Veteran cartoonist, Olaseinde Obe, popularly known as Obe Ess will be buried in his hometown today, Ibadan in Oyo State.
The popular cartoonist passed on April 15 at the age of 68.
Read tributes from family members and well wishers as Obe Ess embarks on his final journey:
Tributes
Montage by Nkanu Egbe
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Anthony Okon
April 25
Obe ESS will be remembered for his humility and approachable qualities that has endeared him to all irrespective of status, age or tribe. He was very passionate about his profession not just for material gain but for the love of it. It is this love that, enabled him to endure the challenges and obstacles he encountered in the course of discharging his official duty.
Through his creative work he has left an enduring legacy that will be remembered… read more
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AdemolaModupe POPOOLA
April 25
Tribute to Seinde Obe, Obe Ess.
Life brought us together as close friends during our days at Ibadan Poly – two years of laughter, deep conversations, socialising, and unforgettable memories.
Though we crossed paths again at the Guardian Newspaper, and I sensed your distance, I respected your space and still carried the warmth of our past friendship with gratitude. Your attendance at my wedding in 1984 at Akure was a testament to our friendship.
Your journey on this side of the divide is done.
Rest in peace, my old friend, Obe Ess.
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Dotun Olukoya
April 25
A Tribute to Olaseinde Obe (Obe Ess)
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Olaseinde Obe, fondly known as Obe Ess. We were classmates at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where we had the unique privilege of being among the pioneering students of the Fine Arts department. In those formative years of early adulthood, we forged bonds rooted in brotherhood, creativity, and shared purpose.
Though our paths never crossed again in the nearly 50 years… read more
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Gbile Oshadipe
April 25
If not for providence, Seinde Obe would’ve been dead decades ago. That was when he lived a short place from Egbeda bus stop on the Iyana Ipaja road in Lagos. It was an expansive compound of six apartments. His was the second flat on the ground floor. Although security conscious, his fellow neighbors were not. That fateful day he was washing his very rare, navy blue Toyota car, preparatory to going to the office at The Guardian, Isolo. Then… read more
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Olayiwola Animashaun
April 24
I lost an unorthodox friend. “Oberity,” as I used to call him was a deep and reserved person. He had few friends, and I am privileged to be one of them. He was a highly disciplined man of few words. He preferred to make his mark through strokes of pen and brush. We were classmates and at a time roommates at The Ibadan Polytechnic in the mid-1970s. There was no sitting on the fence with Seinde; you knew where he stoof on any issue any… read more
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Oladipo Ajayi
April 24
I have cried a few times in my adult life, most recently when my mother died in early 2024, and now, on the news of “Obe Ess”. We met at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, he in the Arts Department, with other friends like Layiwola Animashaun, Gbenga Akinbode, and many more. I in Mass Communication. After college life, we again became neighbors in Lagos. I had grown my professional life in the Nigerian Advertising space and he as a distinguished… read more
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Wunmi Obe Udoh
April 24
A Life Beautifully Lived –
My father was many things, calm, quiet, funny, jovial but above all, he was kind. Truly kind. A man of deep integrity whose life motto was truth, honesty, and contentment. He didn’t just speak about values, he lived them. Integrity wasn’t just a word to him; it was the very essence of who he was.
He was creative to his core. An artist, a car enthusiast, a lover of beauty and detail. My father was a walking thesaurus… read more
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L.S Egbetunde
April 24
by Wunmi Obe Udoh
My brother, my in-law,
Nothing could have prepared me for your sudden departure.
The time we spent together, just before death snatched you away, was truly special. We laughed, talked, and shared moments I’ll always treasure.
You were a straightforward man, a true father always looking out for the children and their well-being, even till the very… read more
Pelu Awofeso
April 20
I was sad to hear the news that Obe Ess passed away earlier this month. The media has lost one of its brightest minds, and I send my condolences to the entire family.
If you read The Guardian back in the day, you would have seen and read editorial cartoons by Obe Ess.
I did, and continued to enjoy his cartoons virtually, because I subscribed to them via his substack account…. read more
Emeka Izeze
April 18
A gentleman to the core, peaceful, always keen on not just what others considered good, but on producing the very best. He was one man you did not need to supervise or push to do anything; he was always one step ahead. And, he was fearless, and had no barriers. He was a man moulded in the original Guardian image and culture: stable, trustworthy, friendly, dedicated to the end. We will miss his straight face comments, his smiles when something really pleased him. Rest well, my friend.
ebun aleshinloye
April 17
Obe Ess
Four decades ago, for three years, we shared a corner of The Guardian Library as our makeshift studio. Without pause, we bounced around ideas like ping-pong, while we enjoyed a robust friendship. I will always cherish that experience.
Goodbye, my friend, goodbye…
Much love.
Ebun Aleshinloye
Akin Adeṣọkan
April 17
It’s so heartbreaking to learn that Obe Ess has journeyed to other realms. He was a first-class artist and a warm person, the latter when you got to know him on his own terms. He appeared forbidden or intense at a distance, but with time he warmed to me. When I would saunter into the cartoonists’ office to chat with Ake Didi Onu, I considered myself lucky if they weren’t busy. If they were, I quickly retreated. But somehow, Obe Ess began to… read more
O Emmanuel
April 17
To my Editor…
Editor,
It took me quite some time to pen this down. The words just refused to come. How does one begin? How does one begin to talk about a boss like you, I worked with for many years? How do I begin to talk about you, my Editor, under whose tutelage I learnt many of the things I know today as a cartoonist? Mr. Bisi Ogunbadejo brought me to The Guardian and showed me the nitty gritty of cartooning. And after Ossie Ogwo and Mr…. read more
Oladele Abe
April 16
I pay this glowing tribute to a man whose presence was felt not only within his family but also in the pen profession and print media in Nigeria. Uncle was not just an artist; he was a storyteller, a truth-teller, and a man of deep conviction.
