming artiste—singer, actor, comedian, or skit maker—Sanku’s journey offers a compass. These are lessons I’m taking forward and sharing with you:
- Protect your safety as fiercely as your creativity. Travel prudently. Avoid late-night journeys when you can. Plan rest. Your life is not a price you must pay for success.
- Build support networks, not just followers. Collaboration accelerates growth. Seek mentors, peers, and communities that challenge you to improve and celebrate your wins.
- Diversify beyond virality. Use short-form platforms as a springboard, not a ceiling. Consider acting, writing rooms, live shows, radio, and film. Spread your risk and sharpen your craft.
- Invest in your mental health. Schedule downtime, therapy if available, and boundaries with your audience. Art comes from a well; keep it replenished.
- Stay authentic. Audiences can smell pretense. Your background, accent, and quirks are assets. Turn them into signatures.
- Document and protect your work. Use watermarks where appropriate, register trademarks, and keep project files backed up. Professionalize your art.
- Learn the business. Basic contracts, invoice templates, bookkeeping, and taxes—know them. A good manager or lawyer is not a luxury; it’s protection.
- Prioritize health. Regular checkups, hydration, sleep, and exercise sound mundane—until they save your career. The body is your first instrument.
- Plan for longevity. Save aggressively, build emergency funds, and think in seasons (quarters and years), not just in posts. Longevity is strategy plus care.
None of these are glamorous, but they compound. Talent opens doors; discipline keeps you in the room.
A Note on Road Safety and Care
Every loss on our roads is one too many. If you are a touring artiste, rehearse a simple checklist: Is the driver rested? Are the tires and brakes checked? Is there a seating plan with seatbelts for everyone? Do you have an emergency medical kit? These questions sound small until they become the only ones that matter.
Talk openly with your team about safety culture. If a schedule pushes you toward risky travel, renegotiate it. Audiences would rather wait for a late performance than attend a memorial.
Closing Reflections: Carrying the Light Forward
Writing this, I keep returning to a single feeling: gratitude. Gratitude that a young creative chose to share his world with us, that he trusted us with his voice, that his laughter walked us through hard days. The videos remain. The laughter remains. And with it, the responsibility to honor his memory in how we live, how we create, and how we treat one another.
Rest well, Sanku. Your name is stitched into the fabric of our timelines and our hearts. We will remember the joy you gave us—and we’ll pass it on.
