The Yoruba film industry has lasted through generations of performers and has always been significant in the country’s entertainment sector. We can’t overlook the efforts of practitioners who have stood the time despite the numerous obstacles.
The Nigerian entertainment industry is brimming with celebrities that showcase their talents in both Nollywood and music. These are actors and actresses from various tribes who work in the entertainment business to make it more enjoyable.
The Yoruba people are no exception since they have a large number of performing artists. In this post, we’ll look at these actors and actresses and spotlight a few of the most well-known.
Complete list of Yoruba Male Actors
Adekola Odunlade
Odunlade is the most well-known Yoruba actor, and he is also the tribe’s most prolific Nollywood performer.
Oyenusi, Alani Pamolekun, Omo Colonel, Taxi Driver, Adura, and more well-known films have featured the talented actor.
Odunlade received the City People Award for Best Actor, as well as the African Magic Movie Award for Best Actor in the last couple of years.
Adekola has acted in over 100 films, including Farapamo, Emi nire Kan, Fayebora and much more. He is one of the most well-known and versatile Yoruba actors. You may argue that he is the finest actor in Yoruba cinema. He has three children with his wife Abosede.
Lateef Adedimeji
Mr. Adedimeji, as he is called, is a TV moderator, actor, content author, and MC who rose to prominence after appearing in the film Kudi Klepto. Lateef is a versatile actor who is noted for his one-of-a-kind ability to become enthralled by films.
Tunde Owokoniran
Tunde Tilapia, as he is known, is one of the fastest rising stars in the Yoruba cinema business, having appeared in over 100 films since his debut.
Babatunde Owokoniran’s debut as a Nollywood actor began on this fortunate day, when he was busy selling his plantains in the market, and Odunlade Adekola was holding a meeting in the same market. On seeing Odunlade Adekola, Odunlade Tunde Owokoniran raced up and grabbed him.
He began describing his experience and informing him about his passion for performing, which prompted Odunlade to accept him with open arms, giving Tunde his home address, and his narrative began to change.
Tunde was offered a part to play in one of Odunlade Adekola’s productions after meeting him, and he performed exceptionally well, earning him other roles in Yoruba and English films.
As he gained experience via acting, he began to improve, and today we have a celebrity by the name of Tunde Owokoniran.
Femi Adebayo
Since he was a child, Femi Lateef Adebayo has been fascinated by the movie business; he is the proud son of his father, and when he sees his father on film, he wants he could be like him. His father is a source of motivation for him, which has aided in the development of his God-given skill.
Femi Adebayo is also a professional lawyer, and despite having all of the qualifications and a strong CV to pursue a white-collar job, he returned to the film business. It’s worth noting that Femi Adebayo practiced law for two years before launching his acting career.
His father’s position in the Nigerian film business aided his acting career, as he had the opportunity to meet and work with experienced Nollywood actors and actresses such as Iya Rainbow, Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, the late Hubert Ogunde, and many more.
Femi Adebayo has acted in over 550 films in a variety of roles, and he is a seasoned actor who understands how to seamlessly interpret his characters. He has produced his own films, including, Iro Funfun, Jelili, and others.
We’ve also seen him in Nollywood English-language blockbuster movies, some of which have been released on Netflix, however, he prefers to act in Yoruba, which has led to his appearing in more Yoruba films than English films.
In 2015, the prolific actor earned the City People Movie Award for Best Actor, and among the notable films he’s been in include Ayitale, Anini, and a number of other films.
Okunnu, Wale Akorede
He became well-known in the Yoruba film business after his roles with Olaniyi Afonja and Muyiwa Ademola. He is well known for his role as Okunnu in one of the flicks, and he has appeared in over 100 films.
His talent to make people laugh has earned him a place in the hearts of many film buffs who like his comedic parts.
Hassan Taiwo
He began his basic education at Christ Church School in Ilaro and continued his secondary studies at Gazikia College in Lagos, which he was unable to complete owing to financial difficulties.
He received his technical training as a vehicle mechanic at Yaba Technical School in Lagos. He began acting in 1981 under the supervision of Awo Ademola Fagbemi, shortly after getting a job as an auto mechanic with the water corporation, . He spent nearly 13 years in the water corporation. In 1994, he left government service to pursue acting full-time.
Ogogo is a well-known movie actor who began his career as a mechanic. He’s a seasoned actor with a career spanning more than three decades. Mr. Hassan is a certified auto technician with a career in acting that spans over 13 years.
