7th August, 2012
Veteran actor, Hammed Odutola, popularly known as Dento is dead. He died at about 9pm yesterday after a long battle with stroke.
A devoted Muslim before his death, Dento was buried according to Muslim rites in his hometown in Ibadan at about 10am today.
The popular Yoruba comic actor had been bedridden with stroke for some months now. In May, this year, his health deteriorated, prompting his friends and colleagues to go on social network sites, soliciting financial assistance for him.
On Friday, 1 June, 2012, the save-a-soul broadcast message sent by his colleagues went virile on social media, including Blackberry messenger, Twitter and Facebook. The message reads “HAMMED ODUOLA, a veteran popularly known as DENTO can no longer work, walk or speak for now because he is down with STROKE, he needs about N1.5m to be on his feet again! Please let’s save this comic relief icon. Your widow’s mite is urgently needed!”
Shortly after the message, the Lagos State government and some individuals were said to have given the actor a lifeline and his health was said to be improving. According to a source, he was already moving his hands and legs gradually, and had started speaking as well.
“That is why we are all surprised to hear that he is dead. This is quite unfortunate because we felt all our efforts were not in vain, since he was getting better already, but his death came as a huge shock to everybody. Uncle Dento was such a fantastic actor who had inspired a lot of us. The industry will really miss him,” Yoruba actress cum movie producer, Queen Oluwa told P.M.NEWS this morning. It was gathered that his family had resorted to traditional healing before he died.
Artistes have been paying condolence visit to his Omotola Street, Owode area of Ibadan, Oyo state residence.
The ailing actor had been off the acting scene for the past five years. He used his late father’s building, where he lived, for his tailoring work. He was a trained tailor before he ventured into full time acting. None of his two wives lives with him. And the only person that lives with him is Moshood, a child from his second wife.
According to a source, the second wife, who packed to her house a few years ago, had been visiting him regularly for care. Dento, born about 60 years ago, was a native of Agbongbon area in Ibadan, Oyo State. He became popular when he joined Chief Lere Paimo Theatre Group in the late 1970s. He also featured in an NTA Ibadan drama series in the early 1980s produced by the theatre group, and since then, he became a household name.
—Bayo Adetu