The Nigerian movie industry popularly called Nollywood and the third highest movie industry in the world has produced top actresses that have stood the test of time in the make believe clan. Some of them have been described as shooting stars that never fade as well as role models to upcoming actresses and other female admirers in Nigeria and beyond. Among these trail blazers are:
Liz Benson:- This top actress turned evangelist had her first stint in 1990 in the Tv Soap ‘Fortunes’ which was aired in 1993. after that she found her way into Nollywood in the movie ‘Circle of Doom’ where she played a minor role, while the movie ‘Glamour Girls,’ shot her to public eye. Today, this renowned actress, widow and mother of three is seen as a role model by many budding actresses.Like every star,Liz as she is popularly called has gone through a lot of topsy-turvy in the media Aside the devastating death of her husband,late Samuel G. Benson,the lesbianism tale and the litany of men linked with her are some of the issues that have kept the 43 year old thespian away from the movie scene.
However, this has not made her change her mind in Nollywood as she is currently serving the Lord and cooking something new for her teeming fans.
Joke Sylva:- She is adjudged the undisputed queen of the Nigerian movie industry. Aunty Joke as those who look up to her, call her was groomed in the UK before she returned to Nigeria. She had her stint into acting in the TV soap ‘Mind Bending’ in 1990, but shot her profile in the Yoruba film entitled ‘Owurolojo’ in 1993.Ever since, this mother and wife of renowned thespian, Uncle Olu Jacobs has upped the ante in the industry making it difficult if not impossible for others to reach.
Joke Jacobs,nee Sylva knows her onions in the movie scene, both on the stage and in front of the camera, she displays her dexterity and acting prowess to the delight of her fans. As a role model, she is and still remains the only actress in Nigeria that is controversy free.Her countless works both on stage and in Nollywood are sublime and always professional. Still thinking of which movie she has played in recently, then check out ‘30 Days’, directed by Mildred Okwo, and if you missed the stage play ‘Vagina Monologues’, then you have not known enough of this multi-talented screen goddess and one-time AMAA best Actress.
Eucharia Anunobi:- UK as she is popularly called by her numerous fans and admirers breezed into Nollywood in ‘Nneka the pretty serpent,’, but the controversial movie, ‘Glamour Girls 2’ was the flick that brazed her to limelight. It was in this movie that she acted an erotic scene with Zack Orji.At that time,the phenomenum called Nollywood was still in its gestation period,so people were shocked at her pluckiness to interprete such a role and to be candid, she did it so well.
Today, this Nollywood Sharon stone has won many adherents and the number is increasing by the day after disclosing to the world how her husband Charles Egwu abandoned her and their sickle cell child. The top actress can boast of over 200 movies to her kithy and more are still coming.
Kate Henshaw-Nuttai:- This vivacious actress cut her acting teeth in Hints production way back in 1994 in the movie, “When the Sun Set,” since then, her profile has continued to rise in the industry.Many see her as a role model, a mother and a friend. With over 100 movies to her credit, Kate seems not to be done yet as the onus has fallen on her now after been crowned Africa’s number one actress by AMAA in the movie, ‘Stronger than pain’.
Before she got married to Mr Roderick James Nuttai and both having a lovely seven year old daughter named Stephanie, she had topsy-turvey affair with acclaimed Gospel artiste Sammie Okposo, that hit the rocks following some unprintable issues. This delectable actress is a role model for many budding artistes in the industry.
They both have tiny frames but they are giants in their chosen career.Aki and Pawpaw are the petit Nollywood stars who have turned their physical disabilities into creative tools in the entrtainment industry.The two actors,who are usually paired for roles in movies.
Aki
Chinedu Ikedieze (aka Aki)the older of the two was born into the family of Mr and Mrs. Michael Ikedieze Ogbonna.He hail from Iluoma Nzeakoli in Bende local government area in Abia State. After his primary and secondary education,he proceeded to IMT Enugu where he studied Mass Communication.Acting is a talent that God deposited in him right from the cradle.He satrted during his secondary school days,he was a member of the Art and Dramatic Society.He got his greatest opportunity in his first year(August, 1998)at IMT,where he met a friend whom he told his desire to become an actor and to discover more about the Nigerian movie industry.
As God would have it,the discussion coincided with an audition slated somewhere the very next day and he promised to take him to the place and the following day,they went to the venue of the audition at a popular hotel on Ogui road in Enugu.The audition was for a movie titled Evil Men 1 $ 2 and luckily for him,he got a role. That was exactly how he started and since then he have been actively involved in it.
