Musicians crossing into acting is nothing new. But every once in a while, a musician steps onto a movie set and leaves an impression on us.
In this piece, we highlight artists who have stepped into character so convincingly that we almost forgot they primarily make music. From crime dramas and romances to political thrillers, here’s a list of Nigerian musicians who stepped into Nollywood and ate their roles.
Ladipoe (Ladipo Eso) is Ajani, the charming struggling guitarist and delivery boy who sweeps the fancy, London-returnee Ivie (Rayxia Ojo) off her feet during the Detty December madness. He’s quiet and has a charisma that suits the movie’s romantic tone.
Watch Christmas in Lagos on Prime Video.
Chike (Chike-Ezekpeazu Osebuka) is Ify, one of the three childhood friends at the centre of the story. Unlike the hardened gangsters around him, he dreams of becoming a musician and escaping the cycle of violence and gang life of Isale Eko. His tragic death single-handedly sets off the movie’s bloody revenge plot. His character is instantly likeable, and his performance adds heart to a story filled with brutality and tragedy.
Watch Gangs of Lagos on Prime Video.
Simisola Kosoko had a brief but memorable appearance as Simi, a young, observant daughter of a local Buka owner in a noisy mechanic village, serving as the main love interest for the lead character. Simi basically plays a version of the relatable girl-next-door we already love her for.
Watch Mokalik on YouTube.
iLLBliss (Tobechukwu Ejiofor) plays Odogwu Malay, a loud, flashy, unapologetic underworld kingpin and associate to Eniola Salami (Sola Sobowale), with an insatiable hunger for money and loyalty. iLLBliss delivers convincing Igbo big-man representation. His chemistry with Reminisce’s Makanaki adds depth to the movie’s underworld politics, and together they become one of King of Boys’ most compelling partnerships.
Watch King of Boys on Netflix.
Onyeka Onwenu delivered a powerful performance as Mama, Odenigbo’s (Chiwetalu Ejiofor) traditional and fiercely protective mother who makes life frustrating for her son’s highly educated partner, Olanna (Thandiwe Newton). She embodied the tensions between culture, class and modernity that run through the movie. It’s a short role, but her performance is unforgettable.
Watch Half of A Yellow Sun on YouTube.
Mr. P (Peter Okoye) is Arinze, a slick, handsome suitor and businessman whose business dealings intersect with the main conflict of the movie. He showed a level of screen comfort that suggests he could easily have pursued more acting roles alongside music.
Watch Lionheart on Netflix.
Ikechukwu Onunaku delivered one of the movie’s strongest supporting performances as Chuks, a pimp and trafficker network operative. He’s a man deeply involved in the exploitation at the centre of the story. He balances charm and menace in a way that reflects how trafficking networks often operate behind a façade of normalcy. In this movie, he’s exactly what a top-tier villain should be.
Watch Oloture on Netflix.
Banky W (Bankole Wellington) is Dozie in this movie. His performance works because he’s believable: charming and romantic without becoming exaggerated – all the qualities we have seen in his natural “Mr. Capable” R&B flair. He gives us the exact premium lover-boy presence the movie needs.
Watch The Wedding Party on MUBI.
Reminisce (Remilekun Safaru) is Makanaki, the ruthless, power-hungry underworld boss who wants to hijack the crown from Eniola Salami (Sola Sobowale) by force. For a debut acting gig, his menacing screen presence and flawless delivery of street-smart Yoruba dialogue were mind-blowing. He plays a terrifying bad guy that we couldn’t take our eyes off.
Watch King of Boys on Netflix.
In this movie, Judø (Molawa Davis) is Lamidi, a chaotic, party-loving teenager whose impulsive decision to throw a house party leads to a dark, life-altering mess during a long university strike. He is a frustrated Nigerian youth trying to find quick thrills in a depressing system. His performance is gritty and relatable, and it shows how fast a simple “cruise” can turn into a huge real-life disaster.
All Na Vibes is streaming on Netflix, but is unavailable in Nigeria.
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