The family of late Nollywood actor Chijioke Temidayo Nwokafor, popularly known as Cjay Nwoks, has released burial arrangements for the 43-year-old, who died on September 30, 2026. The programme will hold in his hometown of Awka, Anambra State, with a service of songs on Friday, October 9, followed by the funeral service and interment on Saturday, October 10.
According to the family's announcement, the service of songs will hold at 5pm on October 9, conducted by St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Awka, at his father's compound on Nzekwe Street, off Obunagu Road, Amikwo Awka. The following day, his body will be moved from Regina Caeli Hospital to the family compound by 7am, ahead of a 9am funeral service at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, with interment to follow at the family burial ground in Umuike Awka. The announcement was signed by his family, led by his father, Michael Chukwudi Nwokafor, of Umujagwo Village, Agulu-Awka.
The Awka programme comes shortly after Lagos-based colleagues held their own tribute to the actor. Fellow actor Emeka Okoye had earlier announced a separate service of songs for October 7 at RCCG Maranatha Church, Gbagada, Lagos, where Cjay was based for most of his acting career.
Cjay's death was first announced by actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday, who shared an emotional video from the hospital where he was confirmed dead, writing, "Cjay, this was never the plan." He began his professional acting career in 2021 and went on to feature in films including Larry Cold, Mum Overnight, A Day to My Wedding, The Lies She Tell, What Time Left, Sent from Heaven, Insecure, Godly Escort and My House Keeper. In a September 21 interview, just over a week before his death, he had credited an early experience on set with filmmaker Ruth Kadiri as the moment that pushed him to pursue acting professionally. His death drew tributes from Ruth Kadiri, Nkechi Blessing and other colleagues across the industry.
