#1. Odunlade Adekola

Odunlade Adekola, born 31 December 1978, is a Nigerian actor, singer, film-maker, producer and director, born and raised in Abeokuta, Ogun State , but from Otun Ekiti, Ekiti State.

He gained popularity with his lead role in Ishola Durojaye’s 2003 movie, Asiri Gomina Wa, and has acted in multiple Nollywood movies since then.

He is the CEO of Odunlade Adekola Film Production (OAFP).

Odunlade Adekola was born in Abeokuta , the capital of Ogun State , southwestern Nigeria. He is, however, a native of Otun Ekiti, Ekiti State. He attended St John’s Primary School and St. Peter’s College in Abeokuta, obtaining the West African School Certificate Examination before he proceeded to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic , where he received a diploma certificate.He proceeded to further his education and in May 2018, he received a degree in Bachelors of Business Administration at the University of Lagos.

Adekola began acting in 1996, the same year he joined the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts practitioners. He has starred in, scripted, produced and directed several Nigerian films over the years.

In April 2014, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for the best actor of the year. In December 2015, he marked his entrance into the Nigerian music industry. Photographs of Adekola during filming are widely used as internet meme across the Nigerian webosphere.

#2. Seun Akindele

Akindele was born on October 7. Despite being a native of Ekiti State , Akindele grew up in Jos. He has a degree in history and international relations from Lagos State University.

Akindele acting career began in 2005 after participating at the Amstel Malta Box Office.

At the 2011 Best of Nollywood Awards , Akindele won the award for “most promising actor” for the year in review. He was nominated for “best kiss in a movie” alongside Yvonne Jegede for their role in The Ex in 2015. He also got “best supporting actor” nomination for Miss Taken.

Akindele married Toun in 2016.

#3. Tope Tedela

Temitope Christopher Tedela, known as Tope Tedela , is a Nigerian actor and producer. He has received several awards for his work including Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award ,Nigeria Entertainment Award , Best of Nollywood Award and Nollywood Movies Award.

Tedela’s work has screened at international film festivals including Cannes Film Festival ,Toronto International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival .His body of work includes The Lost Okoroshi (2019), What Lies Within (2017), Slow Country (2017), Ojukokoro (2017), Suru L’ere (2016), Out of Luck (2015), A Soldier’s Story (2015) and A Mile from Home which earned him several awards.

Tedela was born in Lagos, as the first child of his parents. He is a descent of Ekiti State. He attended Lagos State Model College, Meiran, Lagos for his secondary education and earned a degree in Mass Communication from University of Lagos.

#4. Elijah Kolawole Ogunmola

Elijah Kolawole Ogunmola, Nov. 11, 1925-1973, was a Nigerian dramatist, actor, mime, director, and playwright.

He developed Yoruba culture, especially folk opera (drama that combines Christian themes with traditional Yoruba folklore, music and dancing, and music popular in urban culture) into a serious theatre form through his work with his Ogunmola Travelling Theatre (founded c. 1948).

They produced an early stage musical version of Amos Tutuola ‘s The Palm Wine Drinkard , which was performed at the First Pan-African Cultural Congress ( Algiers, 1969).

Ogunmola is regarded as one of the most brilliant actors in Africa in the 1950s and ’60s.

He produced Ife Owo in 1965. It was a satire on marriage and wealth. He used Mime and singing as well as drumming to convey his message. He also produced the dramatic version of Tutuola’s The Palmwine Drinker. He also exhibited great ability in acting and directing.

He married numerous wives and had many children. Among his children are notable Nollywood Stars, such as Abayomi Ogunmola and Peju Ogunmola Omobolanle .

He married numerous wives and had many children. Among his children are notable Nollywood Stars, such as Abayomi Ogunmola and Peju Ogunmola Omobolanle.

