Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Shares Harrowing Near-Death Experience

Nollywood star Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, fondly known as Omosexy, has recounted a life-threatening health crisis that left her battling for survival. The award-winning actress detailed her ordeal in an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, revealing a sequence of medical emergencies and a critical surgery.

Omotola, 46, shared that her health scare began with persistent chest and back pains, severe vomiting, and intense stomach pain. Despite initial treatments, her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to three emergency visits within a week. She recalled being told by doctors, “There’s nothing more we can do at this time,” while feeling on the brink of death.

The actress explained that her symptoms persisted after attending a screening of Gladiator II. Unable to sit through the film, she returned home only to endure a night of uncontrollable vomiting followed by excruciating stomach pain. By morning, she was rushed to the hospital again, where advanced diagnostic tests revealed a dangerously dilated gallbladder, necessitating immediate surgery.

“They wondered how I was not in more pain,” Omotola wrote. “So, the fight for my life began.” Accompanying her post was a video capturing moments of vulnerability, including her frail appearance, IV drips, and emotional hospital scenes. Her husband, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, stayed connected via video calls, while her children offered comfort during the ordeal.

Omotola expressed profound gratitude for surviving the experience, tying it to the US National Thanksgiving Day. “Today I am returning to give all the glory to God,” she wrote. “Take some time to give thanks—not only for the gift of life but for the gift of good health.”

The actress, who has been based in the United States in recent years, reflected on the value of health and resilience, urging fans to embrace gratitude regardless of their circumstances.

This episode comes after Omotola recently shared insights into her acting hiatus. In September, she explained that she stepped back from acting to relax, reflect, and recharge after decades of uninterrupted work since starting her career at age 15. The break was essential, she said, to rekindle her passion and creativity.

With a career spanning over 300 films, Omotola is one of Africa’s most celebrated cinematic icons. Her accolades include being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2013 and earning the Nigerian national honor of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2014.

Beyond acting, Omotola has pursued music, philanthropy, and activism. She released her debut album GBA in 2005 and worked on other musical projects. Her influence extends globally, as evidenced by her invitation to join the Academy Awards (Oscars) as a voting member in 2018.

Married to Captain Matthew Ekeinde since 1996, Omotola is a mother of four and continues to inspire audiences with her resilience and multifaceted talents.