Celebrities keep showing Nigerians that they have a side that they don’t know and they keep excelling at it. Gone are the days when celebrities only stuck to our television just singing, acting, hosting shows etc, they are so much more now, with many of them venturing into other ‘side hustles’. This is about those who are writers…
1. Jim Iyke
Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke is adding yet another new title to his ever-growing list of talents. Jim Iyke’s first volume from his series of books – The Gift in The Odds: Walking Through Walls was launched on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. In this book, Jim talks about grief, anxiety, depression and all the emotions we all experienced at the height of uncertainty.
Walking Through Walls is the first volume of a 15 part series on self-empowerment that Jim Iyke wrote during the 2020 lockdown in France.
2. Omoni Oboli
The Stars are Ageless is the true story — a biography of the woman hailed as “The Box Office Queen” of Nigerian cinema.
Omoni Oboli shares life experiences that have shaped her into who she is; her journey through life, marriages and experiences.
3. Ice Prince
Nigerian rapper, Panshak Henry Zamani aka Ice Prince Zamani’s The Nigerian Dream, tells the story of the new Nigerian message.
4. Chika Ike
The Nigerian actress has played as many roles in life as she has on the big screen, but a movie ends and life goes on.
Boss UP! is a 41 chapter book which was published in 2018, gave an over view of Chika’s life. That is – how she started, from a humble beginning till she achieved stardom.
5. Eva Alordiah
Nigerian rapper, makeup artist cum writer, wrote her first book 11 (eleven) in 2016. It’s made of up 11 short stories about sex. Simply put, it’s a collection of semi-erotic stories.
Eva’s second book, published in 2018, is another fiction about two teenage girls who are beaten and raped on a Monday morning in a local school and a group of marijuana dealers are the suspects. It’s titled How I Started my Monday? I was Smoking Weed.
6. Teju Babyface
Talk show host, comedian and writer, Teju ‘Babyface’ Oyelakin has two successful books to his name. Secrets Of The Streets: 23 Secrets For Achieving Success of Achieving Success in the Entertainment Industry and Anywhere Really (2016).
Teju’s second book is titled: Forget Principles, Find A Mentor! How To Connect With The People Who Will Help You Get From Where You Are To Where You Need To Be In Life.
These two books were republished in 2020, under the single title Secrets Of The Streets: Twenty-Three Secrets For Making Money With Your Talent That You Will Never Learn In School. Just like the titles depicts, it aids the journey of younger generations who are just starting out.
7. Bolanle Ninolowo
The popular Nollywood actor and producer who has stolen the heart of many, both in and out of Nigeria has also joined the league of celebrity writers.
Self-acclaimed Makanaki like many on this list, wrote a book about himself and it was published in 2020. It’s an autobiography on his life’s journey till date and Ninalowo claims he bared his soul in the book with the hope that his transparency will help in transforming someone’s life. In the book Shame To Fame, he talked about the struggles and challenges he faced.
8. Brymo
Singer, songwriter cum writer, Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ, aka Brymo is another artiste who you might not know has written 2 books. A self-referential fiction, Oriri’s Plight tells a story of a young man who set out to bring light for and to his people. The journey from his current situation towards actualizing his dreams and make good his destiny. Incase you’re wondering, the author is the same Ara crooner you know. He released the book in 2018.
In April 2020, Brymo released the e-book Versus, alternatively titled Verses (Musings, Notes and Prose).
9. Julius Agwu
Stand up comedy is a big and serious business in Nigeria and Julius Chinweikpe Agwu aka Julius D’Genius Agwu is one of talents in the industry.
His book; Jokes Apart…How Did I Get Here is the story of a family and their son, Julius. It is a chronicle of a young man’s journey of discovery, his coming of age and realisation of God-given potential.
10. 2Baba
A Very Good bad Guy: The Story of Innocent 2Face Idibia was published in 2015 amidst different reactions from Nigerians — the good, bad and ugly.
Nigerians claimed the book should not have been called a biography but an anthology. In all, award-winning legend, Innocent Ujah Idibia aka 2Baba has a book to his name.
Worthy mention:
Toke Makinwa
Juliana Olayode