Over the years, Nollywood stars have left movie lovers glued to the TV screen with fond memories as the industry grows.
One unique feature about the industry is the way practitioner acquire monikers by just playing a particular role which will leave memorable moments in the minds of movie lovers.
Below are top ten Nollywood stars you probably didn’t know their real names.
1. Ronke Ojo Anthony (Ronke Oshodi Oke)
Ronke is a descent of Ondo State but was born in Oworonshoki, Lagos State Southwestern Nigeria, where she completed her primary and secondary education. She began her acting career with a drama group called Star Parade under the leadership of Fadeyi, a Nigerian actor but became an household name in the year 2000 when she featured in a movie titled Oshodi Oke, from which she got her stage name.
2. Olaniyi Afonja (Sanyeri)
Olaniyi Afonja got the name Sanyeri after taking the role to substitute for the main actor for the role and the name became a household name for him.
3. Toyin Afolayan (Lola Idije)
Toyin Afolayan popularly known as Lola Idije is a Nigerian film actress and aunt to Nigerian film actor Kunle Afolayan.[1] She shot into limelight after starring as Madam Adisa in a 1995 film titled Deadly Affair.
4. Toyin Adegbola (Asewo To Re Mecca)
Toyin Adegbola popularly known as Toyin Asewo to re mecca (born December 28, 1961) is a Nigerian film actress, producer and director.
Toyin began her acting career in 1984 in the Yoruba language films of Nollywood. She is a member of the board of the Osun State Arts and Culture Council.
5. Hafiz Oyetoro (Saka)
Afeez Oyetoro is a Nigerian comic actor, popularly known as “Saka”.
Oyetoro is known for his clown role in Nollywood movies and has featured in several Nigerian films. He is currently a lecturer in the department of theatre art at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos State, Nigeria.
6. Funke Akindele (Jenifa)
Funke came to limelight after featuring in popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) sponsored sitcom; I NEED TO KNOW, which ran from 1998 to 2002. She played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student. Funke Akindele’s big break came in 2009 from the movie titled JENIFA. Funke Akindele has over a 100 movies to her credit as actress, writer and producer.
7. Eniola Badmus (Gbogbo Big Girls)
Just as Funke Akindele made name, money and fame for herself with the production of Jenifa, so also did the moniker, Gbogbo Big Girls stuck on Eniola Badmus, who also starred in the movie alongside Ireti Osayemi, Ronke Odusanya, Iyabo Ojo and Bimbo Thomas.
8. Adekola Tijani (Kamilu Kompo)
Adekola Tijani is often paired with the tribal marked actor, Olaniyi Afonja. He got his stage name in his movie titled Kamilu Kompo where he played the role of a musician.
9. Fausat Balogun (Madam Saje)
Fausat Balogun was one of the cast of Babatunde Omidina aka Babasuwe’s popular series, Erinkeke and she played the character of a society woman, who has a permanent style of headger known as Saje. In the series, she was fondly referred to as Madam Saje and long after the series ended, she remained Madam Saje to fans, family and lovers.
10. Bolaji Amusan (Mr Latin)
Bolaji Amusan is one of the Nigerian comic actors in the Yoruba movie genre. With the role as Mr Latin in a Yoruba flick, Amusan quickly rose to one of the well loved comic acts in movies.