One unique feature about the industry is the way
practitioner acquire monikers by just playing a particular
role which will leave memorable moments in the minds of
movie lovers.
Pulse brings you 23 popular Nollywood stars that have
become synonymous for a particular role that has in turn
given them monikers/nicknames.
Ann Njemanze (Domitila)
Ann Njemanze became a household name after starring as
the lead actress in the 1996 blockbuster Domitila. The
character, Domitila, played by Njemanze became a moniker
fans and even industry watchers refer to her.
Ronke Odusanya (Flakky Ididowo)
Bosomy actress, Ronke Odusanya was relatively known
even after starring in a movie with late Francis Agu in early
2000s. However, luck smiled on her after she starred in
few Yoruba movies and caught the attention of Fathia
Balogun, who casted her for the lead role of Folake in the
flick Flakky Ididowo. The character has since remained her
moniker in the industry.
Susan Patrick (Sakobi)
Susan Patrick had been a regular face in the Nollywood
industry since her entrance in the late 90s but her fame
shot to high heaves after she played the role of a snake girl
in the movie Sakobi. Produced by Zeb Ejiro, the Akwa Ibom
State indigene will for a long time be remembered as
Sakobi, a decade after the movie hit the public glare.
Olaniyi Afonja (Sanyeri)
Olaniyi Afonja had remained in Oyo State, where he had
been an apprentice under his boss and head of a theatre
group. He however found his way to Lagos and began going
to movie locations where he found himself mini roles. He
was known as Sanyeri and the name stuck with him without
relevance until he made his big break few years back. The
moniker has since become his second name.
Ronke Ojo Anthony (Ronke Oshodi Oke)
Ronke Ojo began her movie career with a drama group
called Star Parade under the tutorship of Fadeyi Oloro but
became a household name after starring in a movie entitled
Oshodi Oke. She played the character of a bosomy lady in
the movie and because she had remained bosomy, the
name, Oshodi Oke, had stuck to her like a second skin.
Toyin Afolayan (Lola Idije)
Toyin Afolayan remains one of the Nollywood stars to get a
moniker that has stuck with her after playing a movie
character. The name Lola Idije came to be after Toyin
starred in an Alade Aromire movie where she played the
role of a promiscuous lady, who was referred to as Lola
Idije.
Basorge Tariah Jr. (Do Good)
Basorge Tariah was an all round entertainer long before
now. And not many know that his new TV series, Do Good,
was actually borne out of his character in the popular TV
soap, Palace, which was produced and directed by Ralph
Nwadike and Tunji Bamishigbin. Many still refer to the
comedian, rapper and actor as Do Good.
Funlola Aofiyebi Raimi (Eniola Baker)
Mention the name Eniola Baker and Tinsel actress, Funlola
Aofiyebi Raimi will reply with a warm smile that leaves her
with fond memories of her role as the daughter of Chief
Bakers in the rested TV soap, Palace. She’s still referred to
that name by lovers of the rested soap.
Toyin Adegbola (Asewo To Re Mecca)
Toyin Adegbola became one of the most sought after
actress in Nollywood after she appeared in a Yoruba flick
entitled Asewo To Re Mecca. She starred as the lead
actress in the movie, which narrated the life of a prostitute
that turned a new leaf and went on the Muslim pilgrimage.
She is still referred to as Asewo To Re Mecca by many.
Yemi Adeyemi (Suara)
The name Yemi Adeyemi will certainly not ring a single bell
but at the mention of Suara, then eyes will lighten up with
memories of Wale Adenuga produced series, SuperStory:
Oh Father Oh Daughter. Adeyemi got the role of Chief
Suara, who dumped his wife, Bukky Wright and family for
Sola Sobowale aka Toyin Tomato. He’s still known and
recognized as that by many members of the public.
Hafiz Oyetoro (Saka)
At the mention of the name Saka, lovers of Nigeria TV ads
and movies will reel out laughing as his moniker has since
become a household name. However, only a few knows
that Hafiz Oyetoro got his moniker from his role as Simply
Saka in a Greg Odutayo produced sitcom, House A-part.
Sam Dede (Isakaba)
Sam Dede had always been a popular face in the movie
industry but his fame and a moniker was added to his
personality after he took up the lead role in the movie
Isakaba. Many of his fans fondly remember him as the
leader of Isakaba group.
