Meet 10 Hollywood/British Actors And Actresses Of Yoruba And Igbo Origin

He has featured in several hit movies such as Hotel Rwandan, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and many TV series: 24, Lost, Law & Order, Criminal Minds amongst others.

He has also featured in blockbuster Nollywood movies like: Last Flight To Abuja and Black November

Hakeem is a brand ambassador for telecommunications company Etisalat Nigeria.

Chiwetelu Umeadi “Chiwetel” Ejiofor

Ejiofor is a British actor born in London’s Forest Gate to Nigerian parents. His father, Arinze, was a doctor, and his mother, Obiajulu, was a pharmacist. His younger sister is CNN correspondent Zain Asher.

In 1988, when Ejiofor was 11, during a family trip to Nigeria for a wedding, he and his father were driving to Lagos after the celebrations when their car was involved in a head-on crash with a lorry. His father was killed, but Ejiofor survived. He was badly injured, and received scars that are still visible on his forehead.

In 2014, Ejiofor starred in the Nigerian film Half of a yellow sun alongside, Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje and other Hollywood acts. He also has and Oscar Nomination and BAFTA award for Best Actor.

WALE

US Rapper Wale, real name Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, was born to Nigerian parents both from Yoruba tribe, Ogun State, but grew up in the USA.

Wale, aside being one of the top rappers in the US, has also become popular in Nigeria.

He has done collaborations with singers like Wizkid in ‘Nobody But You’, Olamide in ‘Make Us Proud’. The Maybach Music superstar, Wale, visited his motherland in December 2013.

Taio Cruz

British singer, Jacob Taio Cruz, real name Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, is of Nigerian heritage. He was born on April 23, 1985, in London to a Nigerian father and a Brazillian mother.

Cruz, who started writing songs when he was 12, was signed on a USpublishing deal at just 18 years of age.

He began his song-writing career at the age of 19 and has won several awards some of which are: BRIT Awards, Billboard Music Awards, ASCAP Awards and American Music Awards.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Hollywood actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was born on August 22, 1967, in Washington, D.C to Nigerian parents.

Aside being fluent in Yoruba, he is also fluent in several languages such as: English, Italian and Swahili.

He has featured in movies like The Bourne Identity, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Mr. Eko on Lost, Simon Adebisi on Oz, The Mummy Returns amongst others.

Adetomiwa Edun

British actor Adetomiwa Edun was born in 1984 to a Nigerian father from the Yoruba tribe and a half-Ghanaian, half-English mother.

Edun, who moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 11, has featured in movies like Slaves, Law & Order: UK, The Hour, Passengers.

He is popularly known for his role in the TV series, Merlin, when he played ‘Sir Elyan’ and he became the second black in 2009 to play Romeo at the Globe Theatre.

In addition to being fluent in English and Yoruba, he speaks French.

Richard Ayoade

Richard Ayoade is a British actor born on June 12, 1977, to a Nigerian father and a Norwegian mother.

The comedian, actor and writer has written several award-winning stage plays in the UK.

He is also a well-known face on British TV having starred in the highly popular The IT Crowd. He made his Hollywood debut in 2012 after starring in the comedy The Watch alongside Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill.

David Oyelowo

Hollywood actor David Oyelowo was born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, to Nigerian parents.

He has featured in movies like: The Butler, Small Island, Jack Reacher, The Last King Of Scotland.

In March 2010 he played the part of Keme Tobodo in the BBC’s drama series ‘Blood and Oil’ (a film about Niger-Delta area of Nigeria).

Adepero Oduye

American actress Adepero Oduye might not quickly ring a bell but she featured in hit movie ’12 Years A Slave’ alongside British-Nigerian actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Adepero Oduye is born to Nigerian parents from Yoruba tribe. She played Alike in Pariah (2011), TV series, Law & Order amongst others.

She has received several awards, including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

Hope Olaide Wilson

Hollywood actress Hope Olaide Wilson was born on August 16, 1985, to Nigerian parents from the Yoruba tribe.

Hope Olaide Wilson, who moved to the United States in 1996, has featured in Tyler Perry’s movies ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’, ‘After the Dark and Faith and Dreams’ amongst others.

She won the 2009 Diversity Awards Female ‘Nova’ Award Recipient for promising talent.