Giringori dies at 69

James Akwari Iroha, veteran actor, also known as Giringori, creator of popular old television drama, the masquerade, 69 years, February 28.

He passed on at a private hospital in Onitsha, Anambra State, after a long battle with glaucoma at the early hours on Tuesday, months away from his 70th birthday. Late Iroha suffered blindness that kept him at home for years, and also high blood pressure.

Born into a humble background, his parents were poor farmers but his father had many wives. After secondary education, he worked in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before he gained admission into the University of Ibadan, where he studied Theatre Arts. He worked with the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation during the Civil War, later transferred to NTA Aba, Channel Six. Due to his retirement from the NTA, he started a program, Yesterday People. During the early years of Nollywood, Iroha featured in a couple of movies that include Black Angel, Osuofia, The Three Wise Men and Nneka the Pretty Serpent. He later quit because of the loopholes and shortcomings he perceived to exist in the industry.

In 1981, he was given a National Honor of the Office of the Order of the Niger, by the then President Shehu Shagari.

He was inspired to create, The Masquerade, by his parent’s way of life.  According to him, the lead character played by Chika Okpala is a replica of his father while Ovularia, Lizy Iboeme, is a replica of his mother.

On the choice of the title, “I used it because in the African traditional context of the word, there is respect for masquerades. You could mask yourself and even talk to a king without fear of being arrested by his guards. That respect, which Africans give to masquerades, prompted me to title the drama Masquerade,” he said.

Before his death, Iroha sought medical treatment in Indian where he was told that he had cataract in one eye and glaucoma in the other. 

“They told me that Nigerian doctors had ruined my sight. They told me that no doctor alive would ever restore my sight. They told me I had cataract in one eye and glaucoma in the other eye. They removed the cataract and planted a lens. That is why I am able to see a little bit. I can’t read, I can’t write. Is it not worse than death,” he said.

He is the third member of the comedic soap to have passed on.

Christy Essien Igbokwe, who played the role of Apena and Claude Ake known as Jegede Sokoya have also passed on.

He is survived by five children.

By Portia: this article can also be found in TELL magazine