Elijah Kolawole Ogunmola was born to the family of George Ogunmola and Aina Ogunmola in the town of Okemesi -Ekiti. Before his start in professional theatre, Ogunmola was a schoolmaster in Ado-Ekiti .At Emmanuel School, Ado-Ekiti, Ogunmola created school plays performed by students inside and sometimes outside the school. He formed his drama troupe, Ogunmola’s Theatre Party around some of the pupils and his fellow teachers. The troupe was modeled after Ogunde’s Theatre Party and some of his early operas like “Reign of the Mighty”, one of his early plays reveal a Christian influence. Ogunmola’s early performances were staged in the Ekiti region of Nigeria. He was known as a performer who was sensitive to the quality of the acting on stage. Like Ogunde, most of his early work were Yoruba folk operas. The rhythm is provided by drums played in the background, the songs are in Yoruba language and dancing was an integral part of the play.

In the 1950s, Ogunmola’s theatre traveled extensively throughout the Western region of Nigeria, performing in schools, churches and halls. Though the group performed the same set of plays in every city, the audience can get a unique feeling from seeing each play. Ogunmola’s plays allowed for improvisational acting on stage and with each performance, he left room for the unexpected. His acting is also influenced by the feelings of the moment while his knowledge of Yoruba culture and human nature grew with each performance. One of his popular plays, “Love for Money”, is a story about a wealthy man who fell for a temptress and as a result separated from his wife. However, his relationship with the temptress ruined him.

In 1955, he moved to Oshogbo from the Ekiti region.

In 1962, University of Ibadan established a drama school and Ogunmola was offered a grant to become a resident artist. The artist in residence program was sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation and it provided Ogunmola funds to buy equipment that soon allowed him to go fully professional. Ogunmola’s most famous play, a loose adaptation of Amos Tutuola’s the Palmwine Drinkard was a result of his collaboration with the School of Drama at Ibadan. When Ogunmola was at Ibadan , he was given a script written by Tutuola to translate into a Yoruba drama. The results was”Lanke Omuti” also known as Palmwine Drinkard. The premier of the play was at the university, Ogunmola was assisted by Demas Nwoko in the production and stage design of the play. In the 1960s, Palmwine Drinkard received recognition in Nigeria and abroad. He became more popular after his six months residency at Ibadan partly due to the success of Palmwine Drinkard. The play was a serious contender with Ọba kò so , the eventual nominee for Nigeria’s nomination to the Commonwealth arts festival in 1965.

Ogunmola suffered a stroke in 1970 and his health continued to decline until he died in 1973 at the age of 48.

#5. Yemi Blaq

Yemi Olatunji Blaq popularly known as Yemi Blaq is a famous Nollywood actor, songwriter, film maker, model, television personality and a philanthropist. He was born on 19 May 1978 in Ondo State in the western part of Nigeria.

Yemi Blaq completed both his primary, secondary and tertiary education in Lagos, Nigeria. He started showing his great talent in acting right from his primary school days. In 2005 Yemi Blaq joined the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) after registering with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Lagos State Chapter and started attending movie auditions in Lagos, Nigeria.

He rose to fame in 2005 after acting in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Lost of Lust” alongside with Nollywood famous actress Mercy Johnson. Since then he has starred in several Nollywood movies and made several appearances in television drama series.

The Nollywood blockbuster movie “My Idol” which he acted as a lead character alongside with Nollywood famous actress Genevieve Nnaji won him the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

Yemi Blaq is currently married to Remi Ibinola Olatunji Blaq. His wife Remi Ibinola is a talented writer and has written many stories for Nollywood movies in which Yemi Blaq has acted as lead character.

Yemi Blaq has acted in over 200 Nollywood movies.

Yemi Blaq has won several movie awards which include Best Actor of the Year at the City People Entertainment Awards, Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.

#6. Abayomi Alvin

Abayomi Alvin is an award winning Nigerian actor, content creator, Screenwriter and model born on June 20, 1993.

Abayomi originally hails from Ekiti State.

He obtained a degree in Sociology and Anthropology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.

Abayomi Alvin had passion for acting at a very tender age and at 17, he got enrolled for a two month acting course which was organized by his church.

He came through professionally at the age of 19.