Other Male Actors are:
- Adebayo Bolaji
- Adebayo Faleti
- Adebayo Salami
- Adesola Osakalumi
- Adetomiwa Edun
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
- Adeyemi Afolayan
- Afeez Oyetoro
- Akin Lewis
- Akin Ogungbe
- Akin Omotoso
- Akinwunmi Isola
- Alex Lanipekun
- Andy Ologun
- Antar Laniyan
- Aremu Afolayan
- Ariyon Bakare
- Ayo Akinwale
- Ayo Makun
- Babatunde Omidina
- Banky W.
- Bimbo Manuel
- Bolaji Amusan
- Bolaji Badejo
- Bolanle Ninalowo
- Chadwick Boseman
- Charles Olumo
- David Oyelowo
- Dayo Okeniyi
- Dejumo Lewis
- Dele Odule
- Desmond Elliot
- Deyemi Okanlawon
- Falz
- Femi Adebayo
- Femi Branch
- Femi Elufowoju Jr.
- Femi Euba
- Femi Jacobs
- Femi Oyeniran
- Femi Robinson
- Frank Donga
- Funsho Adeolu
- Gabriel Afolayan
- Gary Carr
- Gbenga Akinnagbe
- Gbenro Ajibade
- Hakeem Kae-Kazim
- Hubert Ogunde
- Jibola Dabo
- Jide Kosoko
- Jimi Solanke
- Jimmy Akingbola
- Jimoh Aliu
- John Boyega
- Kareem Adepoju
- Kola Ogunmola
- Kola Oyewo
- Kunle Afolayan
- Kunle Remi
- Lateef Adedimeji
- Lere Paimo
- Luti Fagbenle
- Mike Bamiloye
- Moses Olaiya
- Muyiwa Ademola
- Obafemi Lasode
- Obba Babatundé
- Odunlade Adekola
- Olamide David
- Olamide Faison
- Olaniyi Afonja
- Olu Jacobs
- Olumide Bakare
- Olusegun Johnson
- Oyin Adejobi
- Peter Fatomilola
- Ramsey Nouah
- Richard Ayoade
- Rockmond Dunbar
- Rotimi
- Saheed Balogun
- Saheed Osupa
- Samuel Ajibola
- Segun Arinze
- Seun Ajayi
- Sikiru Adesina
- Sola Fosudo
- Sunday Omobolanle
- Sunkanmi Omobolanle
- Fagbenle
- Teju Babyface
- Tope Tedela
- Tosin Cole
- Tunde Adebimpe
- Tunji Oyelana
- Victor Olaotan
- Wale Ogunyemi
- Wale Ojo
- Wasiu Alabi Pasuma
- Wole Ojo
- Yemi Ajibade
- Yemi Shodimu
- Yinka Quadri
- Yomi Fash Lanso
List of Nigerian Actresses that do Yoruba Movies
Funke Akindele
For her 2009 film “Jenifa,” Funke Akindele, 45, is the only Yoruba actress to win Best Acting AMAA Actress. She’s also the one who gets the most recommendations, which is one of the reasons she’s the wealthiest among her peers.
Akindele began her big-screen career as Bisi in the United Nations series “I Must Know,” alongside Caroline King and other renowned actresses. She returned to acting after graduating from the University of Lagos with a law degree. She has appeared in over 100 films with her own outfit, Scene One Productions, a film production company she founded in 2009. “Jenifa” was her debut film with the outfit, and she went on to create pictures including “Omo Ghetto,” “Eye Ketala,” and others.
Her brief marriage to Almaroof Kehinde ended in controversy, but it had no detrimental affect on her career, as she continues to shake the film world with fresh performances.
With films like ‘Aina Orosun,’ ‘Oro Asoti,’ and the comedy ‘Opa kan,’ he has continued to develop as an actor and producer.
The actress rose to prominence after appearing in a UNPFA-sponsored production. But it wasn’t until she starred in the award-winning film Jenifa that she became well-known.
She currently heads the Jenifa Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists in sustaining gifts and assisting persons in securing professional abilities.
Funke Adesiyan
Funke is well-known for her enthralling roles in Yoruba films. She began her career as a high school model and has worked with a number of successful organizations.
The on-screen figure is a graduate of the prestigious Olabisi Onabanjo University’s Performing Arts program, where she studied to achieve her current success.
Mercy Aigbe
In 2006, she made her Nollywood debut with the film Ara. She had always wanted to act before that, but she didn’t realize she would pursue it professionally until her OND days, when it became a major priority for her. As a result, in 2001, she enrolled at the University of Lagos to study Theatre Arts in order to pursue a career as a professional actor.