Funke Akindele (Jenifa)
When Funke Akindele got into the Nigerian movie industry,
she was well known for her role as the nosy young girl in
the series, I Need To Know. However, her fame and an
additional moniker was to join her after she starred and co-
produced the award winning blockbuster, Jenifa. Not did
Funke only made money, fame and name for herself but
also got herself an evergreen moniker, Jenifa.
Eniola Badmus (Gbogbo Big Girls)
Just as Funke Akindele made name, money and fame for
herself with the production of Jenifa, so also did the
moniker, Gbogbo Big Girls stuck on Eniola Badmus, who
also starred in the movie alongside Ireti Osayemi, Ronke
Odusanya, Iyabo Ojo and Bimbo Thomas.
Razaq Olayiwola (Ojopagogo)
For lovers of movies rendered in Yoruba language, the
name Ojopagogo is not only a moniker that has become
popular in the movie industry but one synonymous with the
son-in-law to late movie maker cum actor, Ade Afolayan
aka Ade Love. Born Razaq Olayiwola, the actor got his
moniker after playing the role of an elderly man in a movie
many years back.
Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo)
Taiwo Hassan is one of the famous actors in Nollywood as
a whole. Aside for his popularity in the Yoruba race, where
his movies are mostly admired, his moniker – which was
gotten from a character he once played – has become a
household name in the country. At the mention of Ogogo,
the dark skinned and mettle man readily comes to your
mind.
Bimpe Adekola (Ireti)
Late movie actress, Bimpe Adekola’s name might not ring
bell a decade after her death but at the mention of Ireti,
memories of her acting prowess and characters she had
played readily comes to mind. She became popular with the
role of Ireti and also adhered to the moniker all through her
life and career.
Alex Usifo (Abass Omiagbo)
Brilliant actor, Alex Usifo has remained a spectacular actor
from the late 80s when he became popular for his stern
looking roles. He, however, joined the long list of actors that
got their monikers from a role they played in a movie or
soap opera. For Usifo, he is known by many as Abass
Omiagbo, the role he played and which also earned his
undoubted fame in the TV soap, Ripples.
Babatunde Omidina (Babasuwe)
Only a handful of fans and movie lovers know the origin of
Babtunde Omidina’s moniker, Babasuwe. Unknown to
many, the moniker, like many of his colleagues, stuck to
him like a second skin after he played the role of a father to
his first wife, who was named Suwe in the TV series entitled
Erinkeke. As Suwe’s father, Omidina was often referred to
as Baba Suwe (Suwe’s dad) and the name has became his
moniker, which he can’t afford to change.
Bolaji Amusan (Mr Latin)
Bolaji Amusan was just one of the regular actors from
Abeokuta until he was able to breakthrough into the
mainstream after many viewers got tired of BabaSuwe’s
comedy style. With the role as Mr Latin in a Yoruba flick,
Amusan quickly rose to one of the well loved comic acts in
movies and
Ishola Durojaiye (Alasari)
Just like Mr. Latin, the late Ishola Durojaiye also got
himself a moniker after playing the role of a herbalist in a
movie with the name, Alasari. His brilliance earned him a
face and the name ultimately became his moniker.
Kabirat Kafidipe (Araparegangan)
Revered Nigerian filmmaker, Tunde Kelani is known to have
been original when casting individuals and names for his
movies and when Kabirat Kafidipe was casted as
Araparegangan in the hit movie, Saworo Ide, it instantly
became a moniker to refer the actress with by fans and
even industry watchers.
Kunle Afolayan (Aresejabata)
Until his rise to fame and fortune, many referred to Kunle
Afolayan as Arese or Aresejabata, which was the role he
played in Tunde Kelani’s movie, Saworo Ide.
Adekola Tijani (Kamilu Kompo)
Adekola Tijani rose to fame simultaneously with his buddy,
Olaniyi Afonja aka Sanyeri. But while Sanyeri stuck with
Adonja, it took Adekola a self produced flick entitled Kamilu
Kompo to earn himself a moniker that will stick with him
throughtout the entirety of his career. He’s widely referred
to as Kamilu Kompo.
Fausat Balogun (Madam Saje)
Fausat Balogun recently celebrated her 40th year as an
actress but only few know why or how she earned her
moniker, Madam Saje. Balogun was one of the cast of
Babatunde Omidina aka Babasuwe’s popular series,
Erinkeke and she played the character of a society woman,
who has a permanent style of headger known as Saje. In
the series, she was fondly referred to as Madam Saje and
long after the series ended, she remained Madam Saje to
fans, family and lovers.
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