Nigerians Making Waves in Hollywood

To say Nigeria is a home of talents is an understatement. It is estimated that there are over 100,000 Nigerians in the creative industry. Some even say talent flows in the blood, and that blood runs everywhere a Nigerian is.

Nigerians are doing well in movie industries across the world with many based in South Africa, France, Canada USA, and UK. Many of them are holding their own in major big budget productions. It sure evokes a sense of pride when one sees a Nigerian setting Angelina Jolie free from a helicopter in the blockbuster, Salt.

With the increasing numbers of Nigerians in Hollywood, there is definitely going to be more collaboration between the two major movie industries. The first sets of returnees have been doing their parts in making the Nigeria movie industry successful. Top names like Olu Jacobs, who was in Hollywood movie, The Pirates, among others and Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett, who has featured in many dramas in the UK, and now features in Nigerian production, Tinsel, certainly have made their mark and impact in the industry.

List of top Nigerians making waves in Hollywood

Hakeem Kae-Kazim

Hakeem is a Hollywood actor, born on October 1, 1962, in Lagos State to Nigerian parents from Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He has featured in several hit movies such as Hotel Rwandan, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and many TV series: 24, Lost, Law & Order, Criminal Minds amongst others.

He has also featured in blockbuster Nollywood movies like: Last Flight To Abuja and Black November

Hakeem is a brand ambassador for telecommunications company Etisalat Nigeria.

                                                 Chiwetelu Umeadi “Chiwetel” Ejiofor

Ejiofor is a British actor born in London’s Forest Gate to Nigerian parents. His father, Arinze, was a doctor, and his mother, Obiajulu, was a pharmacist. His younger sister is CNN correspondent Zain Asher.

In 1988, when Ejiofor was 11, during a family trip to Nigeria for a wedding, he and his father were driving to Lagos after the celebrations when their car was involved in a head-on crash with a lorry. His father was killed, but Ejiofor survived. He was badly injured, and received scars that are still visible on his forehead.

In 2014, Ejiofor starred in the Nigerian film Half of a yellow sun alongside, Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje and other Hollywood acts. He also has and Oscar Nomination and BAFTA award for Best Actor.

Wale Akintinmehin

US Rapper Wale, real name Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, was born to Nigerian parents both from Yoruba tribe, Ogun State, but grew up in the USA.

Wale, aside being one of the top rappers in the US, has also become popular in Nigeria.

He has done collaborations with singers like Wizkid in ‘Nobody But You’, Olamide in ‘Make Us Proud’. The Maybach Music superstar, Wale, visited his motherland in December 2013.

Taio Cruz

British singer, Jacob Taio Cruz, real name Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, is of Nigerian heritage. He was born on April 23, 1985, in London to a Nigerian father and a Brazillian mother.

Cruz, who started writing songs when he was 12, was signed on a USpublishing deal at just 18 years of age.

He began his song-writing career at the age of 19 and has won several awards some of which are: BRIT Awards, Billboard Music Awards, ASCAP Awards and American Music Awards.

Adewale Agbaje

Hollywood actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was born on August 22, 1967, in Washington, D.C to Nigerian parents.

Aside being fluent in Yoruba, he is also fluent in several languages such as: English, Italian and Swahili.

He has featured in movies like The Bourne Identity, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Mr. Eko on Lost, Simon Adebisi on Oz, The Mummy Returns amongst others.

Adetomiwa Edun

British actor Adetomiwa Edun was born in 1984 to a Nigerian father from the Yoruba tribe and a half-Ghanaian, half-English mother.

Edun, who moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 11, has featured in movies like Slaves, Law & Order: UK, The Hour, Passengers.

He is popularly known for his role in the TV series, Merlin, when he played ‘Sir Elyan’ and he became the second black in 2009 to play Romeo at the Globe Theatre.

In addition to being fluent in English and Yoruba, he speaks French.

Richard Ayoade

Richard Ayoade is a British actor born on June 12, 1977, to a Nigerian father and a Norwegian mother.

The comedian, actor and writer has written several award-winning stage plays in the UK.