Mercy is a businesswoman with a variety of sources of income in addition to performing. Mag Diva Boutique is her fashion boutique, which she opened in November 2014. Mercy also owns an asoebi business called Asoebi Mercy, as well as a skincare line called Flawless by Mercy.
Mercy is a well-known entertainer who has made a name for herself in Yoruba Nollywood films. She’s also recognized for her one-of-a-kind sense of style.
Sola Kosoko
Ola Abata, her first major picture, was released in 1999, and I was cast in the character of Alaja Wosilat. Her father persuaded her to pursue acting professionally. However, she was not enthusiastic about it because she was applying for university entrance. In the year 2000, her father wrote another screenplay, and he stated that she would not just appear in two or three scenes, but would be the major role. She complied grudgingly.
She had seen the movie, and was not pleased with herself. She chose to stop performing and focus on her studies since she believed she was too unattractive. In the year 2001, she was offered another opportunity to play in a film as the main character, which she unwillingly accepted, but she was pleased with what she saw on the screen this time. She appeared to be more mature and lovely, and she did admirably. That was the film that catapulted her into the spotlight.
As a result, she began to receive more invites from other producers.
Bakare Laide
Laide has been in the industry for quite some time. She directed the hit film Jejere, which included performers such as 9ice, Akin Lewis, and Fathia Balogun.
Simline Records, a music label, is hers. She studied theatre arts at the prestigious University of Ibadan.
Fathia Balogun
Her successes were not hampered by her tough divorce from her spouse, Saidi Balogun, in 2006. She is 53 years old and is still one of the wealthiest actresses in Yoruba cinema.
She attended Comprehensive High School in Maryland, Lagos State, Nigeria, and then Kwara State Polytechnic in Kwara State, Nigeria. Her performance in Wale Adenuga Productions’ Super-Story received positive feedback from moviegoers.
She has appeared in almost 70 films since then, including Ito funfun, Yemanja, and Jawonbe, and has received several awards.
Others are:
- Aderonke Adeniyi Esther
- Adesua Etomi
- Adunni Ade
- Andi Osho
- Angélique Kidjo
- Ariyike Akinbobola
- Ayọ
- Ayo Adesanya
- Bimbo Akintola
- Bimbo Oshin
- Binta Ayo Mogaji
- Bisi Komolafe
- Bisola Aiyeola
- Bolaji Ogunmola
- Bose Alao
- Bukky Ajayi
- Bukky Wright
- Bukola Adeeyo
- Damilola Adegbite
- Dayo Amusa
- Diana Yekinni
- Doris Simeon
- Eniola Ajao
- Eniola Badmus
- Eunice Olumide
- Fatima Faloye
- Fausat Balogun
- Femi Emiola
- Femi Taylor
- Fisayo Ajisola
- Folake Olowofoyeku
- Foluke Daramola
- Funke Akindele
- Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi
- Gloria Bamiloye
- Hassanat Akinwande
- Helen Abdulai Koya
- Idiat Shobande
- Idowu Philips
- Iretiola Doyle
- Iyabo Ojo
- Joke Silva
- Juliana Olayode
- Jumoke Odetola
- Kayo Shekoni
- Kehinde Bankole
- Kehinde Fadipe
- Kemi Lala Akindoju
- Khabirat Kafidipe
- Lanre Hassan
- Lilian Bach
- Liz Anjorin
- Liz Da-Silva
- Lola Margaret
- Modupe Adeyeye
- Moji Afolayan
- Moji Olaiya
- Mosun Filani
- Moyo Lawal
- Nike Peller
- Nina Sosanya
- Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
- Omowumi Dada
- Pauline Black
- Peju Ogunmola
- Rakie Ayola
- Remi Abiola
- Ronke Odusanya
- Ronke Ojo
- Rukky Sanda
- Seyi Shay
- Shade Omoniyi
- Shafy Bello
- Shola Adewusi
- Sola Asedeko
- Sola Sobowale
- Stephanie Coker
- Sylvia del Villard
- Taiwo Ajai-Lycett
- Titilope Sonuga
- Tiwa Savage
- Toks Olagundoye
- Tomi Odunsi
- Tope Alabi
- Tope Oshin
- Toyin Abraham
- Toyin Adegbola
- Toyin Afolayan
- Toyin Raji
- Wunmi Mosaku
- Yetunde Barnabas
- Yewande Adekoya
- Yinka Olukunga
- Zainab Balogun
Author
Abbey Johnson has a Masters degree as an engineer and has over 3 years of teaching and research experience. He is happiest when on a bike and is also interested in electric energy and computer Science.