People say music and movies should go hand in hand like how Bollywood actors have been doing it for decades, but that is definitely not the norm in Nollywood. While many agree that both forms of entertainment actually share a lot of similarities, not every musician will be a good actor, and vice versa.
However, in the Nigerian movie industry, we have seen few singers try their hands on the set life to act out a character, and while they might not be many who have dared to try out a different path they are not used to, we have to appreciate the few names who step up to embrace the challenge. See our list of 10 Nigerian Singers Who Have Also Featured In Nollywood Movies (2024):
1. Peter Okoye:
As you already know, the very popular half of famous Nigerian music duo, P-Square, recently made his acting debut on the hit Netflix series, “Shanty Town.” In it, Peter played the role of Femi, the rich kid who fell for a call girl, another interesting role played by Nancy Isime.
While some had their reservation about his acting skills, others admitted he brought life to his character and played his role well. And despite being happily married in real life, the actor even featured in an intimate scene with Nancy Isime to show he truly has what it takes to get in character when he is not flaunting his dance moves on stage or singing his heart out in the studio.
Nancy Isime had this to say about his role, “Yeah, Peter. Working with Peter was you know, so…it was two sides. He’s a first time actor but his willingness to actually put in a 100. For every first time actor, my first acting, I honestly, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t want to listen to my voice.”
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2. Ill Bliss:
Popular rapper, Tobechukwu Ejiofor also known as Ill Bliss is another musician who has embraced the challenge of acting in recent times. He featured in “King of Boys” years back, shocking his music fans by playing the complicated character of “Odogwu Malay.”
Ill definitely put his acting cap on for the political thriller that detailed the life of Alhaja Eniola Salami, who was a nasty lord of the underworld with an unshakable thirst for power. We expect to see the lyricist explore the world of acting in future movies.
Asked what his presence in the movie did for him, he replied, “Nobody even remembers if I am IllBliss or Oga boss. The movie sold me to a new generation of film lovers. It was my first film. It was an experiment but it ‘blew up’. I am going to do more films but I am taking my time. As I speak to you, I have about 12 scripts on the table. Everybody is trying to have another ‘Odogwu Malay’. They are trying to typecast me and I have refused. The people I look up to are very dynamic— from Denzel Washington to Wesley Snipes. I will also be producing films in 2022. I am doing everything— short films, documentaries and feature films. I would also be putting out good music in 2022. King of Boys changed everything for me. It opened up new doors, corporate relationships and a new fan base. I don’t have a life anymore.
I just wanted to shoot a film. This is God telling one that it is not even in one’s hands. I give all the credit to Kemi Adetiba. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t think I would have had the guts to do such a movie.
My character required a different range of emotions. Sometimes, one is happy and at other times, one is scared. I am the one they stretched the most after Sola Sobowale.”
3. Davido:
Having already conquered the music industry since he arrived on the scene many years ago, it is only fair for him to try something different from time to time. So if you begin to see David Adeleke playing unique characters on your favorite movie projects in the coming years, we cannot blame him.
This household name has ventured into acting with a few appearances in “Fate of Alakada,” “Legend at Sixty,” and most recently, “Coming 2 America,” a Hollywood movie. I will not be surprised if Davido produces a movie project of his own soon to tell his life story.
4. Falz:
This amazing rapper is not just a funny guy who taps into his activist side from time to time, he has been acting for a while too. Proving to be a multi-talented celebrity time after time, Folarin Falana has shown a different side to him in movies like “New Money,” “Brotherhood,” and “Chief Daddy.”
He even played a role in Funke Akindele’s hit comedy series, “Jenifa’s Diary,” at some point. So when you hear him rap, “Which musician do you know is having AMVCA?” you better show respect. Falz has definitely shown he can be a force to reckon with in several industries at once.
Popular skit maker, Layi Wasabi was recently unveiled as the lead actor in Falz’s web series titled, “The Interviewer” early this year. It would be the rapper’s directorial debut in Nollywood and it’ll be produced by his company, House 21 Media, which is popular for the previous hit web series titled “Therapy,” featuring Toke Makinwa.
“The Interviewer” will focus on funny interview stories, and fresh episodes will be premiered every Thursday on the House 21tv YouTube channel. The talented cast for the project includes Broda Shaggi, Nasboi, Yvonne Jegede, Basket Mouth, Akah Nnani and so on.
5. Omawumi:
Known for her beautiful voice and amazing personality, Omawunmi actually made her acting debut in 2013, in a movie produced by Yvonne Nelson titled “House of Gold.” The project featured heavyweights like Majid Michael and Francis Odega, but the singer never appeared like the odd one out because she was very convincing.
Omawumi even owns a movie production and media company, Hermanes media, alongside Waje, and the company focuses on everything film and TV. The other projects the ex-Reality star has worked on are “Night Bus to Lagos,” “Oloture,” plus a few interesting episodes on BasketMouth’s “My Flatmates.”
6. Reminisce:
This Nigerian rapper is definitely one of the memorable ones when it comes to singers flaunting their acting skills because his role as Makanaki on Kemi Atebiba’s “King of Boys,” is still talked about in Nollywood today.
It is one of the highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time, and it is all thanks to the characters involved, including the incredibly talented “Alaga” as he fondly calls himself.
7. Chidinma:
Not one who has delved away from music much since she stormed the Nigerian music industry, but she did try something different in 2017. Featuring in Kunle Afolayan’s movie “The Bridge” was the first time Chidinma left her comfort zone to explore the world of acting.
The songstress has since left the secular music scene to join the Gospel music industry, but you can still watch her act in “The Bridge,” which is currently available to stream on Netflix.
8. Banky W:
Popular singer turned Politician, Bankole Wellington’s story with acting is a unique one because his romance role alongside Adesua Etomi in one of his movies turned out to be their reality in real life.
“The Wedding Party” was that movie, and it is was all the proof we needed to know that Banky W can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. The musician was seamless as an actor on the Kemi Adetiba project, and it never felt he had not been acting all his life throughout the movie.
Other projects he has featured on to flaunt his acting skills are “Sugar Rush” and “Up North.”
9. Yemi Alade:
Popular singer, Yemi Alade made her debut in the Nollywood industry in the short film for “Home,” a song that was singled out from her 4th studio album, “Woman of Steel,” which earned 1M streams on Spotify in a week.
The emotive movie focused on the importance of finding strength, self-love, and being your personal hero during tough situations.
The cast members involved in the project were nothing short of excellent, and it was directed by the talented Clarence A. Peters. Yemi also showed her acting side on Nollywood movie, “Omo Ghetto (The Saga),” produced by Funke Akindele.
10. Waje:
Popular singer, Waje has been acting as far back as 2014. She was involved on the project titled “Tunnel” a decade ago, and she starred alongside veterans like Femi Jacobs, Patrick Doyle and Nse Ikpe-Etim. The movie was centered around a young pastor’s life, and Waje’s character was particularly memorable.
Waje owns a movie production and media company, Hermanes media, alongside Omawumi, and the company focuses on everything film and TV. In April 2019, the musician featured in the Somkele Idhalama-produced film titled “She Is.” And in 2023, she teamed up with Funke Akindele to play the role of a musician in the project titled “She Must Be Obeyed.”
Speaking on why she accepted her first Nollywood role, “I accepted my first movie role because when I read the script I fell in love with it. I felt it was an interesting story. I was curious as to how I would play the role because I was to play the role of a lady, Sade, who was married, and I’ve never been married. So, it was interesting to find out how I was going to play the role. It was also about the message in the role, I just wanted to know, and I think it was just curiosity.
It was amazing because I was scared at first, but I tried my best. Nse Ikpe-Etim is like a big sister to me, she has always been a good friend so she guided me all through. She literally coached me as we went on. She and Femi Jacobs made it an easy task for me.”
On her media establishment alongside Omawumi, “Hermanes Media has been in existence before now but it wasn’t a formal transaction. We used to come up with ideas so we just thought that it doesn’t make sense if two people are this creative, have been in the industry and have so much to offer and we don’t do it.
We’ve been talking about it for a while so we decided that it’s time we formalize it. You know it gets to a point as a musician that it’s not necessarily about the music, we have more we want to offer our listeners? So Hermanes Media would be a good way to offer more to our listeners.”
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