9jaNollywoodstars

He was born into the family of Prince Isaiah Ademola about 30 something years ago.He attended Christ Church School,Mapo V,Elekuro,Ibadan for elementary education before proceeding to St.David’s High School,Molete,Ibadan.After secondary education in 1991,he joined the Great Nigeria Insurance Company as a sales executive for a year.He later attended an institute affiliated to another one in London for a certificate in Chemistry though he has been acting all along.He also did Adult Education at the University of Ibadan.

His acting career started in his elementary school days when funny pupils were often dubbed actors but the turning point came when one of my student-colleagues that was cast for a lead role in a play had an accident and could not take part in the performance.After scouting for replacement,he was eventually picked for the role.During that play,he was able to convince his teachers and colleagues of the great talent embedded in me.Similar event reoccurred in his secondary school though he was a science student,he was chosen to replace one of Ishola Ogunsola’s sons earlier cast for a play when the former did not show up.Despite being a science student,his enthusiasm for acting earned him the position of the Director of Publicity in the School’s Press Club.He had a corner on our board then tagged Muyi’s Corner where he wrote short poems, jokes and cartoons.

But a bigger surprise came a few months to his graduation when he started a series of short stories through which the press board attracted both the staff and students of the school.The experience replayed itself tremendously in HIS first novel; Secrets of Death, which was encouraged by his English Language teacher.The first opposition to his choice of career came from his family.His father could not fathom why the son of an elder in the church shuttled between one location and the other to keep body and soul together.My father did not see acting as befitting enough for any of his children.In the course of looking for a sponsor to publish some of his manuscripts,he met people who told him that they could not help him because he is an unknown writer.He equally toured schools and Ministries of Education in search of sponsors I equally toured schools and Ministries of Education in search of sponsors before I yielded to a friend’s advice to try the theatre industry.

Through Charles Olumo (a.k.a. Agbako) who lives close to their house in Abeokuta,he eventually got in touch with Mr S.I.Ola,a movie director.The man taught him the rudiments of acting and movie production.He later returned to Ibadan and registered with the ANTP and he started attending its meetings.In 1995 precisely,luck came his way when met one Dibel,a generating sets dealer who volunteered to sponsor his first movie, Asise (Blunder) and since then,he never look back.

He is happily married with children.His hobbies are Reading,meeting people,making people happy,watching movies and listen to music.

She is one of the biggest names in the Yoruba movie industry.Her first play was in ‘Shattered Dreams’an English movie.She acted two scenes and didn’t find it easy as she had to read the script and at the same time act it.She got the role as a result of Iyabo Yoyo(may her soul rest in peace)quarrel with the producer.Fame came her way when she played the role of Oshodi Oke,the lady with the big boob and since then,the name Oshodi Oke like a leech,has stuck to her.She has produced films like Owonikoko,Omo Mummy,Lagos Girl I & II,Okun Ife I & II,Gbajumo and Ife Lakoja Ofin I & II.

She was born in Ondo State,Akure but grew up in Lagos and had her primary and secondary education at Oworonshoki.After she left school,she had to engage in a petty trading to support the family and assist her younger ones because things were a bit tough for her family.At a time she was selling at the Tin can Island Sea Port. She had the dream of being an air-hostess or a newscaster and never thought of being an actress.She is a single mother of one.

They have been in the Industry for as long as we can remember and they are not tired,they are factors to be recon with in the Industry.

Olu Jacobs:
He is the father of Nigeria’s contemporary film industry. His acting career goes back to the 1960s sixties, which started in the United Kingdom. He acted with the likes of Roger Moore, Richard Burton etc while abroad. On his return to Nigeria, he continued his acting career in television and on stage. The decline of television plays was the gain of film, where directors and producers trying to make their mark tapped into his talent and experience.

Olu Jacobs is a professional to the core. Most epic film producers seek to get him on board, probably due to the authority he commands in epic role casting. He is very versatile,appearing in Yoruba genre,Igbo traditional films and contemporary English language films. He is a resource as far as casting is concerned.

Sam Efe Loco:
He is a veteran of the theatre, television and films. In the early period of his career he was prominent on television in both western Nigeria and the old mid western region of the country. He has contributed to the growth of the rebirth of Nigeria’s film industry.

Sam Efe Loco is very talented and often caste in films which mirror Igbo society.He has mastered the psychology of the Igbo (he is not Igbo),which allows fluency in his performances.

Alex Osifo Omaigbo:
Alex Osifo starting acting in the old Bendel state both on stage and in television. Alex Osifo is one of the remaining old school actors,well groomed in the art of performances.Alex Osifo’s screen persona commands credibility.In addition he has a natural strong presence in films,which producers and directors clamour for.Alex Osifo is quite particular about which role/films he appears in.

Pete Edochie:
Pete Edochie’s acting was recognised nationally in the early 1980s with the dramatisation of Chinua Achebe’s things fall apart on television,in which he played the lead role of Okonkwo superbly.Pete Edochie has continuously been a dominant factor as an actor.He has played several roles.He is quite versatile.He is a master at traditional Igbo roles.His portrayal of characters in films depicting contemporary (urban) society however is rather subtle.

