Efa Iwara

Efa Iwara
Efe at the 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards
Born	(1986-08-20) 20 August 1986 (age 38) Ibadan, Nigeria
Education	University of Ibadan
Occupations	Actor rapper
Years active	2006 to date
Known for	Acting, music

Efa Iwara, also known as Efa, is a Nigerian actor and rapper. ^[1]

Early life and education

Iwara was born on 20 August 1986 in Ibadan, Oyo State to his Professor of Linguistics father and Librarian mother. He hails from Ugep in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. ^{[1] [2]}

He attended Staff School, Ibadan for his primary education, and the International School, Barth Road, Ibadan, for his secondary education. He graduated from the University of Ibadan, with a bachelor's degree in Geography. ^{[3] [4]}

Career

Iwara started out his career in the entertainment industry as a musician in 2006 in a group called X-Factor with DJ Clem, ^[5] Bolaji, Jide and Boye. Following the dissolution of the group, he released his first single and 5 track EP called Waka EP in 2011. His last official single was titled “Fall in Love” featuring Plantashun Boiz in 2014 ^[6]

He made his acting debut in a 2011 episode of Tinsel as a debate moderator. He was however still focused on music at this point. His next appearance was in the first season of MTV Shuga Naija in 2013. He was absent from the acting space until 2016 when he appeared on Life 101 for Ebonylife TV. ^[6] Since then, he appeared in TV series including Ajoche, an Africa Magic original, Rumor Has It and The Men's Club. He has also featured in movies like Isoken , Seven and Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story . He earned his first Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) nomination for his performance in Seven. ^[6]

Discography

Albums

• Without a Pulse - 2020 ^[2]

EPs

• Waka EP - 2011 ^[7]

Singles

Source: ^[8]

• "Fall in Love" (featuring Plantashun Boiz)
• "Letter to the President Elect"
• "Sunmobi" (featuring Olamide)
• "Over you" (featuring Praiz)
• "Open and Close" (featuring Dammy Krane)
• "Obandi" (featuring Pelli)
• "Enigma"
• "E2DFA (E to the F-A)"

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
2013	MTVShuga	David		[6]
2018	The Men's Club	Tayo	Alongside Ayoola Ayolola and Sharon Ooja	[9]
	Rumour Has It	Femi		[6]
	Ajoche	Epe		[10]
	Corper Shun			[11]
2021	Ricordi			[12]
	King of Boys: The Return of the King	Dapo Banjo	Alongside Sola Sobowale and Toni Tones	[13]
2022	Diiche	Folajimi Gbajumo	Alongside Uzoamaka Onuoha and Daniel K. Daniel	[14]
2024	Òlòtūré: The Journey	Femi		[15]

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref
2024	Soft Love	Edward Obi	Comedy / Romance
2024	Hijack '93	Captain Odion	Drama / Thriller
2023	Mercy Line Pretty Evil	Dr. Fredrick	Alex Ajoku, Lucy Ameh, Rajunor Aya	[16]
2022	Finding Hubby 2	Ade	Alongside Kehinde Bankole, Eso Dike
	Ile Owo	Tunji	Alongside Immaculate Oko Kasum, Tina Mba	[17]
2021	A Naija Christmas	Obi	Alongside Kunle Remi and Abayomi Alvin	[18]
2020	This Lady Called Life	Obinna	Alongside Bisola Aiyeola	[19]
	Finding Hubby	Ade	Alongside Kehinde Bankole, Eso Dike
	Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story	Bala	Alongside Stan Nze, Norbert Young	[20]
	The Sessions (2020 film)	Banjo	Alongside Ada Ameh, Fred Amata	[21]
2019	Seven	Kolade	Alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo and Sadiq Daba	[22]
2018	The Eve	Ebere	Alongside Beverly Naya, Uche Montana
2017	Isoken	Osato's Husband	Alongside Dakore Akande, Joseph Benjamin, Funke Akindele	[23]
2016	Put a Ring on It	Uyi	Alongside Shawn Faqua, Osas Ighodaro	[24]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Film	Result	Ref
2020	Best of Nollywood Awards	Best Actor in a Lead role – English	The Sessions	Nominated	[2]
		Best Kiss in a Movie		Nominated	[25]
	Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award	Best Actor in a Drama	Seven	Nominated	[26]
2021	Net Honours	Most Popular Actor	—	Nominated	[27]
2022	Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards	Best Actor in A Drama	This Lady Called Life	Nominated	[28]

