The Nigerian film business is replete with many talented individuals, and it could be linked to certain performers who have — or had parents in Nollywood, aside from enthusiasm and talent.
It may not have provided them direct access to the top, but it did provide some assistance to help their careers as actors, as opposed to others who do not have parents in the film industry.
Let’s look at some Nollywood performers you might not realize have/had actor parents.
1. Moji, Kunle, Aremu, and Gabriel Afolayan
Moji Afolayan – Olayiwola (born 5 February 1968) is Ade Love’s first daughter and the late filmmaker’s sole child to have a real role in his film.
She first featured as an extra in Iya Ni Wura (1985), then as the lead in Idi Oromi (1991). Kunle Afolayan previously stated, “My sister, Moji, appeared in his final film, Eyin Oku (Events After Death),” which was released in 1992.
Since then, Moji has been in a number of films. She has also experimented in film production, with her first feature, Tojubole, being released in 2012.
She features in more Yoruba films and is well-liked by her contemporaries in the industry. She appears in a number of films directed by her husband, Rasaq Olayiwola, also known as Ojopagogo.
Kunle Afolayan (born September 30, 1974) is the most accomplished and dedicated of them all. Despite his father’s attempts to discourage him from acting and filmmaking, Kunle returned to the craft.
He had first followed his father’s advice and studied business administration at Lagos State Polytechnic before beginning work at a bank.
He couldn’t, however, stay away from filmmaking for long. On his father’s set, he got his first taste of acting as a ‘waka-pass,’ but it was Tunde Kelani who gave him his first actual acting job. In 1999, he appeared as “Arese Jabata” in the critically acclaimed film Saworoide.
He went on to appear in a few further films while working at the bank until 2005 when he resigned. He had an idea for a film and chose to enrol in a digital filmmaking school at the New York Film Academy.
When he returned to Nigeria, he established his own production firm, Golden Effects Picture. He has now produced a number of feature films. With the release of his 2006 film, Irapada, he raised the bar for storyline, production, and direction in modern Nollywood.
October 1, The CEO, The Figurine, Phone Swap, Mokalik, Roti, and The Tribunal are among his other producing/directing credits. He also plays minor or big roles in some of his films. Citation(2020) is a film directed by Kunle Afolayan about sexual harassment in Nigerian universities, starring Temi Otedola, the billionaire’s daughter, in her debut role. A Naija Christmas is his most recent release (2021).
Aremu Afolayan (born August 2, 1980) is the youngest of four popular siblings carrying on their father’s legacy. In 2007, he made his film debut.
He claims he got into acting because it was his passion, not because his father was an actor. He, like his elder sister Moji, is primarily seen in Yoruba cinema.
He believes that Jaiye Kuti’s 2008 film Ewon Laafin contributed to his success in the film industry. Aremu, like all of Ade Love’s children, dabbled in production, releasing films such as Ina and Ina Fitila.
Gabriel Afolayan (born March 1, 1985) is a Nigerian actor and musician who has won numerous awards. G-Fresh is his stage name as a singer. In 1990, he made his acting debut in F’Opawon, a film produced by Baba Sala. He rose to prominence after appearing in Tade Ogidan’s 2005 film Madam Dearest.
However, his portrayal as ‘Akin’ on Super Story’s Nnena sealed his status in Nollywood. Gabriel invested time and money in his acting training, which has resulted in him being one of Nigeria’s top performers.
He first studied Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan before moving on to the Identity Drama School in Brixton, London. He has been in a number of films, the majority of them have been box office smashes.
Some of his films are Tatu, King Invincible, in which he plays Prince Adetiba, Gold Statue, and Okafor’s Law. Aside from being a fantastic actor, he began his music career as a backing vocalist in 1997.
He has released almost thirty tracks under the alias G-Fresh. He calls his music “love ballads.” He also owns a multimedia company called Studio 6 and is affiliated with a big telecoms company called Airtel Nigeria.
2. Regina Daniels
Rita Daniels’ daughter, Regina Daniels, is a Nollywood actor. Rita Daniels is also a filmmaker, film producer, politician, investor, and entrepreneur, as well as the current chairperson of the Delta State branch of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). Regina Daniels, born on October 10, 2000, has followed in the footsteps of her mother, who has nurtured her since she was a child.
Regina began making movies when she was seven years old. Marriage of Sorrow was the title of her debut film.
She is currently married to 59-year-old billionaire Ned Nwoko, to whom she gave birth on June 29, 2020.
3. Yul Edochie and Linc
Famous Nollywood actors Yul and Linc Edochie are the sons of renowned Nollywood actor Pete Edochie.
Yul Edochie speaks just like his father, and the similarities between them are unmistakable. Yul Edochie was born on January 7th, 1982.
Yul, in addition to acting, is a film director and politician. In 2017, he ran for governor of Anambra State but lost to Willie Obiano.
In 2019, he planned to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but changed his mind and decided to back PDP Presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar, who lost the seat to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. He married May Yul in 2004 when he was 22 years old.
Linc Edochie, Yul’s elder brother, is also in the film industry, having appeared in a number of Nollywood films. He is an accomplished actor, filmmaker, producer, and director.
In 2010, he married. Lincoln Edochie began performing in Nollywood films in 1995 before taking a long gap to focus on other things. Linc has returned to the film profession and has resumed acting. He made a comeback in Nollywood in 2020.
4. Temilade Kosoko, Sola, and Bidemi
Bidemi, Sola, and Temilade Kosoko are the children of Nollywood legendary actor Prince Jide Kosoko.
Bidemi Kosoko is a diverse and accomplished Nollywood actress who was born on December 21, 1988. She and Sola are siblings who share a mother.
Bidemi has always been interested in movies since she was a child. Bidemi regularly accompanied her father to auditions to observe how people were acting, according to her father. She is also married and has a child.
Temilade Kosoko, a lovely Nollywood actress born on April 27, 2000, is also her father’s daughter. She is a comedian and dancer who has won numerous honours in addition to being an actor.
Temi appears frequently on Instagram and YouTube skits. She occasionally performs skits with her father, and she has made her father pleased with her comedic skits and acting abilities.
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