By Chuwang Dungs
Members of the Creative industry in Jos, Plateau State, have mourned the death of astute and resilient filmmaker, Dimbo Atiya, describing him as a creative whose contributions to the growth of the creative industry would remain part of the indelible cultural history of the state.
The entertainment community, alongside representatives of cultural institutions and government agencies, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late entertainer on Sunday at the family residence in Rayfield, Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The visit, coordinated by Debrah Jalmet a filmmaker, JD luka, Sibin Benjamin, included Manji Diyal, who represented Aisha Augie, Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC); Dr. Ephraim Dankyes, Senior Special Assistant on Arts, Culture and Creative Economy to Governor Caleb Mutfwang and NFC’ s Director of Public Affairs Brian Etuk, who represented the Managing Director, Dr. Ali Nuhu.
Plangji Cishak, leading other families members of Dumbo received the visitors.
Speaking during the visit, Mr Diyal said Dimbo’s death was a significant loss to Nigeria’s creative community, particularly at a time when the country’s cultural and film industries were looking towards a new generation of storytellers.
He said Dimbo was not merely an entertainer but a creative practitioner who understood the importance of using the arts to preserve stories, identity and cultural expressions.
According to him, the late filmmaker’s contribution demonstrated the important role practitioners from communities outside Nigeria’s major entertainment centres play in shaping the country’s creative industry.
“Dimbo was a storyteller and a creative man who believed in the power of the arts to connect people and preserve our identity. His passing is painful because the industry has lost someone who still had much to contribute,” Mr Diyal said.
He said CBAAC identified with the family because Dimbo’s work was connected to the broader responsibility of promoting African creativity and cultural expression.
Mr Dankyes, who conveyed condolences on behalf of the Plateau State Government, described Dimbo’s death as a painful loss to the state’s creative community.
He said Plateau had produced generations of artists, filmmakers, actors and other creative practitioners whose contributions had helped to place the state on Nigeria’s cultural map.
“Dimbo represented the creative spirit of Plateau. His death is not only a loss to his family but also to the arts and entertainment community. We must ensure that the work of people like him is remembered and that their contributions are not allowed to disappear,” Mr Dankyes said.
He said the government would continue to encourage initiatives aimed at strengthening the creative economy and providing opportunities for practitioners to develop and showcase their talents.
On behalf of the Nigerian Film Corporationn’s Managing Director, Mr Etuk described Dimbo as a committed member of the film community whose passion for storytelling was evident in his work.
He said the Nigerian Film Corporation regarded his passing as a loss to the film industry beyond Plateau State, adding that the best way to honour his memory will be to continue supporting the creative vision he left behind. “Dimbo was part of a generation of filmmakers and creative practitioners who understood that Nigerian stories must be told by Nigerians. His work reflected that commitment, and his passing has left a vacuum,” Mr Etuk said.
One of the unfinished works that has continued to dominate conversations among Dimbo’s colleagues is Cock Crow at Dawn, a project he was developing before his death.
The project, according to members of the creative community, was expected to further demonstrate Dimbo’s ability to use film and storytelling to explore issues that resonate with Nigerian society.
For his colleagues, the project has now assumed a significance beyond its artistic value.
They said Cock Crow at Dawn represents part of the creative legacy Dimbo left behind and a reminder of the ideas and stories he was still hoping to bring to audiences.
Mr Etuk said projects left behind by deceased creative practitioners should not automatically be allowed to disappear, stressing the importance of documenting their work and, where possible, supporting the completion of projects that reflect their creative vision.
The issue of preserving Cock Crow at Dawn was particularly emotional for those who knew Dimbo, as the project represented one of the last expressions of his creative ambition.
His colleagues said completing or preserving the project, subject to the wishes of the family and the people involved in its production, could become one of the ways the industry would honour his memory.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mr Cishak thanked the delegation for visiting the family and for recognising Dimbo’s contributions to the entertainment industry.
He said the family was deeply touched by the support from colleagues, government representatives and cultural institutions.
According to him, Dimbo’s passion for his work was evident to those around him, particularly his determination to contribute to the creative community.
“Dimbo loved what he did. He believed in his work and in the people around him. Knowing that his colleagues and institutions within the industry have come to identify with the family means a lot to us,” Mr Cishak said.
He said the family would welcome constructive efforts to preserve Dimbo’s creative legacy and ensure that the works he left behind continued to receive attention.
Sunday’s visit brought together people from different parts of the creative sector, reflecting the network of relationships Dimbo built during his career.
From cultural institutions to government and the film industry, speakers at the gathering repeatedly returned to the same theme: that his contributions should not end with his death.
For the Jos entertainment community, Dimbo’s legacy is therefore not only about the films and creative projects he worked on but also about the people he inspired and the stories he believed were worth telling.
As preparations for his final rites continue, colleagues say they hope his unfinished works, particularly Cock Crow at Dawn, will receive the attention required to preserve the creative vision he left behind.
Dimbo Atiya’s death has closed a chapter in his personal journey, but for those who’s has impacted on, the stories he told, the relationships he built and the creative projects he left behind will continue to keep his memories. 
