Faithia Balogun Mourns After Family Hid Mother’s Death to Save Her 55th Birthday Party

Nollywood icon Faithia Williams-Balogun is navigating a whirlwind of emotions after discovering that her mother passed away just hours before her glamorous 55th birthday celebration a tragedy that her family kept hidden to allow her one last moment of joy.

The actress, who officially marked her 55th year on February 5, held a star-studded “Gold and Glam” party in Lagos on Sunday, February 8. While she danced and celebrated with colleagues like Funke Akindele and Pasuma, her mother had already passed away on Saturday night. It wasn’t until the music stopped and the guests went home that Faithia was hit with the devastating truth.

“Unbeknownst to me, my beloved mother died on the eve of my party and the news was kept away from me,” Faithia revealed in a heart-wrenching social media post on Monday. “The reality of her passing has not totally dawned on me because she was my cheerleader, prayer warrior, best friend, and gist partner wrapped in the invaluable gift of a mother.”

The decision by the Williams family to withhold the news has sparked conversations online about the heavy burden of “the show must go on.” For Faithia, the shock is compounded by the fact that she was celebrating life while unknowingly mourning the woman who gave it to her.

This loss is the latest in a series of personal trials for the veteran filmmaker, who is still healing from the tragic passing of her daughter, Zeenat, in 2024. Despite the heartbreak, Faithia expressed that she is leaning on her faith for strength during this dark period.

The family has requested privacy as they begin burial preparations. For now, the “State of Harmony” usually found in the actress’s vibrant career has been replaced by a somber period of reflection, as the Nollywood community rallies around one of its most beloved stars.