Nkechi Blessing announced the Anambra-born actor's death on Instagram and shelved her film Egusi Ogbono, which he starred in.
Nollywood actor Chijioke Nwokafor, known to colleagues and fans as Cjay, has died at 46. Actress Nkechi Blessing announced his death on Instagram on Wednesday, September 30, in a video she recorded from a hospital in Badore, Lagos.
Blessing did not say what killed him. She had been due to release her film Egusi Ogbono at 5 p.m. that day, and pulled it after the hospital confirmed his death. Cjay starred in the movie.
She had spoken to him that same morning.
Cjay Nwoke Oma, so this is really the end? Omo we had plans. I spoke to you at 8 a.m. today and a few hours later you are no more with us.
"Omo please return if possible because I refuse to type otherwise and this is too much for me to handle," she wrote.
Colleagues reacted with the same disbelief. Actor Charles Born had planned to visit him at the clinic. "Wait what? I was supposed to go see him at the clinic. Is this a joke?" he wrote. Emeka Nwagbaraocha, on X, said the two had texted only days earlier: "Can't believe CJ is dead mehn."
Cjay was from Awka in Anambra State and started acting in 2021. He appeared in Larry Cold, Mum Overnight, A Day to My Wedding and The Lies She Tell, among others. In an interview with Trybe TV on September 21, he recalled how his first set, working with filmmaker Ruth Kadiri, convinced him to pursue acting full time. Kadiri was among those who mourned him, posting "If anyone had told me my day would end at the hospital, I wouldn't have believed... farewell CJ."
In his last days, Cjay posted on Instagram: "No pressure, lifestyle cost na you no know," in one message, and "Life's too short to be unhappy, live every minute like it's your last. Live, love, laugh," in another.
His family had not disclosed the cause of death or announced funeral arrangements as of press time.
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