He also started modelling in 2010 and in 2011 he won the pageant, Mr. Ideal Osun State. He also competed at the national level “Mr Ideal Nigeria” in 2012, which he also emerged winner.

Ever since he came to limelight, he has walked various runway shows such as Music Meets Runway (2013) and ICM Fashion show (2015), featured in various shoots for numerous top designers and also shot various commercials for top brands in Nigeria which include the likes of Orbit Gum, Lumos, Fidelity Bank, Big Brother Nigeria and many others.

He got his first role in the movie “Collateral War” starring alongside, John Dumelo and Yvonne Jegede.

Alvin is well known for his roles such as Hakeen in “Girl Next Door”, Oladele aka Spatacus in “You, Me and the Guys”, Kpoi-Kpoi in “Mentally”.

He is also known for his roles in TV series such as Sewedo on :Jemeji” and Austin in “Jenifa’s Diary”.

#7. Tope Tedela

Tope Tedela was born in Lagos, Nigeria, although he is a descent of Ekiti State.

His foray into professional acting begun when he was cast as Julian on Popular TV Drama Edge of Paradise (2006) directed by Greg Odutayo while he was attending University of Lagos, Nigeria. He went on to feature in Twisted (2007), a film directed by Niyi Towolawi. After a hiatus to complete his degree in Mass Communication at University of Lagos, he returned and has appeared in several productions, on screen and on stage. In 2012, He took acting classes at Film Factory in Lagos and that same year he was cast as in the leading role of Lala for the action-drama A Mile From Home. His portrayal of Lala in the drama A Mile From Home (2013) won him Best Actor In A Drama at the 2nd Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) held in March 2014. On stage, he has appeared in Ola Rotimi’s Man Talk, Woman Talk (2011-2012) and his screen credits include roles in Tweeters (2012); award-winning films Awakening (2013) directed by James Omokwe, and Moses Inwang Torn (2013). Tedela will also star in Supernatural thriller film In My Father’s House directed by famed director Jimi Odumosu and the drama Apostates, both in post production. His filmography also includes: Cyanide (A Silent Short Film), Emerald (2013), Heaven (2013), The Hurrying Man (2013), and more.

#8. Jimoh Aliu

Jimoh Aliu , MFR, born November 11, 1939, is a Nigerian dramatist, sculptor, film writer, playwright and director.

He was born on November 1939 at Oke-Imesi, a city in Ekiti State southwestern Nigeria.

His father, Aliu Fakoya is an Ifa priest who hails from Oke-Imesi Ekiti but is mother hails from Iloro-Ekiti.

He began acting in 1959 when Akin Ogungbe , a Nigerian veteran dramatist visited his hometown, the same year he joined the Akin Ogungbe theatre group where he gained some experience in drama. In 1966, after he spent seven years with the Ogungbe troupe, he established “Jimoh Aliu Concert Party”, a group based in Ikare in Ondo State southwestern Nigeria.

He later joined the Nigerian Army in 1967 but retired in 1975 with the aim of focusing on drama as well as promoting independent artist under the platform of Jimoh Aliu cultural group. He had produced several television drama series such as Iku Jare Eda Yanpan yanrin and Fopomoyo that featured king Sunny Ade.

#9. Falz the bahd guy

Folarin Falana popularly known by his stage name as Falz or Falz the bahd guy is a fastest rising Nigerian comic artiste, singer, songwriter, recording artiste, stage performer, actor and a philanthropist. He was born on 27 October 1990 in Lagos State in the western part of Nigeria.

Falz is originally from Ekiti State in the western part of Nigeria but grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Falz is the son of popular Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana SAN. He began his music career way back in his secondary school days after forming a music group known as “The School Boys” where he developed his love and passion for music.

Falz completed both his primary and secondary school education and obtained both his First School Leaving Certificate and West African Senior School Certificate. After completing his secondary school education, Falz attended University of Lagos.

