Genevieve Nnaji is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actor to win the award. In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government for her contributions to Nollywood. Her directorial debut movie, Lionheart, is the first Netflix film from Nigeria and the first Nigerian submission for the Oscars. The movie was disqualified for having most of its dialogue in English. After having spent decades in the movie industry, she was profiled alongside some celebrities and business executives in 2020 in two new books by publisher and Editor in Chief of Yes International! magazine, Azuh Arinze.
Chioma Chukwuka is a Nigerian actress, director and movie producer. In 2007, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for "Best Actress in a leading role" for her performance in the movie "Sins of the flesh", and the Afro Hollywood award for best actress in a lead role in 2010.
Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerian filmmaker, actress, director, producer, politician and realtor. Akindele starred in the sitcom I Need to Know from 1998 to 2002 and in 2009, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, for her role in Jenifa, which brought her to fame. Akindele reprised the role in 2011 sequel The Return of Jenifa and 2015 soft reboot television series titled Jenifa's Diary, for which she was named the Best Actress in a Comedy at the 2016 and 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Akindele won the same award in 2020 and 2022, making it her fifth win for the Best Actress in a Comedy category. Akindele is the most nominated actress/filmmaker at the AMVCA and holds the record for most wins for an actress with six. She is the second director to gross over a billion naira at box office and is currently the Highest-Grossing Director in Nigerian Box Office with a total gross of over ₦2.9 billion.
The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, are presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run through the Africa Film Academy. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture.
Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs,, known professionally as Olu Jacobs, is a veteran Nigerian actor and film executive. He began his career starring in several British television series and international films. Vanguard described him as one of the "godfathers of Nollywood", along with Pete Edochie. Trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, England, Olu Jacobs worked with various repertoire theatres in Britain and starred in some international movies.
Apaadi is a 2009 Yoruba language Nigerian film. It's the first epic film produced by Funke Akindele and she also starred as one of the main characters in the movie, playing the King's niece. The film was nominated in the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Film in an African Language and Achievement in Costume categories, and Femi Adebayo was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in this film.
Maami is a 2011 Nigerian drama film produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. It is based on a novel of the same name, written by Femi Osofisan, and adapted to screen by Tunde Babalola. It stars Funke Akindele as Maami, along with Wole Ojo and Olumide Bakare. Though the film was a commercial failure, it was generally met with positive critical reviews.
Married but Living Single is a 2012 Nigerian romantic drama film, directed by Tunde Olaoye and starring Funke Akindele, Joseph Benjamin, Joke Silva, Tina Mba, Kiki Omeili and Femi Brainard. The film was inspired by a book of the same name by Pastor Femi Faseru of KICC Lagos and tells the story of Kate, a career driven woman who's married to an entrepreneur, Mike. Mike is diagnosed with lung cancer; Kate has to choose to either take a break from work to be with her husband while he recuperates from his surgery or stay dedicated to her company which now stands a big chance of winning an important contract with a big telecommunication company.
Daniel Kanayo Daniel is a Nigerian television and film actor, model, voice-over artiste and events compere. He is best known for his portrayal of Bossman in the movie A Soldier's Story, for which he won the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) and the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) awards for Best Actor, as well as his roles in the period piece 76, which also starred Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme and Rita Dominic and the light-hearted Mummy Dearest alongside veteran Nigerian actress Liz Benson. He was one of two Nollywood actors inducted into the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science class of 2022.
Eniola Badmus is a Nigerian professional film actress, script writer, entertainer and a social media influencer.
Robert Peters sometimes credited as Roberts O. Peters is a Nigerian film producer, director, cinematographer, actor, and occasional voice-over artist. He is best known for directing the 2014 Nollywood breakout movie 30 Days in Atlanta, as well as the movies Shades of Attractions (2015), Boxing Day (2016) and A trip to Jamaica (2016) which featured: Ayo Makun, Ramsey Nouah, Richard Mofe Damijo, Vivica Fox, Dan Davies, Lynn Whitfield, Eric Anthony Roberts, Paul Campbell, Funke Akindele, Karlie Redd, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Desmond Elliott, Rasaaq Adoti, and Chet Anekwe amongst others.
Juliana Oluwatobiloba Olayode, also known as Toyo Baby, is a Nigerian actress and sexual purity activist.
Adejumoke Aderounmu 26 March 1984 – 6 or 7 April 2024) was a Nigerian actress. She is best known for playing roles like Esther And Kelechi in the popular Nollywood TV series Jenifa's Diary and Industreet, Jummy Adams in Nollywood's film Alakada 2 (2013) alongside Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham, Odunlade Adekola, Linda Ejiofor, Falz, Juliana Olayode, and Lolo1.
Ugwu Lotachukwu Jacinta Obianuju Amelia is a Nigerian actress popularly known as Lota Chukwu. She gained popularity after starring in popular Nigerian television series Jenifa's Diary, alongside Funke Akindele, Juliana Olayode and Falz, in which she plays the role of "Kiki", a friend of the lead character, Jenifa. She is also a yoga fitness enthusiast.
The Return of Jenifa is a 2011 Nigerian comedy drama film. The film was produced by Funke Akindele, who was also starred as the titular character, reprising her role from the prequel, Jenifa (2008). It was directed by Muhydeen Ayinde. Within a week of its October 7th release in 2011, the film became the fastest grossing Nollywood film of all time. As of 2024, it ranks 96th on the list of highest grossing Nigerian films.
Omo Ghetto: The Saga also known as Omo Ghetto 2 is a 2020 Nigerian gangster comedy film co-directed by Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz. The film stars Funke Akindele, Chioma Akpota, Nancy Isime, Eniola Badmus, Bimbo Thomas, Deyemi Okanlawon and Mercy Aigbe in the lead roles. This was the second film in the Omo Ghetto franchise and it was also the sequel to the 2010 trilogy film Omo Ghetto. The film had its theatrical release coinciding with Christmas on 25 December 2020 and was opened to extremely positive reviews from critics. The film became a box office success and surpassed Fate of Alakada as the highest grossing Nigerian film for the year 2020. As of 26 January 2021, when the film grossed ₦468 million at the box office it surpassed the record of 2016 film The Wedding Party to become the highest ever grossing film in the Nigerian film industry.
Tobi Makinde is a Nigerian actor and filmmaker. He became popular with his role as 'Timini' in the Nigerian TV series Jenifa's Diary. He co-directed one of the highest Nollywood grossing movie Battle on Buka Street, alongside Funke Akindele. In 2024, he received critical and audience acclaim for his portrayal of 'Shina Judah', a hoodlum in the blockbluster A Tribe Called Judah.
Everybody Loves Jenifa is a 2024 comedy drama produced and directed by Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, it serves as continuation of the Jenifa franchise. The cast retains most of the act from the previous instalment and new faces including Funke Akindele, Nancy Isime, Stan Nze, Adedimeji Lateef, Falz, Layi Wasabi, Jackie Appiah, Omowunmi Dada, Chimezie Imo, Patience Ozokwor and others. The film was released to cinema nationwide on 13 December 2024 and continues to tell the story of Jenifa as she faces new challenges of a new neighbour who threatens and begins to outshine her charity organisation, leading to more different confrontation, jealousy and bitterness. Akindele has set the target for the film for N5 billion in ticket sales, emphasizing that she has faith that the film can beat the number she has set.