He is also a well-known face on British TV having starred in the highly popular The IT Crowd. He made his Hollywood debut in 2012 after starring in the comedy The Watch alongside Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill.

David Oyelowo

Hollywood actor David Oyelowo was born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, to Nigerian parents.

He has featured in movies like: The Butler, Small Island, Jack Reacher, The Last King Of Scotland.

In March 2010 he played the part of Keme Tobodo in the BBC’s drama series ‘Blood and Oil’ (a film about Niger-Delta area of Nigeria).

Adepero Oduye

American actress Adepero Oduye might not quickly ring a bell but she featured in hit movie ’12 Years A Slave’ alongside British-Nigerian actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Adepero Oduye is born to Nigerian parents from Yoruba tribe. She played Alike in Pariah (2011), TV series, Law & Order amongst others.

She has received several awards, including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

Olaide Wilson

Hollywood actress Hope Olaide Wilson was born on August 16, 1985, to Nigerian parents from the Yoruba tribe.

Hope Olaide Wilson, who moved to the United States in 1996, has featured in Tyler Perry’s movies ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’, ‘After the Dark and Faith and Dreams’ amongst others.

She is also fluent in English, French, and Yoruba.

She won the 2009 Diversity Awards Female ‘Nova’ Award Recipient for promising talent.

Others are:

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Gbenga Akinnagbe was born on December 12, 1978 in Washington, D.C. to Nigerian parents and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. An actor best known for his role as Chris Partlow on the HBO original series, The Wire.

Akinnagbe was in and out of trouble as a youth. He is the second oldest of six children, one older sister and four younger brothers. He is the first in his family to be born in the US. He attended Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School in Rockville, Maryland. Akinnagbe attended Bucknell University on a wrestling scholarship, majoring in political science and English. He is the cousin of DC rapper, Wale.

Some of his film roles include Damage, Blue Blood and The Wire among others.

Caroline Chikezie

For Caroline Chikezie, growing up on the streets of London has made her one of the established British actress of Igbo origin. She also found her way into prominent Hollywood movies and TV series after her role in Aeon Flux. Some of the movies in which she featured are Eragon, Aeon Flux, Breaking and Entering, The Supernatural Tv series and The Torchwood TV series.

After roles in Holby City, Casualty, and the award-winning British film, Baby Mother, Chikezie landed her first major role as bitchy Sasha Williams in As If in 2001. In 2004, she landed a regular role as Kyle Pascoe’s girlfriend, Elaine Hardy, in Series Four of Footballer’s Wives. Her other television works includes 40, Judas Kiss, Free Fall and Brothers and Sisters. She appeared as Lisa Hallett, a member of the secret organisation of Torchwood who had been transformed into a half-human half-Cyberman in Cyberwoman

Sonni Chidiebere

This Nigerian-Igbo actor has earned minor roles in some blockbuster Hollywood movies. They include Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamond, District 9 and Lord of War. Born in Nigeria, he grew up in South Africa, where he started his acting career.

Nonso Anozie

Nonso Anozie, who is of Igbo origin, is one of the fast-rising and well-paid actors. Having featured in prominent Hollywood blockbusters, Anozie’s distinct Igbo intonation came to fore in the Hollywood flick, Conan the Barbarian. His featured movies include Conan the Barbarian, The Grey, Rock and Rolla, Nanny Mcphee Returns and The Last Legion.

Ndoka Valentine Ndubisi

Ndoka Valentine Ndubisi would be easily spotted for his role in Fighting Temptations, where he acted alongside Beyonce Knowles. This apparently handsome man of Igbo decent has acted in a few movie flicks. Not much information is available on his background and parentage. However, he is known to have featured in movies like Fighting Temptations, Concrete Brown, Unforgiven Sins and Somebodies.

Sophie Okonedo

Sophie Okonedo is another British actress with mixed parentage but of Nigerian paternity-from Edo State. Okonedo, who rose to become one of the most sought after actresses in England, holds the prestigious award of OBE. With features in several Hollywood movies, Okonedo would be most remembered for her roles in Aeon Flux, Hotel Rwanda, Alex Rider, Operation Storm Breaker, Ace Ventura, Dirty Pretty Things, and Martian Chil