Here’s a list of 11 Nollywood Yoruba actors and actresses who are non-Yoruba but they have excelled acting in Yoruba movies.
They speak excellent Yoruba the major language of the South Western part of Nigeria and even act movies in the language with great zest.
- Toyin Abraham (Edo State)
Born as Olutoyin Aimakhu in Auchi, a town in Edo state, but spent her early life in Ibadan, the mother of one has starred in several Yoruba movies and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Yoruba film titled ‘Ebimi ni‘ during 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards.
2. Mercy Aigbe (Edo State)
Mercy Aigbe was born on January 1, 1978, in Edo State. She is an actress, director and businesswoman. She is best known for her Yoruba indigenous movies.
She hails from Benin city which is the capital of Edo State.
3. Kelvin Ikeduba (Delta State)
Kelvin Ngozi Ikeduba was born on August 21, 1976. He won the award for Best Cross Over Actor at the Yoruba Movie Academy Awards (YMAA) in 2014 an is predominantly known for his diversity in the movie industry.
He has featured in Nollywood movies where the English language is commonly used in their productions and very versed in Yoruba- only speaking movies.
Ikeduba, although a native of Delta, was born in Ebute-Meta in Lagos.
4. Fathia Balogun (Delta State)
Fathia Balogun Williams from Delta State was born on February 5, 1969, in Ikeja, Lagos. She is an actress, filmmaker, producer and director.
5. Ricardo Agbor (Delta State)
Ricardo Oke Agbor is a renowned Nigerian actor, known for both Yoruba and English movies. He was born on February 4, 1973, in Lagos State. He hails from Delta State.
His first Yoruba movie was Tokotaya and he has not stopped taking roles from that sector.
6. Liz Da Silva (Togolese)
Elizabeth Omowunmi Tekovi Da-Silva was born on June 10, 1978. She is a movie producer of Togolese descent featuring predominantly in the Yoruba movie industry.
In 2016, Da-Silva was nominated for the City People Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress of the Year (Yoruba) at City People Entertainment Awards.
Da-Silva was born to Togolese parents residing in Nigeria.
7. Doris Simeon (Edo State)
Doris Simeon is a Yoruba and English actress.
She was born in Lagos State, Nigeria, raised and schooled in Ojota area. Doris came to the spotlight via a 2001 Nollywood movie entitled “Oloju Ede”. She graduated from the PEFT Institute, where she studied production management.
8. Rachael Oniga (Delta State)
Veteran actress, Rachel Oniga was born on May 23, 1957.
Originally from Eku, Delta State, she was born in Ebute Metta, Lagos State. She has featured in notable Nigerian Yoruba films such as Sango, a movie scripted by Wale Ogunyemi, produced and directed by Obafemi Lasode and Wale Adenuga’s television series, Super Story.
9. Toyin Abraham (Edo State)
Toyin Abraham was born Olutoyin Aimakhu. She is a film actress, filmmaker, director and producer.
Aimakhu was born in Auchi, a town in Edo State, on September 5, 1982. She spent her early life in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in Southwestern Nigeria. Toyin Abraham has starred in many Yoruba movies.
10. Rose Odika (Delta State)
Nollywood actress, Rose Odika is one of the pride of the Yoruba movie industry as she’s a celebrated thespian. She is from Aniocha North, Nseluku in Delta state.
11. Clarion Chukwurah (Anambra State)
The Anambra-born veteran actress is known for her role interpretation both in English and Yoruba movies.
She was born and bred in Lagos State, the Southwestern part of Nigeria.
12. Ibrahim Chattah (Kwara State)
Ibrahim Chatta was born on October 13, 1970. He is a seasoned entertainer in the Yoruba film industry.
