Nollywood is filled with some of the most talented actors, actresses, writers, directors, and filmmakers. Because Nollywood is the Nigerian movie and television industry, it is easy to assume that everybody within the industry is 100% Nigerian. However, that is in fact not the case.
Today, we’ll be counting down 5 Nollywood celebrities you may not know are actually also Canadian. Are you ready to find out who they are? Then let’s go!
1. Jackie Appiah
Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah is one of the most recognizable non-Nigerian actresses in Nollywood. Jackie has starred in a number of Nollywood productions including Her Excellency, The King is Mine, Princess Tyra, The Return of Beyonce, Wind of Love, and more.
Jackie Appiah was born in Canada on December 5, 1983 and is the last of five children. She is a Canadian woman by birth.
2. Rogers Ofime
Rogers Ofime is a Nigerian filmmaker and television producer. Rogers is best known for producing several notable Nigerian television soap operas, including the successful Tinsel and recently, Hush.
Rogers is now Canadian based. He moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and is now a Canadian citizen. Rogers is Canadian by citizenship.
3. Jude Idada
Jude Idada is a Nigerian screenwriter, actor, poet, playwright and producer best known for writing the feature film, The Tenant, alongside other movies and stage plays such as House Girls, The River, Simi, and Tatu.
Jude’s nationality is Canadian Nigerian. He immigrated to Canada a long time ago and has since settled into life there as a citizen. He is now the Artistic director of the Africa Theatre Ensemble in Toronto, Canada. Jude is Canadian by citizenship.
4. Pascal Atuma
Pascal Atuma is a Canadian-Nigerian actor, producer, director, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He has starred in movies such as Okoto the Messenger, Through The Glass, and Secret Past.
Pascal is a Canadian citizen and is based in Toronto.
5. Linda Osifo
Linda Osifo is a Nigerian actress, television host, and pageanter. She made her acting debut in 2012 when she starred in Family Secrets, a production made in New Jersey, USA. She eventually moved to Nigeria and starred in her first Nollywood movie titled King Akubueze in 2013. She later went on to be on long-running soap, Tinsel, and later got cast and featured in series such as Fifty (The Series), Desperate Housewives Africa, and Jemeji. On the big screen, she has starred in movies such as Merry Men 2, Unroyal, and Tanwa Savage.
Linda was born in Edo State, Nigeria but at the age of 16, she moved to Canada where she spent a lot of her adult life and eventually became a citizen. Linda is Canadian by citizenship.
Jackie Appiah, Rogers Ofime, Jude Idada, Pascal Atuma, and Linda Osifo are all Canadians. Which one of them surprised you the most to find out?