Justus Esiri:
For people familiar with the popular television series,The Village Headmaster in Nigeria, Justus Esiri has an iconic value especially to those growing in that era and after.He is an accomplished actor of the old school, very experienced. His involvement in film is an addition to a long acting career.He has contributed in no small measure to the credibility of the industry.He is versatile and still very active.

Lere Paimo:
Lere Paimo career goes back to the days of WNTV (Western Nigeria Television)Ibadan. He is a Yoruba traditionalist,thus his acting roles are confined to Yoruba genre. Lere Paimo however comes across as a valuable resource,when it comes to casting for epics or characters with in-depth traditional role.He comfortably presents a bridge between the past and the present in his style.

Karim Adepoju Karim Adepoju (aka Baba Wande) started his acting career with Oyin Adejobi theatre group. The Oyin Adejobi theatre group made an in road into television through a popular series called Kootu Ashipa (Ashipa Court). He was later involved in other television productions.

Karim Adepoju has been able to transfer acting talent on to film. Apart from acting, he is also involved in producing films. Though he is a veteran in the entertainment industry, he can be described positively as the peter pan of Yoruba actors. He is very flexible with a positive approach to his work.

Idowu Philips:
Iya Rainbow’s acting career has spanned four decades and she has been able to register her mark on the stage,television and presently in the home video.For those who don’t know, the nickname Iya Rainbow was fashioned after Osumare Theatre;a performing group which she ran alongside her late husband,Femi Philips.

Adebayo Salami:
Adebayo Salami is one of the major players in Yoruba films.He cut his acting teeth with the Awada Kerikeri theatre group from where he moved into television and played an active role.The evolution of Nigeria's entertainment industry with particular reference to film has Adebayo Salami as one of its active participants.He is very prolific in his area of specialisation.

Lanre Hassan:A very popular actress,known as mama awero on stage.She has traversed the whole arena of Nigerian theatre like a colossus.It was the group she formed in collaboration with a few other friends in the school,that metamorphosed into the popular Ojo Ladipo concert party which was led by the late Ojo Ladipo (Baba Mero).

Sunday Omobolanle:
Papa Aluwe as he is generally known as,came into films,through television.He was a protégé of the late Baba Mero of the Awada Kerikeri fame.He has maintained a close relationship with other former members of the theatre group,in collaborations involving such people in film productions.Papa Aluwe appears mainly in Yoruba genre films both of comic stream and non-comic streams.He has started building up his credentials in English language films and has stated off on a good footing.

Jide Kosoko:
He is a veteran in the entertainment industry.Jide Kosoko came to prominence through television.He was a member of Awada kerikeri theatre group,which had a successful series on television.Jide Kosoko is one of the most prolific and hard working artists in the industry.He also produces and directs films.He is well known as a Yoruba actor.However, Jide Kosoko has made a cross over,effortlessly into English language genre films.This is evidence of his talent as an actor.He is very versatile with characters.


Olumide Bakare:
Olumide Bakare came to national prominence in the television series Koko Close shown on NTA Ibadan,the infamous landlord of “Oluwa lambe Lodge”.He is a well-experienced actor.He has a presence in films.He features mainly in Yoruba films but would certainly give a good account of himself in more English genre films.

Peter Bunor:
Peter Bunor's acting career spans over two decades. He is a trained actor. He was prominent in television before the advent of the growth of the film industry, as it is known now.He has acted a number of supporting roles.His experience is worth tapping into at any time.He is also multidimensional with regards to the main existing genres.

Ayo Binta Mogaji:
Ayo Binta Mogaji acting career started prior to the revival of Nigeria’s film industry.She was one of the leading cast members of the popular television soap opera “Checkmate”.Her character in the soap opera was very notable,with a large section of the population being able to easily identify with it.Ayo Mogaji’s brilliance through her versatility has not gone unnoticed.She is always in demand, to be cast for varying roles.

What makes Ayo Binta Mogaji unique,as an actress is an exterior of simplicity but an interior of authority and control in relation to her craft.She would comfortably fit into any film genre.She has featured in Igbo traditional films but appears mainly in Yoruba films.

Yinka Quadri:
Yinka Quadri is a specialist in Yoruba films and an expert in traditional issues, which he plays brilliantly.He has been in industry from the beginning of its recent growth.Yinka Quadri seems content with his sole association with Yoruba films.

Abiodun Hassan:
Abiodun Hassan popularly known as ‘Ogogo’ to his fans belongs to the “A list” category of Yoruba actors/actresses.He is a natural talent and a very engaging actor.Such attributes have made Abiodun Hassan a household name, at least regarding Yoruba films.

Fausat Balogun:
She is one of the notable Yoruba actress who has proved her dexterity through proper delivery of roles.

Hassanat Taiwo Akinwande:
Her stage name Wunmi,is a well-known film and television actress.Her career began in the 1980's with appearances in the soap opera Feyi Kogbon.

Sola Fosudo:
He started in television before going into home movies. Some of television roles were soaps like checkmate Surprisingly he is also an academic. He has been able to create a balance between English language films and Yoruba genre.He can be a bit conservative with the roles he plays thus questioning the depth of his versatility.

Franca Brown:Franca Brown is a recurring figure in the film industry.Franca Brown has the capability of playing very strong characters like Foxy Brown characters in African American films. She also brings some degree of dignity into the characters she plays.Remember her role as mama efe in behind the clouds in the 80s.