Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde "Wole" Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature for his "wide cultural perspective and... poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence", the first sub-Saharan African to win the Prize in literature.
Death and the King's Horseman is a play by Wole Soyinka based on a real incident that took place in Nigeria during the colonial era: the horseman of a Yoruba King was prevented from committing ritual suicide by the colonial authorities. In addition to the intervention of the colonial authorities, Soyinka calls the horseman's own conviction toward suicide into question, posing a problem that throws off the community's balance.
Durodola Durosomo Duroorike Timothy Adisa Ladipo, more commonly known as Duro Ladipo, was one of the best known and critically acclaimed Yoruba dramatists who emerged from postcolonial Africa. Writing solely in the Yoruba language, he captivated the symbolic spirit of Yoruba mythologies in his plays, which were later adapted to other media such as photography, television and cinema. His most famous play, Ọba kò so, a dramatization of the traditional Yoruba story of how Ṣango became the Orisha of Thunder, received international acclaim at the first Commonwealth Arts Festival in 1965 and on a Europe an tour, where a Berlin critic, Ulli Beier, compared Ladipọ to Karajan. Ladipo usually acted in his own plays.
Biyi Bandele was a Nigerian novelist, playwright and filmmaker. He was the author of several novels, beginning with The Man Who Came in From the Back of Beyond (1991), as well as writing stage plays, before turning his focus to filmmaking. His directorial debut was in 2013 with Half of a Yellow Sun, based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Wole Oguntokun was a Nigerian playwright, dramaturge, director and was the artistic director of Theatre Planet Studios and Renegade Theatre as well as a member of the board of Theaturtle, a Canadian theatre company. He was also a theatre administrator and newspaper columnist.
Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ, better known as Brymo, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, sonic artist, actor and author who was born and raised in Okokomaiko. Brymo started recording music in 1999 while in secondary school. He signed a recording contract with music label Chocolate City in 2010 but was accused of breaching his contract in 2013. Brymo released his debut studio album Brymstone in 2007. His second studio album The Son of a Kapenta was released in 2012, and was supported by the singles "Ara", "Good Morning" and "Go Hard". His third studio album Merchants, Dealers & Slaves, which was released on 20 October 2013, received positive reviews from music critics and yielded the singles "Down" and "Eko".
Odunlade Jonathan Adekola ; born 31 December 1976) is a Nigerian actor, singer, film-maker, film producer and film director. He gained popularity and was widely known for his lead role in Ishola Durojaye's 2003 movie, Asiri Gomina Wa, and has acted in many Nollywood movies since then. He is the founder and CEO of the Odunlade Adekola Film Production (OAFP).
Ademiluyi Ajagun was the 48th Ooni of Ife, a paramount traditional king of Ile-Ife, the ancestral home of the Yorubas. He was one of the most feared kings and was highly respected in Africa and around the world. He succeeded Ooni Adekola and was succeeded by Ooni Adesoji Aderemi.
Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún is a Nigerian linguist, writer, translator, scholar, cultural activist and film-maker. His work and influence span the fields of education, language technology, literature, journalism, and linguistics. He is the recipient of the 2016 Premio Ostana "Special Prize" for Writings in the Mother Tongue for his work in language advocacy. He writes in Yoruba and English, and is currently the Africa editor of the Best Literary Translations anthology, published by Deep Vellum.
Fifty is a 2015 Nigerian romantic drama film, directed by Biyi Bandele and released on 18 December 2015.
Sola Kosoko, otherwise known as Sola Kosoko-Abina, is a Nigerian film actress and film director known for Láròdá òjò. She is the daughter of Jide Kosoko. Sola kosoko starred in the movie Pala pala which also featured Yemi Solade and Muyiwa Kosoko. She addresses the Nigeria youth during the Media Literacy and Capacity Building program.
Shaffy Bello is a Nigerian film actress and singer. She first shot into the entertainment scene when she featured vocals in a 1997 hit song by Seyi Sodimu titled "Love Me Jeje".
Deyemi Okanlawon is a Nigerian film, television, theatre, and voice actor. He is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic talents in the Nigerian film industry, earning the distinction of being the highest-grossing Nollywood actor of 2020 and 2021, according to the Film One Box Office report. Deyemi is best known for his roles in Netflix Originals, including Blood Sisters, The King’s Horseman, King of Boys: The Return of the King, Lisabi, as well as major blockbusters like Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Prophetess, and All’s Fair in Love.
Omowunmi Dada is a Nigerian actress, best known for her role as Folake in the M-Net television series Jemeji. She was also cast in the 2017 Yoruba language film Somewhere in the Dark, which won the award for Best Indigenous Film at the 2017 AMVCA Awards, and for which she received a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) at the Best of Nollywood Awards in 2017. In 2018, Dada played the voice of the titular character in Nigeria's first animation full-length feature film, Sade.
Ebonylife TV is an entertainment TV channel owned by Mosunmola Abudu popularly called Mo Abudu, It was launched on DSTV in July 2013 after which the station was later added to DSTV in September 2014. After partnering and satisfying the executive arrangement Ebonylife TV had with DSTV for over five years, Ebonylife TV ended its arrangement with DSTV and proceeded in August 2018 to start broadcasting on StarTimes network, the partnership with startimes was to foster and improve homegrown content to viewers and subscribers in Africa and to also allow Nigerians and viewers generally enjoy the service at a more affordable rate.
James Amuta is a film producer, director, aerial cinematographer and publicist. He is best known for his documentary film "Nightfall in Lagos" which was nominated for the best documentary film in 2018 by the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award.
The Ghost and the Tout Too is a 2021 film directed by Michael Akinrogunde and is a sequel to 2018 film "The Ghost and the Tout" directed by Charles Uwagbai. The film features Toyin Abraham who plays lead but stars alongside notable veteran actors including Patience Ozokwo, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, Odunlade Adekola, Ini Edo, Ali Nuhu, Deyemi Okanlawon, Osas Ighodaro.
The Origin: Madam Koi-Koi is a 2023 Nollywood two-part horror film produced by Jay Franklyn Jituboh and Dale Falola. The film tells the story of the popular Madam Koi-Koi myth, which centers a ghost who haunts dormitories, hallways and toilets in boarding schools at night. The two-part film started streaming on Netflix on 31 October 2023. The film stars Ireti Doyle, Martha Ehinome, Nene Aliemeke, Chioma Chukwuka, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, Ejiro Onojaife, Chuks Joseph, Kevin T. Solomon, Temidayo Akinboro, Iremide Adeoye and others.
Toyin Oshinaike is a renowned Nigerian thespian and director, notable for his work in stage, film, and television.
