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The Nigerian film industry, dubbed as Nollywood, is the second largest film producer in the world to Bollywood. (Hollywood doesn’t even come close.) Films are produced by and mainly feature Nigerians making “black” actresses and actors the norm in Nigeria and across Africa. Nollywood has also crossed over into Europe as well as parts of the African diaspora across the globe. Here are just twelve of the many actresses who are apart of this film industry and have gone on to win awards on the continent.
1. Adesua Etomi
She won the coveted Best Actress (Drama) at the 2016 Amstel Malta’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Emoti debuted on the big screen in 2014 and is one of the fastest rising stars.
2. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
She is easily one of the most watched actresses in Nigeria. In 2005, Omotola won Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
3. Genevieve Nnaji
She is one of the highest paid actresses in Nollywood. Nnaji won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2005 Africa Movie Academy Awards and Best Movie (Western Africa) at the 2016 Amstel Malta’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. She also acted in “Half of a Yellow Sun” (released in Nigeria and the UK) with Thandie Newton and Chiwetol Ejiofor.
4. Omoni Oboli
She won Best Actress at the 2010 Los Angeles Movie Awards and Best Actress at the Harlem International Film Festival. Oboli also made history by starring in “Anchor Baby,” which was the second Nigerian movie ever to crossover to UK cinemas.
5. Ini Edo
She has been featured in hundreds of movies. Edo is winner of the 2013 Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards for Best Supporting Actress.
6. Stephanie Okereke Linus
As an actress and director, she has won many awards, including Best Overall Movie at the 2016 Amstel Malta’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Best Actress at the 2003 Reel Awards, and Best Actress at the 2006 Afro Hollywood Awards.
7. Mercy Johnson Okojie
She won Best Actress at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards.
8. Rita Dominic
She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2012 and is one of the more popular actresses in Nollywood.
9. Kiki Omeili
Omeili is a doctor turned actress who won Best Supporting Actress at the 2015 Global Icons Academy Movie Awards.
10. Chioma Chukwuka
She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2007. In 2010, Chukwuka also won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Afro Hollywood Awards.
11. Nse Ikpe Etim
She won Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2012 Nollywood Movies Awards and other movie awards.
12. Funke Akindele
She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2009. In 2016, Akindele won Best Actress (Comedy) at the 2016 Amstel Malta’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Have you seen any of these actresses or Nollywood films?
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The title of this article is the equivalent of saying “Koreans are the norm in Korean dramas” or “Europeans are the norm I’m Eurovision” or”Spanish speakers dominate telenovelas”. No duh. Of course Nollywood features black actors; it’s in Nigeria. That being said, I wish Nollywood was more talked about and well known here in the U.S
I was thinking the same think. The title didn’t make any sense.
Europeans have started to invest in nollywod. Some of the actors ate slowly crossing over to the US.
I guess they were trying to show the differences from here in the us than there. There are more dark skin actresses than lighter skinned ones. Everyone’s being represented
I have never heard of any of them. They are lovely and it appears very talented. Are most of the movies in English or have subtitles? Any on Netfix?
Yes, there are a couple on Netflix: Fifty, Forgetting June, Flower Girl, Matters Arising, Finding Mercy 1 & 2, Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Lagos Cougars, Burning Bridges, Lies Men Tell… I haven’t actually seen any of the ones on Netflix yet so I can’t recommend any, they should be good tho. If you get your hands on “Ije” and “Tango with me”, “Keeping Faith” those are really good as well. Enjoy!
Thank you.
“October 1” and “Fifty” are available on Netflix. “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Anchor Baby” are on Amazon.
Most movies are in English, which is great. Some of the more traditional movies are not or have pidgin English.
Hope you enjoy them!
Appreciate it.
you’re not missing much.
.beautiful! …haven’t seen them yet.
before nko, are white pple supposed to be the norm ni? Anyways, these women are biuriful