Kunle Afolayan is a Nigerian actor, producer and director. He is widely credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollywood storylines. After starting his film career as an actor in the 1999 political drama Saworoide, Afolayan made his directorial debut in 2006 with Irapada, a Nigerian supernatural thriller, which won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language. His follow-on directing credits include The Figurine, Phone Swap, October 1, and Citation. 1 October was the winner of 16 major African movie awards in 2015 and the second highest grossing Nigerian film in Nigerian cinemas at the time of its release, a feat Afolayan was to repeat two years later with The CEO. In 2021, the director signed a three-picture deal with Netflix. Swallow, the screen adaption of Sefi Atta's book of the same name was the first to be released in October 2021, followed by Aníkúlápó, an epic Nigerian fantasy released in September 2022. Afolayan has described the work as a "Game of Thrones recreated in Nigeria but with a better representation of our culture”. Eleven days after its release, it was the #1 most-watched non-English Netflix original film.
Dakore Egbuson-Akande is a Nigerian actress. She is an ambassador for Amnesty International, Amstel Malta and Oxfam of America.
Chris Attoh is a Ghanaian actor, film director, on-air personality, television presenter and producer. He is best known as "Kwame Mensah" in Nigerian soap opera Tinsel.
Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Toyin Afolayan popularly known as Lola Idije is a Nigerian film actress. She gained recognition after starring as Madam Adisa in a 1995 film titled Deadly Affair.
Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe, is a Nigerian film maker and producer; He has served as a producer and executive producer for several documentaries and commercials for international organisations and is considered one of the most outstanding directors and one of the most sought after cinematographers of the New Nigerian Cinema.
The CEO is a 2016 Nigerian film directed by Kunle Afolayan, starring Kemi Lala Akindoju, Hilda Dokubo, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Angélique Kidjo and Wale Ojo. The film premiered at the Eko Hotels and Suites on July 10, 2016. The film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The London premiere was held in October 2016 at Leicester Square Vue Cinema.
Wale Ojo is a British Nigerian actor. He started as a child actor in television. He subsequently continued acting roles in the UK and Nigeria. He came into prominence in 1995 for his role in The Hard Case. He won the award for Best Actor at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for this leading role in Phone Swap, and has been featuring in several movies ever since.
Isoken is a 2017 romantic comedy or romantic drama film written and directed by Jadesola Osiberu. The film stars Dakore Akande, Joseph Benjamin, and Marc Rhys.
New Money is a 2018 Nigerian film directed by Tope Oshin with production by Inkblot Productions and FilmOne. It tells the story of a sales girl who dreams of becoming a fashion designer and subsequently receives an unexpected inheritance from her absentee father. Released in March 2018, it stars Jemima Osunde, Kate Henshaw, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Dakore Akande, Wale Ojo Osas Ighodaro and Falz d Bahd Guy.
Bolanle Ninalowo, also known as Nino, is a Nigerian actor and film producer.
Gold Statue is a 2019 Nigerian comedy adventure drama film produced, written and directed by veteran filmmaker Tade Ogidan. The film stars Gabriel Afolayan and Kunle Remi in the main lead roles. The film was released on 17 May 2019 and received extremely positive reviews from critics. It was also nominated for the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Nigerian Film for the year 2019. The film also received few awards at film festivals.
Mokalik is a 2019 Nigerian bilingual comedy drama film produced and directed by veteran filmmaker Kunle Afolayan. The film stars newcomer Toni Afolayan in the male lead role along with Femi Adebayo. The film had its theatrical release on 31 May 2019 and received extremely positive reviews from critics while also performing well at the box office. It was acquired by Netflix in July 2019 and was streamed on 1 September 2019. The film has been included as a part of "Made in Africa" collection in May 2020 by Netflix to be streamed amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. The film was also nominated for the Best Film category during the 2019 Durban International Film Festival. The film was also premiered in several film festivals.
The Set Up is a 2019 Nigerian crime thriller film directed by Niyi Akinmolayan. The film stars Dakore Akande, Adesua Etomi and Kehinde Bankole in the lead roles. The plot of the film is based on a young woman who drops her childhood innocence as she delves to become a criminal for survival. The film was released on 9 August 2019 and received mixed reviews and was also criticised for too much plot twist and turns in the screenplay. Despite the mixed reception, the film became a success at the box office. It was also streamed via Netflix on 22 April 2020.
Ordinary Fellows is a 2019 Nigerian coming-of-age drama film directed by Lorenzo Menakaya and Ikenna Aniekwe. It stars Wale Ojo, Ken Erics, Chiwetalu Agu and Somadina Adinma. It’s a story of Youth and Restlessness, set against the back-drop of Nigerian academia and African myths. It had its world premiere in Detroit, Michigan on 17 August 2019, at the African World Film Festival, where it was recognized as Best Direction. It had its African premiere on 28 September 2019 at the Lights, Camera, Africa! Film Festival in Lagos, Nigeria.
Seun Sean Jimoh is an American based Nigerian actor.
This Lady Called Life is a 2020 Nigerian romance drama written by Toluwani Obayan, and directed by Kayode Kasum. The film stars Lota Chukwu, Bisola Aiyeola and Wale Ojo in the lead roles. The film had its theatrical release on 9 October 2020 and opened to extremely positive reviews from critics. The film is rated as one of the best Nigerian films of 2020.
Survival of Jelili previously titled as Jelili Reloaded is a 2019 Nigerian comedy film produced by Femi Adebayo and directed by Desmond Elliot. The film is a sequel to the 2011 comic film Jelili. The film stars Femi Adebayo in the title role as Jelili, while also stars Toyin Abraham and Dele Odule in the lead roles. The film had its theatrical release on 6 December 2019 and received positive reviews from critics. It was also streamed via Netflix on 8 July 2020.
My Wife & I, is a 2017 Nigerian comedy family film directed by Bunmi Ajakaiye and co-produced by Moses Babatope, Kene Mkparu, Kene Okwuosa, Zulu Onuekwusi, Chinaza Onuzo and Isioma Osaje. The film stars Ramsey Nouah and Omoni Oboli with Dorcas Shola-Fapson, Bimbo Ademoye, and Lilian Afegbai in supporting roles. The film tells the story of Toyosi and Ebere, an unhappily married couple on the brink of a divorce, but later change their marital status further high.
Far From Home is a 2022 young adult television series produced by Netflix also doubles as the first Netflix Nigerian young adult TV series. The series written by Dami Elebe and produced by Inkblot productions premiered on Netflix on 16 December 2022. The five-part series stars Mike Afolarin, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Bimbo Akintola, Carol King, Adesua Etomi, Funke Akindele, Bolanle Ninalowo, Genoveva Umeh, Natse Jemide and a host of others.
