Nigerians are talented individuals scattered all around the world, carving a niche for themselves and making their country proud. Here is a list of top 10 Hollywood actors who you didn’t know are not only Nigerians but are of Yoruba descent and are doing well for themselves. Topping the list is none other than:
1. Olurotimi Akinosho
Olurotimi Akinosho better known by his stage name, Rotimi, is a Nigeria-American singer-songwriter, actor and model. He’s best known for his role as Darius Morrison on the Starz Network’s Boss, and as Dre on Power.
Rotimi was born in Maplewood, New Jersey, to Nigerian parents. His father is an investment banker of Yoruba origin and his mother of Igbo origin, working for the government.
Rotimi got his first acting role on Boss as drug dealer Darius Morrison. Rotimi also appeared in three episodes of ABC’s Betrayal.
Rotimi made his silver screen debut in film Black Nativity (2013). Following this, he starred in Imperial Dreams at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, which later won for “Best of NEXT”. Rotimi next appeared in the high grossing film, Divergent (2014).
He was added to the cast of Starz’ TV series Power as a series regular, in the role of “Dre”, the quick-tempered young protégé of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s character. Rotimi was also cast in a recurring role on Battle Creek as Danny.
On his career as a contemporary R&B artist, Rotimi released two digital mixtapes, titled The Resume (March 8, 2011) and While You Wait (November 30, 2011). His videos have been featured on international and U.S. based entertainment media including MTV, MTV Base, and VH1 Soul.
In 2015, American rapper and executive producer of Power, 50 Cent signed Rotimi to his label, G-Unit Records. He also released his first G-Unit single “Lotto” featuring 50 Cent. In 2016, Rotimi released “Doin it”, a single from his 5-track project, Summer Bangerz.
2. Adepero Oduye
Adepero Oduye is an American actress who is also a singer and writer.
Oduye’s breakout role came in 2011 when she starred in Dee Rees’ critically acclaimed and award-winning independent film Pariah, for which she received several awards and a nomination for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards.
The following year, she joined an all-star cast in the Steel Magnolias television remake as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, a role originated by Daryl Hannah.
In 2013, Oduye co-starred alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor (Nigerian, Igbo origin) in Steve McQueen’s historical drama 12 years a slave and was winner of the 2014 Academy Award for Best Picture.
In 2014, she made her directorial debut with Breaking in, a short film about a young black man’s first time being stopped and frisked by the NYPD, based on her brother’s early experience. The film has garnered several film festival acknowledgments and awards.
Born on January 11, 1978 in Brooklyn, New York, Oduye is of Yoruba descent.
3. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is one of Nigeria’s bestworld famous celebrities. The former fashion model of Yoruba origin and Hollywood actor is best known for his roles as Simon Adebisi in Oz, Lock-Nah in The Mummy Returns, Nykwana Wombosi in The Bourne Identity, Kurse, Pompeii, The Bourne Identity’, and in TV series Lost.
He was born in Washington, D.C to Nigerian parents and is fluent in Yoruba, Italian and Swahili, aside from the English language.
4. Oladayo A. Okeniyi
Oladayo A. Okeniyi is a Nigerian-American actor popularly known for playing the role of Thresh in The Hunger Games and Danny Dyson in Terminator Genisys.
Prior to being cast in The Hunger Games, Okeniyi worked in local theatre and in film shorts. Okeniyi starred 2014 in the drama film Endless Love, also portrayed Danny Dyson in the 2015 film Terminator Genisys and starred in the NBC series Shades of Blue.
Born on June 14, 1988 in Jos he grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. In 2003, he moved with his family to Indiana, United States and later moved to California. Dayo is Yoruba by tribe.
5. Babatunde Adetomiwa Stafford Edun
British actor, Adetomiwa Edun was born in Lagos, Nigerian on March 4, 1984 to a Nigerian financier father Yoruba tribe and a half- Ghanaian, half-English mother. Popular in films like Slaves, Law & Order (UK), The Hour, Passengers (UK); Series: Merlin. He speaks French, English and Yoruba.
6. Folake Olowofoyeku
Folake Olowofoyeku is a Nigerian-American actress and singer. Olowofoyeku appeared in guest starring roles on television shows that include 30 Rock, How to Get Away with Murder, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Modern Family, Westworld, and White Collar.
Olowofoyeku also starred in the 2017 film, Death Race 2050, as Minerva Jefferson. The film is a sequel to the 1975 cult film, Death Race 2000 and was shot in Lima, Peru. Born on October 26, 1983, Olowofoyeku is of the Yoruba tribe.
7. Olugbenga Enitan Temitope Akinnagbe
Olugbenga Enitan Temitope Akinnagbe is an America actor and writer best known for his roles as Chris Partlow on the HBO series “The Wire” and as Larry Brown on the HBO series The Deuce.
He starred in leading roles in two independent films as Jack in Home, directed by Jono Oliver and as James in Big Words, directed by Neil Drumming.
Akinnagbe made a guest appearance on a season 10 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode entitled Hell as Elijah Okello, a former Ugandan child soldier living in New York, facing deportation. Born on December 12, 1978 in Washington, he is also Yoruba.
8. Hakeem kae-Kazim
Hollywood actor, Kae-Kazim was born in Lagos State and is a native of 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 including 24, and Criminal Minds. He has also featured in some Nollywood movies like Last Flight To Abuja, Black November and Half Of A Yellow Sun. Kae-Kazim is currently starring in the BBC fantasy series Troy: Fall of a city as Zeus, king of the Olympians. He is also currently a brand ambassador for Etisalat Nigeria.
Called the ‘Man with a Beautiful Voice’, Kae-Kazim has also done extensive voiceover work ranging from television and radio to video games. His voice has been featured in a number of well known video games including Final Fantasy XIV, Halo 3 ODST, Halo: Reach, Guild Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, The Golden Compass and The Saboteur. Kae-Kazim has spoken of voice over work as being “a lot of fun”, and something he enjoys doing.
9. Hope Olaide Wilson
Actress Hope Olaide Wilson was born on 16 August 1985 in the United Kingdom. Her parents are from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria.
She has starred in numerous films ranging from Tyler Perry’s movies I Can Do Bad All by Myself, After the Dark and Faith & Dreams. She speaks English, French and Yoruba languages.
10. David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo OBE
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, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Middle of Nowhere, Lincoln, and Blood and Oil; (a film about Niger-Delta, oil, and militancy in Nigeria).
David Oyelowo OBE is a British-American actor and producer who holds dual British and American citizenship. His accolades include a Critics’ Choice Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards