The long list of Nigerian actors would definitely run into thousands if we intend listing all of them.
Acting in Nigerian has metamorphosed from part-time activities for school drop-outs and the unemployed to a full-time job for many folks in Nigerian.
As far back as the eighties, only a few people would consider you serious if you are aspiring to be an actor,
then it was tagged with very little respect and regards until actors started building good houses and buying posh cars before most people started looking closely, then the great influx.
Nigerian ActorActors In Nigeria Justus Esiri Actor in Nigeria
Here is a list of actors in Nigerian who have made a name in the Nigerian movie industry. The many I could remember, my role models… although I am not a good fan of Nigerian Movies but some of them are pretty stunning.
My earliest and first memory of a movie actor was that of a gentleman in an Igbo movie – Mike Orinhedinma, (just hoping I got the name correctly). He starred in one of the first and earliest of Nigerian movie, although the movie never made rounds and was hardly remembered.
The middle nineties had actors like Kenneth okonkwo, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, Chief Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya), Claude Eke (Prince Jegede Shokoya), Sam Loco Efe and many others storming into the industry with movies like Living in bondage, Ikuku/Osuofiasn (Igbo comedy with Nkem Owoh), then was the commencement of the re-shaping and movies were made more realistic.
Actors started specializing in specific areas, the most popular television drama of those days was “The New Masquerade” headed by Chief Chika Okpala(Zebrudaya) alongside other talents. The age-long television drama was made in Igbo language and what interests me most was how the Igbo slangs were professionally coined in a comic way – to me, that was a real talent.
Below are the images of the veteran comedians Chika Okpala aka Zebrudaya alias 4:30 (middle) and that of his co-actor Clarus (left) and also by the right is the image of John Iroha aka Gregory who also starred in the same popular television series – “The New Masquerade.”
Zebrudaya and clarus of the New masquwrade gregory akabuogu
Nigerian actors came with full force from the year 2000 dealing out great movies every other week, the like of Kanayo O Kanaya, Pete edochie, Chika Onu, Clem Ohameze, Kenneth Okonkwo, Emeka Ani, Justus Esiri, Ejike Asiegbu, Olu Jacobs, Pete Eneh, Larry Koldsweat, Tony Umez and several other took to tragic movies often riddled with occultic and ritual scenes but what can I say – It is make-believe.
They came out with a bunch of movies like Last Burial, Arrows of god, Narrow Escape, My town, Lost Kingdom, Desperate Billionaires, Hot money, Occultic Kingdom, Abuja Boys, Big boys club, Blood money, End of Money, Billionaire Club, Bigger boys
To further satisfy the people’s insatiable appetite and in a bid to do things another way, Chinedu Ikedieze and his buddy Osita Iheme also took to tragic movies, dealing out great movies like Jadon, Jadon the Godfather, magic cap and several others in the early days of the twentieth millennium.
Top on the List of Nigerian actors are as follows, From the romantic role interpreter to the comedians and down to even more great actors (From my Thinking)
Richard Mofe Damijo, Ramsey Noah, Pat Attah, Muna Obiekwe, Jim Iyke, Desmond Elliot, Mike Ezuruonye, Nonso Diobu, Jetta Amata, Kalu Ikeagwu, Chidi Mokeme, Emeka Enyiocha, Emeka Ike and several other took to love movies, coining “love” in different phrases and sentences to name movies – To love again, True Love, Love, and Passion, Real Love, Love Forever, Could this b Love, desperate love, Two in Love the list is endless.
Nigerian actors have done a lot in lifting the quality of movies produced in Nigeria from what it used to be to what it is today.
Many are part of the innovation – actors not already listed above that have also made great contribution to the growth of the Nigerian movie Industry includes Chidi Mokeme, Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze, Kalu Ikeagwu, Saint Obi, Bod-Manuel Odogwu John Okafor, Charles Innoje, Francis Duru, Emeka Enyiocha, Sam Loco Efe, Alex Usifo, Ernest Obi, Yemi Blaq, Amaechi Monagor, Chiwetalu Agu (Even the name sounds funny – Great Comedian!), Victor Osuagwu, Tchidi Chikere, Ashley Nwosu, Gentle Jack… The list is endless.
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