Nigerians are amongst people who you would find in any part of the world. This is because natives of Africa’s most populous black nation keep emigrating in a hope of a better life for themselves and their children. This is popularly known in Nigeria as ‘looking for greener pasture’ – this is no thanks in large to the poor economic state of the country.
One good thing about this emigration is the ability to mix and marry people from other countries, thereby birthing biracial or multiracial children.
Being Biracial and Multiracial
According to Wikipedia, Multiracial people are people of many races. Many terms exist for people of various multiracial backgrounds, including mixed-race, biracial, multiethnic, Muwallad, mulatto, etc. (link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiracial_people).
A multiracial or biracial person is someone whose parents or ancestors are from different racial backgrounds. This means if a Nigerian married a Korean, their child will be both Nigerian and Korean – a biracial. If the child married a Belgian who has at least one of his parents or ancestor from Ghana, their children will be referred to as a multiracial person since their ancestors are from Nigeria, Korea, Ghana, and Belgium; this cycle continues on and on for generations.
Interestingly, the number of mixed-race families around the world is steadily increasing due to a rise in interracial marriages and relationships, as well as an increase in transracial and international adoptions. This is most common in countries that allow an easy inflow of immigrants; this includes the USA, the UK, Germany, Italy, Portugal, etc.
Multiracial celebs who are Nigerians
Many biracial or multiracial children whose parents, grandparents, or ancestors are of Nigerian descent have all gone to become celebs, making significant strides in their respective fields – telecoms, Tech, sports, politics, banking, even religion, etc.
There are multiracial celebs whose Nigerian names betray them as names given to them are native Nigerian names. These include Ogonna Nneka Nnamani (American Volleyball player), Nnamdi Asomugha (former American football player), Chukwuemeka Okafor (American basketball player), Uzo Aduba (American actress), Adeoye Owolewa (USA Congressman), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (American Actor), Fikayo Tomori, Bukayo Saka, Bamidele Alli, Ovie Ejaria (English footballers), Adetomiwa Edun (UK Actor), Noah Okafor (Austrian Footballer), Nnamdi Asomugha (American footballer & husband of Kerry Washington), etc. However, there are others whose names bear no indication of their Nigerian roots.
Below are multiracial celebs with Nigerian ancestry:
Taio Cruz
British singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer Jacob Taio Cruz is the first on our list. He is from London, England but currently lives in Los Angeles, USA. Taio Cruz who real name is Tayo Onile-Ere is the son of a Nigerian father and a Brazilian mother. He was born 23 April 1980 in Brent, Greater London, England. He has an older brother named Nathan Cruz.
Cruz is the founder and chief executive of Rokstarr Music London, which in 2006 released his debut single “I Just Wanna Know”. In 2008, he released his debut album Departure, which he wrote, arranged, and produced. The album earned him a Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO) nomination; to date, he has 10 awards to his name. Cruz also performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Cruz has his social media app for Android and iOS new app called Kewe. This app enables people to interact and keep up with what Taio Cruz is doing. It was launched on 18 August 2013. Popular celebs he has worked with include French Montana, Usher, Ludacris, Tinie Tempah (another Nigerian descent), Chris Brown, David Guetta, etc.
Taio Cruz is presently not married, nor does he have a child. One thing is certain – any child he marries will continue the multiracial of his family lineage, spreading the Nigerian blood.
DONALD FAISON
He was born Donald Adeosun Faison on June 22, 1974, to an American Mom and Nigerian Father in Harlem, New York City, USA. He started acting from the time he was five through the influence of his parents who were members of the National Black Theatre in Harlem. His younger brother is American musician Patrick Faison.
Donald Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor, best known for his leading role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC/NBC comedy-drama Scrubs.
Faison made his major film debut in Juice opposite rapper Tupac Shakur in 1992. From then on he appeared in a steady stream of films including 1993’s Sugar Hill with Wesley Snipes and 1995’s Waiting to Exhale with Angela Bassett. The film that made Faison a famous face, however, was 1995’s Clueless. Others include Remember the Titans, 2000, Josie and the Pussycats, 2001, Big Fat Liar, 2002, Uptown Girls, 2003, etc.
He is currently married to his American wife Cacee Cobb (his second wife) and he has six children, although three are from his other relationships.