He had his major break in 2000 with The Last Burial.After the movie,he went to Port Harcourt and people wanted to literarily steal him and this was before Aki Nu Ukwa, which eventually brought me to limelight.
Pawpaw
Osita Kenneth Iheme hail from Mbaitoli Local Government area of Imo State.
His parents are Mr Herbert Iheme and Mrs Augustina Iheme,he come from a family of five;four boys and a girl and the youngest of the five siblings.Like Aki,Pawpaw is equally the only member of his family who is short.He attended College Primary School in Abia State and presently studying Mass Communication at the Enugu State University.In 2001,he auditioned for a part in the movie Cold Blood and succeeded.He was then paid N5,000 for his supporting role and since then,he has been making waves in the industry.
The Nollywood twins met each other at an audition in 2001 and since then,they have become inseparable friends.Both of them said they are more like brothers than colleagues as they share the same flat,height,weight and talent,so either both of them are cast in a movie or neither.They first paired in Aki Na Ukwa and their performance in that film took them to the limelight.In September 2004,Aki and Pawpaw went to America’s New York Film Academy to brush up their acting dexterities.They are grateful for the opportunity fame has given to them to travel around the globe to meet role models like Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, and Gary Coleman among others.
The pint-sized Nollywood actors,Chinedu Ikhedieze(Aki)and Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) have been through a lot of heat from Marketers and Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) due to complaints by parents,they are concerned about the immoral roles played by Aki and Pawpaw in movies,claiming that it has negative influence on their children and be discouraged from roles that do not portray good morale to their viewers,especially the teenagers.This is because they are role models and ambassadors to innocent teenagers out there who think they are age mates.
The death of Oba Funso Adeolu,the Alaye Ode of Ode Remo was announced last week by Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State in a condolence letter to relations of the late Oba and people of Ode Remo,noting that the Oba’s exit was a great loss to the traditional institution in the country as well as the arts in general.He extolled the departed oba on his contribution to the development of the modern Nigerian drama,described him as “a colossus in drama genre, a cultural icon of no mean standing and a traditional ruler par excellence excellence.”
The late Oba Adeolu was an old student of Methodist Boys High School,Lagos.Before he became the traditional ruler of Ode-Remo,he acted the role of Eleyinmi in the drama series,which ran on prime time for years.Many Nigerians would easily remember his role, especially for his many antics on stage.The late Oba Adeolu was the second in-command to Oba Ajelende in the drama series,which he starred in years after he appeared on the production of "Things Fall Apart" in Enugu.
He was a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University,Zaria and London School of Journalism (1962).He started his working career with the Federal Ministry of Education as an education officer.He taught at Kings’ College, Lagos.He left the ministry as Senior Inspector of Education in 1968 to join Texaco Nigeria Ltd,as area manager.He later joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation as a sports commentator in 1970.He transferred his services to the Nigerian Television Authority where he set up the sports department.He left the television to join Rank Xerox Nigeria Limited as the training manager from where he left to set up a private business in advertising, public relations and film production in 1977.His productions included the popular The Millers in which he played the lead role.
He was crowned the Alaye-Ode of Ode-Remo in 1990.A year later, he was made Justice of the Peace (JP) by the Ogun State Government.In 1997 the Federal Government honoured him with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
When alive,the late royal father was not well disposed to the phenomenon called Nollywood.And he had his reasons;First,he detested the low quality of the movies being churned out daily by producers,and secondly,he observed that many of the practitioners lack requisite training.It was a lot of self-interest,dedication,devotion and love for the art that motivated them more than the monetary aspect.
Toyin Aimaku is one Nollywood actress rising gradually to the top of the movie industry, especially in the Yoruba genre. She came on the scene about four years ago but her face has become prominent in many movies including Etanu and Lion of Magun series of Super Story.
The movie industry had gone sensational before Toyin came on the scene, but it wasn’t the bling bling and the razzmatazz associated with the show biz industry that attracted her. She says that the passion she had for the make-believe industry even as a young girl made her to become a part of it. The opportunity of becoming an actress came in 2004 when her uncle introduced her to Bukky Wright, a popular actress. Since then, Toyin has remained unstoppable; as she forges on and on. Though she loved acting, when it was time to fill the university matriculation forms, Toyin chose to study Marketing.