References

1. Posner, Abigail (16 September 2020). "Efa Iwara biography: Age, height, state of origin, wife, movies". www.legit.ng. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
2. Shaibu, Husseini (5 December 2020). "Their excellencies… Best of Nollywood leading men file out today". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
3. Justin (6 July 2020). "Efa Iwara: Age, Career, Relationship, All The FACTS". Heavyng.Com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
4. "Efa Iwara: My love for acting started out from boredom". guardian.ng. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
5. BellaNaija.com (11 January 2011). "Who Is…Efa". BellaNaija. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
6. "How Efa Iwara Abandoned A Struggling Music Career To Make It Big In Nollywood". Nigerian Entertainment Today . 18 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
7. BellaNaija.com (4 November 2011). "New Video: EFA – Number One". BellaNaija. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
8. "Full biography of Nigerian actor Efa Iwara and other facts about him". DNB Stories. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
9. BellaNaija.com (1 July 2020). ""The Men's Club" Fans, Get in Here! Listen to Ayoola & Efa Iwara sing "Safe With Me"". BellaNaija. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
10. Club, Film Rats (22 June 2019). "REMEMBERING AJOCHE by Dika Ofoma". Film Rats Club. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
11. Tv, Bn (5 April 2018). "Must Watch! Efa Iwara, Chiagoziem Nwakanma star in Accelerate TV's 'Corper Shun' | Teaser". BellaNaija. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
12. "Watch the official trailer for 'Ricordi' web series". Pulse Nigeria. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
13. Adekanye, Modupe (26 July 2021). "King Of Boys: The Return Of The King Returns As 7-Episode Series". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
14. "Meet the Cast for DIICHE; Showmax's First Nigerian Original Series". BellaNaija. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
15. Oloture: The Journey (Crime, Drama), Daniel Etim Effiong, Omoni Oboli, Pearl Wats, 28 June 2024, retrieved 14 February 2025
16. Edochie, Great Valentine (27 January 2023), Pretty Evil (Drama, Fantasy), Alex Ajoku, Lucy Ameh, Rajunor Aya, After Work Creative, retrieved 20 June 2024
17. www.premiumtimesng.com https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/602471-movie-review-ile-owo-hazy-storyline-that-offers-no-logical-explanation-for-events-characters.html?tztc=1 . Retrieved 14 February 2025.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
18. "'A Naija Christmas' Review: Honoring a Mother's Wish - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
19. "'This Lady Called Life' is a poignant love story on abuse & redemption [Pulse review]". www.pulse.ng. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
20. BellaNaija.com. "Stan Nze, Osas Ighodaro, Efa Iwara – Meet the All-Star Cast of Charles Okpaleke's "Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story"". www.bellanaija.com. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
21. "Here's all you need to know about 'Sessions' starring Efa Iwara, Omowunmi Dada". www.pulse.ng. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
22. Tochukwu, Nwobi (29 October 2019). "Watch Trailer for "Seven" Starring RMD, Orezi, Efa Iwara, Daddy Showkey; Directed By Tosin Igho". ExclusiveRawNaija. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
23. nollywoodreinvented (17 July 2018). "Isoken". Nollywood Reinvented. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
24. "Efa Iwara – Auditions.ng". Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
25. "Behold hot steppers and winners at BON awards 2020". Vanguard News. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
26. Augoye, Jayne (18 March 2020). "Nigeria: AMVCA 2020 Highlights - Best Moments of the Night". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
27. "Net Honours - The Class of 2021". Nigerian Entertainment Today . Retrieved 21 July 2021.
28. "2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 26 March 2022.

External links

Efa Iwara at IMDb