FOREST WHITTAKER
Legendary American actor Forest Steven Whitaker makes this list because of discovery about his ancestry. His ancestry was traced to Nkwerre in Imo State of Nigeria, where he was made an honorary titled chief on April 5, 2009. He was given a chieftaincy title Nwannedinamba of Nkwerre, which means ‘A Brother in a Foreign Land’.
Whitaker was born on July 15, 1961, in Longview, Texas, U.S. He is an American actor, producer, director, and activist, known for his riveting and deeply nuanced portrayals of a wide variety of characters in movies and on television, whether he was in a leading role or playing a minor character. He is popularly known for his role as the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in – The Last King of Scotland (2006). Other popular movies he starred in include Phone Booth (2002), The Great Debaters (2007), Vantage Point (2008), Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013), Arrival (2016), A Christmas Journey (2020), etc.
He won an Academy Award for best actor in his lead role in ‘The Last King of Scotland’. In addition to the numerous awards Whitaker won for his performance in The Last King of Scotland, he has also received several other honors. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Forest Whittaker is a divorcee but has four children – two girls and two boys.
ROSS BARKLEY
Ross Barkley is an English international footballer who currently plays for Chelsea FC in the English Premier League. He has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20, under-21, and senior levels. He has played for Everton and Aston Villa.
Barkley was born on December 5, 1993, in Liverpool, Merseyside, the UK to a Nigerian Father Peter Effanga, and an English Mother, Diane Barkley. Ross bears his mother’s maiden name Barkley instead of his real father’s name Effanga who was a construction worker with the railway in the United Kingdom. Patrick Effanga left Ross when he was only one year old and hasn’t met with him since then.
There’s one thing he wishes to do and that is meeting his father. Barkley said in an interview last year. Barkley once said that if he knew much about his Nigerian root early enough, he would have opted to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria instead of the Three Lions of England.
He started playing football at the age of 11, joining the Youth system of Everton football club. He has since seen his career grow and has won numerous awards individually and with his teams. Ross Barkley is currently single neither does he have any kid.
TD JAKES
American bishop, televangelist, author, and filmmaker Thomas Dexter Jakes Sr., known as T. D. Jakes, is a very popular figure around the world. He is the bishop of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational American megachurch.
In a September 2020 interview with BBC Igbo, Jakes said that his Igbo heritage was uncovered through a DNA test. “It all started when Henry Lewis Gates, who was at Harvard at the time, wanted to undertake this DNA testing to find out where my ancestors originated from. There was me and Oprah Winfrey. He mentioned Quincy Jones and others.
According to the clergyman, the test revealed that his forefathers were from Nigeria. “My ancestors came from West Africa, specifically Nigeria and the Igbo people. My forefathers were Igbos. It’s beyond words. This provides something that African-Americans do not have: roots.
“It gave me an understanding of my roots. It was interesting to see how similar my personality is to how Igbo people are described. They’re described as hardworking, industrious, and innovative. They have strong business acumen. I deeply relate to that. It explained to me; it’s odd that I was never born there, yet, see so many traces. I’ve always had strong business acumen.”
Jakes said he has a vivid recollection of his great-grandmother who was once enslaved. He was just 10 years old but said he remembers listening to his great-grandmother talk about slavery and his family’s history.
Bishop Jakes is married to his wife Serita Jakes and they are blessed with five (5) children.
Daniel Lebern Glover
American veteran actor, director, and activist also traced his roots to Igbo ancestry. On April 6, 2009, Glover was given a chieftaincy title in Imo State, Nigeria. His title, “Enyioma of Nkwerre”, means A Good Friend in the language of the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria.
The veteran actor was born July 22, 1946, in San Francisco, California, USA. He had leading roles in films such as Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of The Color Purple (1985), To Sleep with Anger (1990), Predator 2 (1990), Angels in the Outfield (1994), and Operation Dumbo Drop (1995).
Glover has prominent supporting roles in Silverado (1985), Witness (1985), A Rage in Harlem (1991), Dreamgirls (2006), Shooter (2007), 2012 (2009), Death at a Funeral (2010), Beyond the Lights (2014), Sorry to Bother You (2018), The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019), The Dead Don’t Die (2019) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019). He is also an active supporter of various political causes.
Glover has also won lots of awards, as well as several international recognitions for his successful career. He is divorced though he has a daughter.