Toyin however said it had not been easy, confessing that stardom had practically made her live a fake life. She said, “You have to fake who you really are, you have to fake your lifestyle. I don’t have to lie about it that is what we do; we live fake lives. I used to be a very playful person, but this profession has turned me to be a reserved person, otherwise a lot of people will take advantage of you and say negative things about you. Let me tell you, we live fake lives. Indeed, her lifestyle has changed. To ‘belong’, Toyin said she now goes out of her way to shop at exclusive places; something she wasn’t doing when she was coming up.
Toyin is one of the very few actresses who do not have much scandal trailing them. She thanks God for that, and believes that she will not be involved in any scandal throughout her career. She says she try as much as possible to live a decent life so as not to bring any scandal to my person and she has no intention of acting nude, she can not be scandalized in that aspect..
She may not act nude, but when it comes to dressing ‘hot’, Toyin takes the lead. She is one of the actresses who are daring when it comes to skimpy dressing, and she can give men something to ogle after. Her status and her dress style, coupled with her career could account for the one thousand and one admirers she has.
Of all the millions of admirers that she has, she was able to single out one of them as her boyfriend, the main guy in her life. She says she has a boyfriend, he is doing well. He has asked her to marry him though he has not done that in the proper way. In any case, she knows they will get married. The boyfriend does not mind the incessant phone calls and numerous admirers that she has.She is so much in love with her guy that she can sacrifice anything for him, even her profession.
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.
Bukky Wright is one of the most celebrated actresses in Yoruba movie genre though she features in English movies as well.plays.The light-skinned mother of two boys is rated as one of the best actresses in the movie industry.
She grew up in a polygamous home and the sixth in the family but the first for her mum.She had a very beautiful childhood and from a very good background.She is from Oke Ijero in Abeokuta.She never thought she would be an actress even till during her university days and till she was married. She studied Economics at University of Lagos and thought she would end up in one of the banks but as God will have it,she found fame,favour and fortune in acting and has never looked back.She never for one day acted as a student,the closest she got to the entertainment scene was as the social prefect in her secondary school (Top Tutors).
Bukky Wright would forever be grateful to Fidelis Duker,the Nollywood film maker who gave her the chance to break into the industry.That was over 10 years ago on the set of Images.Her friend,Shan George,introduced her to him.Then came another big chance when she appeared in Tunde Kelani's Saworo Ide as the young wife of the Onijogbo. With that cameo appearance coupled with her captivating beauty,she was set on the path of an screen idol,especially in the Yoruba genre.If the English movie producers are yet to acknowledge her,Wale Adenuga's Super Story - Oh! Father Oh! Daughter! introduced her to a larger audience.Some of the other movies she has starred in include Above Love, Without Shame, Tolulope and The Cartel.Since then,she has gone on to do so many flicks that she can’t remember all.She has also tried her hands at producing – with flicks like Owo Ale(her first),7’oclock,Agbeke,Temi Ni Nkem,Dugbe Dugbe to Nbo and Shade Blade.
Bukky Wright might be single and separated.But she is not available – at least,not for marriage.Not one to cry over spilt milk,she hasn’t gotten it right on two occasions.She says "I’ve been into two marriages but I believe they are not meant to be.I believe in the will of God.I won’t say they are mistakes and like I said,it is the will of God that supercedes whatever we think we are. I still believe that is the way God wants it.Things happen in our lives that we can’t control.At times,the experience could serve as an eye-opener for us.And at times,one could feel - Oh my God, what have I done! - instead of moving on with our lives.I’m the kind of person who does not lament over my mistakes.I just believe that’s the way God wants it because I’m a firm believer.My career never affected my marriage.The issue of marriage is an aspect of my life that I’ve decided to leave behind me and move on with my life.So,I don’t really talk about my relationship.Marriage is not really in my dictionary now.But if God says I will,who am I to say no?My ideal man is a dark, not too tall, not too fat, not too slim and a God fearing Christian."
Bukky had suffered negative publicity in the last few years,her roforofo fight with socialite,Bolaji Basia,attracted much publicity in the press.It was so messy that lurid details of the affair were not spared.Before the whole saga blew open,some prominent individuals in Lagos who are friends of both parties waded into the matter,but their intervention was not enough to douse the tension until it finally tore the two apart.Both Bolaji and Bukky had been romantically linked for quite some time before this time.They broke up only to come back again.Who knows? They may still have some soft spot for each other,as they still relate at the level of business.
At over 40 years of age,Bukky Wright has done well for herself.With her mien and achievement,it is easy to classify Bukky as snobbish but she says she is not.However,acting and producing movies are not the only things Bukky Wright does.She is into buying and selling in addition to taking care of her children and running her home.
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