When you watch Hollywood movies with black actors and actresses, we often just see them African-Americans. You might be correct sometimes, but some of them are pure Africans or mixed.
In this article, you will be meeting some of your favourite black Hollywood stars who are not just Africans but Nigerians. These stars have climbed to the apex of their careers in the entertainment industry, but people never bother to find out their roots.
Many black celebs that were born outside Africa and had no idea what their African origin was to have had to do DNA tests to discover their African roots and the results were terrific.
Forest Whitaker
Whitaker is one of the most familiar faces you can think of when it comes to black actors in Hollywood. Popularly known for his role as Idi Amin of Uganda, Whitaker is one of the blacks who discovered his African roots and traced it back to the Igbo land in Nigeria.
Forests ancestors were from the Nkwere village in Imo state, eastern Nigeria and when the actor went to visit the Nkwere people, his roots were confirmed. The ghost dog actor was given an honorary chieftaincy title of “Nwannedinambe de Nkwerre” during his visit to his village.
Chief Ayiama-Osigwe explained that “Nwannedinambe de Nkwerre” means a brother in a foreign land, and because Forest was able to trace his origin back to the village, he deserved to be honoured with a title.
Other movies Forest Whitaker has starred in include American gun, Phonebooth, Panic room, Phenomenon, Bird, Battlefield Earth, and the way of the samurai.
Chinwetel Ejiofor
This handsome twelve years a slave actor is easily given away by his name. Chinwetel Ejiofor was born and breed in the UK by Nigerian parents of Igbo origin. Ejiofor has created a successful acting career for himself and is a natural face to spot.
He has starred in movies like half of a yellow sun, secrets in their eyes, and deadly travel.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Adewale is a Nigerian who is proud of his origin and in making waves in Hollywood. The actor of the movie series Oz and Lost was born in Washington D.C Of Nigerian parents.
The southwestern Nigerian Hollywood actor is fluent in Yoruba, English, Swahili, and Italian.
Other films he has starred in include the mummy return, Bourne Identity, and Pompeii. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has also visited his hometown.
Hakeem Kae-Kazeem
Hakeem is a Nigerian who was born in Lagos state and hails from Ogun state in the southwestern region of Nigeria. He is mostly referred to as a British actor and is one of the most famous Nigerian Hollywood faces.
He has starred in the TV series 24 and criminal minds. Other movies he has done include Pirates of the Caribbean, X-men origins, Hotel Rwanda, and Wolverine. The parents of the actor were Muslims.
Wale
Wale, whose full name is Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born in Washington on the 21st of September 1984 and is a very famous American Rapper. Wale’s parents are from the southwestern region of Nigeria, Ogun state precisely.
The rapper is both famous in Nigeria and around the world, but he has not forgotten to mix up with other Nigerian artists even though he is based in the United States. He has done collaborations with Nigerian singers like Olamide and Wizzy.
Tyler the Creator
Tyler, the creator, is believed to be black American but he is a Nigerian. However, Tyler’s mother is Canadian, but she gave birth to Tyler, the creator in Los Angeles.
Tyler’s real name is Tyler Okonma, and he was born on the 6th of March 1991.
Ashley Madekwe
Beautiful British actress Ashley Madekwe is bi-racial. She was born in London to an English mother and a Nigerian Father. Ashley has starred in TV series like Salem and Revenge. The actress’s father is of Igbo origin.
Nnamdi Asomugha
Have you been wondering who the man behind Kerry Washington’s smile is Well, you have found him.
Nnamdi Asomugha is an American football player and the husband to famous Hollywood star, Kerry Washington. Nnamdi was born in Lafayette, Louisiana on the 6th of July 1981 to Igbo parents. Well, I guess it’s safe to say Kerry is our Igbo sister after all.
Uzo Aduba
Hollywood Actress Uzoamake Nwaneka Aduba who is popularly known as Uzo Aduba was born in Boston, Massachusetts on the 10th of February 1981. She is mostly referred to as an American actress and is famous for her role in the popular TV series Orange is the new black.
Uzo is also one of those people whose name gives them away easily, and she is from southeastern Nigeria. She is another Igbo sister proudly representing Nigeria in Hollywood.
Tinie Tempah
Tinie Temper is a famous English rapper who is also known for his love for pictures and friendship with Nigerian Professional Photographer and singer TY Bello.
Tinie’s real name is Chukuemeka Okogwu Best and is a singer, producer, and songwriter. Chukwuemeka Okogwu was born in London to Nigerian parents on the 7th of November 1988 and runs a management label called disturbing London.
If disturbing London sounds familiar, it is because you have heard of it before. Wizkid was signed on disturbing London, but things didn’t pan out well, and he had to leave.
Dayo Okeniyi
Unlike other Nigerians in Hollywood, Dayo was born and raised in Nigeria before he moved to the United States with his family. Dayo knows the streets of Lagos like every other Lagosian and is doing very well as a Hollywood actor.
He has featured in movies like Terminator Genisys and The hunger games.
Caroline Chikezie
Talk about a woman who gets into a character like she was born to be that character, and you can point to Carolyn Chikezie. Carolyn is a British actress born on the 19th of February 1974 in London to Nigerian parents.
She is of Igbo origin, but we are yet to confirm if she can speak the Igbo language.
Films and TV series she has starred in includes: Baby mother, Cyber woman, As if, Judas kiss, Casualty, Holby city, Freefall, Torchwood, Brothers and Sisters, and Supernaturals.
Hope Olaide Wilson
Hollywood actress Hope Olaide Wilson was born in the United States on the 16th of August 1985 to Yoruba parents from Nigeria. She speaks, Yoruba, English, and French fluently.
Films Hope has starred in includes: Tyler Perry’s I can do bad all by myself, Faith and dreams, and After the dark.
John Boyega
John is a Nigerian Hollywood actor who was born in London to Yoruba parents. He has featured in movies like Star Wars and Attacks the Block.
Olurotimi Akinosho
Olurotimi is one of the sexiest Nigerian Hollywood actors of the century. Olurotimi was born to Yoruba Nigerian parents in New Jersey. He has featured in movies like Black Nativity, Divergent, and Imperial Dreams.
