Veteran Nollywood actress, Ada Ameh, popular for her role as Emu in Africa Magic family drama, The Johnsons, died on Sunday night.
The news of the actress’s death shocked fans and colleagues and was made public on Monday.
As captured from The PUNCH, here are highlights of how grief, loss, mental breakdown, and other issues shaped the life of the late Ameh.
Ameh stated that she got pregnant at 13 years old because her peers introduced her to sex early.
In a 2021 interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the actress revealed that her peers influenced her, which led her to get pregnant at the early age of 13.
When asked about the cause of her early pregnancy, she said, “It wasn’t my parents. I was influenced by my peers. They introduced me to ‘early sex’. One thing led to another, and I got pregnant.
“The most beautiful part is that, on my 15th birthday, my baby was barely five months old. I was marched out of the Barracks.”
Ameh stated that she took to alcoholism during that period because she felt she had gotten her independence already.
Despite her early motherhood, the actress, in October 2020, lost her daughter, Aladi Godgift, who was over 30 years old.
Aladi had died after an unsuccessful surgery in Abuja, and in October 2021, the bereaved mother visited her daughter’s grave site to mark her one-year remembrance.
“One thing that was not easy for me was that I allowed my daughter to leave for Abuja. The day I made that mistake was the day I left her to leave the house. I’ve lived with that guilt all my life.” Ameh had disclosed.
Mental issues
In June 2022, the actress opened up about her mental health challenges.
“Everything is going to be fine. I have an issue right now, and it’s taking my life. I will not die. We will get over it,” Ameh had said in a video on her Instagram page.
The actress explained that she was given a job but could not carry it out because she was undergoing mental issues.
She said, “I was given a job, but I didn’t do the job because I had mental issues. Will people understand when you say you have mental issues? They won’t. They’re slamming me with a bill, suing me. It’s okay.”
Appearing on TVC’s Your View on July 1, 2022, her last interview, the actress revealed that she suffered max depression even before her daughter’s death, but it worsened after she lost her child.
“I had depression, max depression. I’ve been depressed for some years, and it worsened when I lost my daughter in 2020. We practically grew up together. She was like my younger sister,” Ameh had said.
She also noted that she had lost seven of her family members before losing her daughter.
“I had lost three sisters before that time, and each had three children. I’ve lost three of my brothers and my father. So after mourning all these people, and then (I lost) my daughter,” the actress said.
She said, “When my daughter died, my world crumbled before me, and sometimes, I see myself crying for days.”
Ameh had also celebrated her daughter on the latter’s posthumous birthday in late 2021.
Born on May 15, 1974, in Ajegunle, Lagos, Adah Ameh became a popular face in Nollywood after playing the role of Anita in the 1996 blockbuster, Domitila.
Nigerians,Celebrities React To Death
Eagle’s Sight News reports that some Nigerian entertainers and celebrities have reacted to the death of Nollywood veteran actress, Adah Ameh.
Ada Ameh who was reported dead Monday was said to collapsed and died around 11 pm on Sunday.
Ada Ameh, known for her major role in the Africa Magic family drama, The Johnsons, had on June 15, opened up on her battle with mental health a few weeks before her demise.daily post reported
The 48-year-old movie star had said the issue was gradually taking her life, but she believes that she will not die and will get over it
Following Ada Ameh’s death, celebrities took to Twitter and Instagram to mourn her.
Nollywood actress, Nancy Isime, tweeted, “My heart is so heavy, I don’t even know what to say! one of the people I look up to in the film industry. Rip aunty Ada Ameh. I’ll miss you so much.”
Similarly, former Big Brother Naija reality television star, Angel Smith said: “The fact that we have to experience grief at some point in our lives and then try to live with such an intense emotion is so mind-blowing. If the news is true, Rest well, Ada Ameh. I loved watching you on tv. I hope you’re at a place where pain is a fiction of our imagination.”
On his part, Popular On-Air Personality, Dotun, wrote, “Ada Ameh’s death is so painful. One of My fav on The Johnsons, especially when she says ‘a lucky lo lo’ ‘Apor’. She just lost a child and she now. May God put us through our tough times. This one is very painful.”
Also reacting, controversial Nollywood actor, Uche Maduagwu, wrote on Instagram: “Nollywood actresses why? I am so SAD now and in TEARS after seeing all the poetry written on social media, especially by some popular actresses close to Aunty Ada, who IGNORED her when she came out on social media and needed help, these actresses never sent a KOBO, yet were all busy showing off expensive new #CARS and #Dollars constantly on social media, now Dem be the first to write poetry after the sad news, who do us like this for Nollywood?”
Veteran singer, John Asiemo, popularly known as Daddy Showkey, wrote on Instagram: “Oh My God my Sister is gone, I always tell you that I will be there for because you are always there for me, you saved my life when down, Oh my sister rest well in the Lord’s hands Ada no be so oooo We talk am ooo Ah ah ah.”