{
  "id": 17819885,
  "title": "Nollywood to hold Service of Songs and Tributes for actor Francis Duru ahead of burial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/nollywood-to-hold-service-of-songs-and-tributes-for-actor-francis",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-02T15:46:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/nollywood-to-hold-service-of-songs-and-tributes-for-actor-francis-duru-ahead-of-burial/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The long-awaited funeral preparations for the late Nollywood actor Francis Duru are being organized with a Service of Songs and Tributes in Abuja, as announced by his family through a statement on his official Instagram page. The event, set to take place on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at 5 p.m., will be held at the Family Worship Center, located on Idris Gidado Street in Wuye, Abuja. Following the service, a second Service of Songs and Tributes will be held in Imo State on Thursday, December 10, at the late Pa Theophilus Ogide Duru's family compound in Okai, Eziama, Isiala Mbano. The burial will be conducted at the same location on Friday, December 11, 2026. The announcement revealed that additional Services of Songs are being organized by various branch bodies and associations across different states, allowing more individuals to pay their respects to the late actor. Francis Duru, who was 59 years old at the time of his death, passed away on October 22, 2026, after enduring an undisclosed illness. His demise marked the loss of a beloved figure in the Nollywood industry, whose productions have garnered a global audience, including in Ghana. As funeral arrangements progress, family, colleagues, and admirers will gather to celebrate his life and remember the invaluable contributions he made to the film industry.",
  "summary": "The final journey of veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru is taking shape, with his family announcing funeral arrangements to celebrate his life and bid farewell to the screen star. The family made the announcement in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page on Monday, titled “Forever in Our Hearts.” According to the statement, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Nollywood actor Francis Duru for burial December 11",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/nollywood-actor-francis-duru-for-burial-december-11",
        "published": "2026-11-02T19:02:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}