As a media artist of the “Obe Ess Carton Column” fame at The Guardian Newspaper, he wielded his pen with purpose and message, we all looked forward to reading his column. With every sketch, he brought… read more
Funso Akanle
April 16
Wao!! Seinde is gone. May his soul rest in peace. Really difficult to come to terms with this loss. May the Lord comfort the whole family
Idowu Obe
April 16
You look so peaceful lying there.
With your hands folded upon your chest.
You look like you are sleeping,
But you are at eternal rest.
So Long For Now.
Brother Sehinde, (Obe Chanco) your memory still lives… read more
Oyebode Famose
April 16
Senior Sehinde Obe was two years ahead of me in the secondary school. He was a brave man and a great artist since those formative period. None who knew him well at that level would be too surprised to find out that he became a success nationwide as a cartoonist.
So, Chanco has also departed!
May his soul rest in peace.
Dokun Adedeji
April 16
Olasehinde, is it not interesting though sad that I loved your cartoons but never met you physically? Only now in death to know that we share kinship!
May your gentle and creative spirit find eternal rest and may the family that you left behind be comforted.
It shall be well. Goodnight brother.
Sully Abu
April 16
Quiet. Dignified. Dedicated to his craft, Obess was a first class human being who had malice towards none.
Lanre Idowu
April 15
Obe Ess Takes a Bow
Olaseinde Obe (Obe Ess) was a quiet and committed editorial cartoonist whose inimitable strokes contributed greatly to making The Guardian a leader in Editorial Cartooning in the past four decades. His focus was always to make his reader think and laugh about any subject he treated.
A scion of the Obe family from Igbara Oke in Ondo State, he along with his bubbly brother, Taiwo Obe, and their uncle, Peter Obe (the legendary… read more
Obe Olaoluwa
April 15
My lovely dad, he’ll always call my name OLAOLUWAAA! Almost every second.
This man always did his best for us, even if he had to wear rags for us to be great in life.
He was my adviser, my teacher, my loving dad. He was a very brilliant man, sometimes I wondered if he had kept a dictionary in his head.
Daddy really tried his best for us, he’ll scold us, correct us, then call us back to laugh with us.
Your life was a blessing, memory a treasure, I’ll hold you forever in my heart daddy, till I hold you in heaven.
AJAYI OLUBUNMI
April 15
Bros Seinde as I always call you your death came as a reminder to me that this life is so transient. You lived a life of simplicity, discipline, and honesty. You were very fearless as well and spoke the truth at all times no matter whose ox is gored. You made a mark in the field of Cartoon Journalism using your platform to speak to those in Government for a better Nigeria. You contributed your quota to Humanity and God has called you home… read more
Bashir Adigun
April 15
A Tribute to Mr. Olaseinde Obe (Obe Ess)
By Bashir Adigun
It is with a heavy heart that I write this tribute in memory of my senior colleague at The Guardian Mr. Olaseinde Obe, known to many simply as Obe Ess. His passing is a profound loss to journalism, the cartooning world, and the broader creative community in Nigeria.
Obe Ess was a genius of his art. More than just a cartoonist, he was a bold political satirist who used his craft to speak… read more
Olamide Obe
April 15
Your strong guidance and love shaped us into who we are today, Dad. You provided for us and showed us what it means to live with a good heart. We’ll miss you dearly. May you find eternal peace.
Sonala Olumhense
April 15
I’m deeply saddened to learn of the death of Obe Ess. It was not simply the professional impact that he made, but the personal one: he was quiet, humble, personable. But not his cartoons, which satirized and skewered with his brand of made-in-Igbara Oke explosives. Obe Ess, then, depended on which you met first: the man or his work. But when you got to know both, as some of us did at the beginning of his career, you realized that you needed time to harmonize the two distinct forces in your mind.
May his amazing spirit rest in peace.
bunmi akinkugbe
April 15
You were such a brilliant person. I remember asking you at The Guardian how you were able to understand issues a create satires around them for your cartoons. You just laughed.
Rest on One Ess.
Niyi Obaremi
April 15
He was the strange one. Odd, sometimes in an offensive way, barely and reluctantly returning your greetings or compliments. His body language was: keep off, let me be, do not forcefully intrude into or invade my universe.
At least, that is who most of us thought he was. But then, he left all of us in a quagmire as we wonder: how about those strokes of humour and lashes on the conscience of unconscionably corrupt governors and men in uniform,… read more
Taiwo Obe
April 15
DIFFERENCE was his middle name.
We shall continue to cherish the memorable moments we shared throughout his distinctively remarkable life.
Champions Court
April 15
As Senior Sub Editor for The Guardian on Sunday, I admired two journalists for their unconventional style – Ake Didi Onu and Obe Ess. I considered them subversive, dropping their cartoons late on Friday nights, living in their own world, and occupying a spartan office that resembled a war room.
Initially, I didn’t warm up to Obe Ess, suspecting he deliberately submitted cartoons late to sneak them past editors.
However, his dark humor grew on me… read more
Nkem Ossai
April 15
There was something different about him. That ‘difference’ transcended his class art and calling. It was neither inherent in his swagger nor his presence. He was just different, and you knew it. In his tiny cubicle at The Guardian, he kept vigil over the invisible sprawling canvas he traversed like fiefdom. He spoke only when spoken to. But deep culture was inhered in his spartan renderings. Mystique. It was writ large in the irreverent… read more