In 2009, Falz was shot into fame with the released of his popular hit single titled “Marry Me” featuring vocals from Poe and Yemi Alade. In 2015, Falz hit single “Marry Me” won him an award for Best Collaboration of the Year” at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

In 2015, Falz was also nominated for “Best Rap Act of the Year” and “Best New Act to Watch” at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Falz is a controversial artiste, he is very funny and can really be serious minded if he wants to. He always mixes his music with funny and humorous statement in his lyrics.

In one of his Interviews with MTV Base, Falz revealed on how he got his funny accent, he said that it all started back then in his days in the University of Lagos and he developed the funny accent, which today has become his identity.

Falz is the Chief Executive Officer of Bahd Guys Records (his personal record label). Falz currently has a multimillion naira endorsement deal with MTN Nigeria and WebMallNG. In 2014, Falz was nominated for Best New Act of The Year at the Scream Awards.

In 2015, Falz was nominated for several awards which include Best Rap Act of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Best New Act to Watch at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Best Collaboration of The Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and Best Street Hip-Hop Artiste of The Year at The Headies Awards.

In 2016, Falz won the Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Best Actor in a Comedy Movie/Series at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Best New International Act at the BET Awards.

Falz came out with his own style, a unique creativity and surprised his fans, now everybody love his music and want to be associated with him. His hit single “Soldier Boy” alongside with Simi has topped many charts in Nigeria.

#10. Seun Akindele

Seun Akindele is a popular Nigerian actor and entertainer in movies and television series known for a movie, Dazzling Mirage.

He was born on the 7th of October, the year of his birth not known, in Jos, Plateau state. He hails from Ekiti State in south western Nigeria. Seun is one of eight children in a family.

He attended Air Force Military Secondary School in Jos, Plateau state and later obtained a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Lagos State University.

Seun Akindele kick-started his acting career after attending the Amstel Malta box office audition.

He started acting professionally in 2005 and has since starred in several movies which are majorly English in Nollywood.

Seun Akindele has also entered into endorsement deals with big companies like Orange Drugs and many others believed to have run into millions of Naira.

Seun Akindele is a recipient of several awards and nominations. Some and most recent include Golden Icons Academy Awards (GIAMA) in Houston Texas, United States for his role in a movie On Bended Knees, 2016, Nominated for “best kiss in a movie” alongside Yvonne Jegede for their brilliant role in the movie The Ex in 2015, Nominated for Best-supporting actor for his role in a movie Miss Taken.

Akindele is happily married to Toun in 2016.

11. Fadeyi Oloro

Ojo Arowosafe who is Popularly Known as Fadeyi Oloro was Born on 15th September 1957.Fadeyi Oloro Hails From Ekiti State,Nigeria. Fadeyi Oloro is a Yoruba Veteran Actor and Movie Producer.

He was Born into the Family of Mr and Mrs John Arowosafe.

Fadeyi had his Primary School Education at St Paul Catholic School in Igboro,Ekiti State and His Secondary School Education at Timmy Agbale Grammar School in Oyo State.

Fadeyi is Popularly Known for His Action Roles and Incantations in Yoruba Movies.

Fadeyi has Also Appeared in Few Popular Television Series Like Yanponyanrin and Arelu.

In 1985,Fadeyi Began his Acting Profession.Fadeyi Came Into the Limelight when he was Featured in a Television Drama Titled “Arelu” in 1986.

Fadeyi is One of the Most Popular and Respected Yoruba Veteran Actors in Nigeria Movie Industry.

Fadeyi has Starred in Many Yoruba Movies Such Like Alagbara Ilu,Jagun Ina,Inu Bibi,IJA Abija,Osimi Ika,Adani Lori,Fitu Fona,Ruke Rudo,Bola Ele,Ade Ogun and Other Interesting Movies.

The Veteran Actor has Worked with a lot of Yoruba Celebrities including Antar Laniyan,Lanre Hassan,Jide Kosoko, Funsho Adeolu,Ronke Ojo,Kola Oyewo,Philip Wright,Tunde Usman,Kemi Afolabi,Yewande Adekoya,Iyabo Ojo and More.

See How He Looks Like Now;