Nigerians are known to travel far and wide. They not only survive in whichever country they find themselves, but become successful and among the best in their fields.
In the entertainment industry today, there are several famous blacks that are excellent in their arts. People sometimes assume they are black Americans, or from other parts of Africa, but the fact remains, some of these actors and musicians are Nigerians by decent.
The most popular among them is Chiwetel Ejiofor who starred in ’12 Years A Slave’, ‘Half of A Yellow Sun,’ ‘Deadly Voyage‘, ‘Secret In Their Eyes,’ among others. Chiwetel was born and bred in the U.K by his Nigerian parents from the Igbo tribe.
Some of the stars on this list were born in Nigeria and grew up abroad, while some others were born and bred outside the country, nevertheless, they have either one or both Nigerian parents.
Let’s meet these stars.
1. Wale
Born as Olubowale Victor Akintimehin to yoruba parents from Ogun State, Rapper Wale grew up in the USA. He is as popular in the states as he is in his home country and has done music collaborations with singers like Wizkid and Olamide. The Maybach Music superstar, Wale, last visited his motherland in December 2013.
2. Hakeem Kae-Kazim
Hollywood actor, Kazeem 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.’ Currently, Hakeem is a brand ambassador for Etisalat Nigeria.
3. Taio Cruz
British Singer, Jacob Taio Cruz was born in London. His father is a Nigerian while his mother is Brazillian. Cruz was signed on a publishing deal when he was 19 years old and has won several awards including the BRIT Awards, Billboard Music Awards, ASCAP Awards and American Music Awards.
4. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Former fashion model of Yoruba origin, and Hollywood actor, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, is best known for his roles in ‘The Mummy Returns‘, ‘Pompeii,’ ‘The Bourne Identity‘, and in TV series ‘Lost‘ and ‘Oz‘.
He was born in Washington, D.C to Nigerian parents and is fluent in Yoruba, Italian and Swahili, aside English language.
5. 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, where he played ‘Sir Elyan’ and he became the second black in 2009 to play Romeo at the Globe Theatre. Tomiwa speaks English, Yoruba and French.
6. Uzo Aduba
Uzoamaka Nwanneka “Uzo” Aduba is an American actress who is known for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on the television series ‘Orange Is the New Black‘. Her parents are both Nigerians of Igbo origin.
7. Dayo Okeniyi
Dayo Okeniyi was born and raised in Lagos before he later moved with his family to the United States. The actor is popularly known for his roles in ‘The Hunger Games‘ and ‘Terminator Genisys‘.
8. Caroline Chikezie
Caroline was born in England to Nigerian parents but was sent to boarding school in Nigeria at a point, in an attempt to make her abandon her dreams to become an actress. She choose acting to taking over her father’s hospital in Nigeria.
So far, the 41-year-old has featured in ‘Holby City,’ ‘Casualty,’ ‘Babymother,’ ‘ As If ,’ ‘Judas Kiss,’ ‘Free Fall‘, ‘Torchwood’, ‘Cyberwoman“,’ ‘Supernatural,’ and ‘Brothers and Sisters’.
8. Nonso Anozie
Nonso Anozie is an English actor of Nigerian descent. Apart from movies, he was cast to play in the TV series ‘Game of Thrones‘ and ‘Dracula‘.
9. Hope Olaide Wilson
Hollywood actress Hope Olaide Wilson is from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria. She moved to the United States in 1996, and has featured in Tyler Perry’s movies ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’, ‘After the Dark and Faith & Dreams’ amongst others.
Hope speaks English, French, and Yoruba fluently and has won the 2009 Diversity Awards Female ‘Nova’ Award Recipient for promising talent.
10. Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoade is a British actor born to a Nigerian father and a Norwegian mother. The comedian, actor and writer has written several award-winning stage plays in the UK. He made his Hollywood debut in 2012 after starring in the comedy ‘The Watch,’ alongside Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill.
11. 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, 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).
12. Adepero Oduye
American actress Adepero Oduye is not the most popular Nigerian-American actress on this list but she featured in 12 Years A Slave. She also played Alike in Pariah (2011) TV series, Law & Orderamongst others. She has received several awards, including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.
13. Sophie Okonedo
Born to a Nigerian father and a Jewish mother, Sophie Okonedo is a British actress and singer. She has played in such great movies as ‘Æon Flux‘, ‘Mrs. Mandela’, ‘Skin’ and many more.
14. John Boyega
John is a British-Nigerian who was born in london to Nigerian parents. He is best known for his 2011 film debut ‘Attack the Block‘. He also played Ugwu in ‘Half of A Yellow Sun‘ and will play in the upcoming 2015 film ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
15. Ashley Madekwe
Ashley Madekwe was born in London and has a Nigerian father and an English mother. She is best known for her roles in drama series ‘Revenge‘ and America series ‘Salem‘.
16. Toks Olagundoye
Born in Lagos to a Norwegian mother and a Nigerian father, Toks Olagundoye is known for her role as Jackie Joyner-Kersee in the TV sitcom ‘The Neighbors’.
17. Sade Adu
56 years old American R&B singer, and Grammy award winner, Helen Folasade Adu was born on January 16, 1959 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
When Sade was 11 years old, she moved to Holland-on-Sea, Essex, to live with her mother, then she later moved to London and studied fashion design at Saint Martin’s School of Art before she started singing. She is best known for her hit song ‘Sweetest Taboo.’
18. Tracy Ifeachor
Tracy is a British-Nigerian television and theatre actress best known for playing in the ‘Doctor Who Christmas special, The End of Time‘, and TV series ‘Crossbones‘.
19. Olurotimi Akinosho
Rotimi was born in New Jersey to Nigerian parents. He appeared in the high grossing film ‘Divergent‘, in ‘Black Nativity‘ and in ‘Imperial Dreams‘. From 2011 to 2012, he starred as Darius Morrison on the Starz Network original drama series Boss. Rotimi is also the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of FrontRoSeat Productions.
20. Carmen Ejogo
Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo was born in 1973 in London and began her career as a teenager. Her father is Nigerian while her mother is Scottish. The British actress has featured in ‘What’s the Worst That Could Happen?’, ‘The Purge: Anarchy‘ and ‘Selma‘. She has received several awards, including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.
