Nigerian actress reveals how she lost her mum, 2 sisters to kidney disease, diabetes

Nollywood actress Bukky Raji has shared a deeply personal story about losing two of her sisters to life-threatening illnesses — a painful experience that left a lasting mark on her personal life and professional journey.

Speaking in a candid interview with fellow actress Biola Adebayo, Raji reflected on her upbringing in a polygamous household, where she was one of five siblings from her mother’s side. Her early life was marked by loss, including the death of her father when she was just seven years old.

She explained that the bond she shared with her mother influenced many of her life decisions — including stepping back from acting when her mother suffered a stroke, so she could become her caregiver.

“I lost two sisters from the same mum. From the five us. One died of kidney issues. The other, too, was very sick. We later realised, because we did not have the understanding then, that she had diabetes or HIV. I could not confirm it then. Later, we had to run a test on her. The other members of the family that are remaining had nothing to the glory of God. The one that had kidney issues died first,” she recalled.

Raji said both sisters passed away before their mother, whose own death deeply affected her.

“When I was single if my mummy says ‘Biodun where are you? I want to see you. It has been a while since I saw you’. I would immediately visit her. Later, when she got sick and had a stroke, I did not leave her.

“When I wanted to get married, I told my husband I did not want to stay far from my mother. That thing just worked that we were lived close to her. She died a few years ago. I miss her so much. I miss all my dead people.”

The actress also noted that she postponed marriage until after she turned 30, largely because she wanted to stay near her mother and support her through her health challenges.

“It was very hard. It was one of the things that made me stay away from acting,” she added, reflecting on the emotional toll of her family’s losses.

Raji began her acting career in 1999 and has since featured prominently in Yoruba-language films.