The movie industry is blessed with lots of highly talented actors and actresses. Most of these stars acquired fame playing a particular character in movies and a lot of fans tend to forget their real names and only call them by their stage names. These names at times are also titles of movies which shot them to the limelight, and they are often referred to by those names. This week, City People Senior Showbiz Reporter BIODUN ALAO brings you 50 of such actors, and the stage names fans call them.
Ronke Odunsaya started acting with the English movie industry, before joining the Yoruba movies industry. Her role in veteran actress Fathia Balogun’s movie shot her to the limelight. She played the role of Flakky Ididowo, and ever since people refer to her as Flakky Ididowo and rarely call her by her real name Ronke.
Ann Njemanze, the estranged wife of Segun Arinze became a household name, after featuring as the Lead Character in the blockbuster movie titled “Domitila’ in the ’90s. She is popularly known by fans as Domitila, a name that has been ringing bells right from the ’90s till date. Ronke Ojo is popularly known as Oshodi Oke. A name she got after playing a character in a movie titled “Oshodi Oke”. Lots of fans hardly remember her real name, as she is known everywhere as “Oshodi Oke”.
Toyin Afolayan is from the Ade Love family where almost all of them are into the movie industry. She got her stage name “Lola Idije’ after she starred in late Alade Aromire’s movie where she played the role of a promiscuous lady, who was referred to as Lola Idije. The name has stuck to her like her real name
Toyin Adegbola became popular after starring in the movie titled “Asewo To Re Mecca” which dwells on the life of a prostitute that turned a new leaf and went on the Muslim pilgrimage. Lots of people hardly remember her real name. Yemi Adeyemi, many people know this talented veteran actor as “Suara”, very few know him by his real name. His role in Wale Adenuga Super story series titled “Oh father, oh Daughter’ Shot him to the limelight where he acted the role of Chief Suara, who dumped his wife played by Bukky Wright for Sola Sobowale (Toyin Tomato). The series remains one of the most popular from Wale Adenuga Stables.
Sola Sobowale, popularly known as “Toyin Tomato” got her stage from Wale Adenuga Super Story Series “Oh father, oh mother”, where she acted as Yemi Adeyemi (Suara)’s Mistress.
Her role in the series made her more famous and she is popularly known as Toyin Tomato by her fans.
Hafiz Oyetoro is popularly known as “Simply Saka”. It’s a name he got from a Greg Odutayo Series titled “House APart” Besides featuring in movies, he has done an advert for lots of popular and reputable companies in Nigeria.
Funke Akindele is popularly known as “Jenifa”. She became very famous in the industry, after she featured in the movie, “Jenifa”, which she also produced. She became one of the most successful and most sought after actresses in the industry with the movie. “Jenifa” and Jenifa’s Dray Series”.
Lot’s of her fans know and refer to her as Jenifa most times. Also, Eniola Badmus popularly known as “Gbogbo big Girls” a name she got after featuring in the movie “Jenifa: alongside, Mosun Filani, Ronke Odusanya and lots of others.
Taiwo Hassan is one of the highly respected veterans in the industry, and also a co-founder of Odunfa Caucus, a group that has produced over 300 movie actors in the industry. He is popularly known as “Ogogo”. a role he once acted in a movie. Lots of people rarely remember his real name.
Babatunde Omidina is popularly known as “Baba Suwe”. He got the name after he played the role of a father to his first wife in a comedy series titled. “Erikeke”. He acted the role of Baba Suwe, which people now call him till date.
Bolaji Amusan popularly known as “Mr Latin” is the present president of Tampan. He often takes up comic roles in movies and he acted the role of Mr. Latin in a movie, which people now call him till date.
Adekola Tijani is popularly known as “Kamilu Kompo” a name he got after featuring in a movie he also produced along with his best friend in the industry Olaniyi Afonja (Sanyeri).
Olaniyi Afonja Tijani are best friends in the industry and they often feature together. His role “Sanyeri” in a comic movie shot him to the limelight, and he has remained at the top. Fausat Balogun became popular after featuring in Babasuwe’s popular series “ Erikeke”, where she acted the role of a society woman who has a unique style of a headgear known as Saje. After the series was over, the name stayed glued to her.
Basorge Tariah Jnr, popularly known as “Do Good” is an actor, comedian and filmmaker. His series titled “Do good” made him more known in the industry. The name “ Do good” rings bells in the movie industry.
Rasaq Olayiwola popularly known as “Ojopagogo” got his name, after playing the role of an elderly man in a movie. He is one of the veterans who are located in Ibadan and highly respected in the industry. He is equally married to actress Moji Afolayan.
Patience Ozorkwo, popularly known as “Mama G”. She got the name from a movie she starred in. She equally used the name “Mama G” for her music, before she became born again. She is popular with the name Mama G. by her fans all over, most especially in the east.
Folake Aremu is popularly known as “Orisabunmi”. She got the name through her ex-husband Jimoh Aliu. She featured in popular Yoruba series titled “Arelu” which was popular in the 70s, and her role in the movie as Orishabunmi also shot her to the limelight.
Modupe Johnson popularly known as “Fali Werepe”. She got the name from a movie she starred in many years back. She enjoys acting the no-nonsense roles in movies.
Jide Kokoso is popularly known as ‘Jide Rabi”. This veteran actor has contributed immensely to the growth of Nollywood in Nigeria. He has been as “ Jide Baba” right from the ’70s till date.
Adebayo Salami, popularly known as “Oga Bello” is one veteran lots of young stars look up to as a role model in the industry. He has equally produced over 200 movie stars in the industry. Almost five of his children have joined him in the make-believe business.
Lere Paimo, popularly known as “Eda Onile Ola” most people don’t know him by his real name but the name. “Eda Onile Ola” rings a bell all the time. He is no doubt, one of the founders of the Yoruba movie industry, having spent over 4 decades in the industry and still counting.
Wale Adebayo is popularly known as “Sango’. His role in the Epic movie “Sango” shot him to limelight and also earned him the name that still clicks till date.
Kayode Olasehinde popularly known as “Ajirebi” is a veteran comedian. He has been in the industry for close to 4 decades, taking part in stage plays and also television series, especially with the Wale Adenuaga productions. Kayode Olaiya is popularly known as “Aderupoko”. He is also a veteran comedian in the industry who is based in Ibadan. He joined the industry through the late Hurbert Ogunde and has remained relevant till date, most especially with the “Jenifa Diary and Series”
Chief Jimoh Aliu is popularly known as “Aworo’. He is an exceptional veteran movie maker.
He got the stage name “Aworo” because he always acts as Herbalist in most movies.
Akeem Alimi, popularly known as “Ajala Jalingo”. He got his stage name through a movie he featured in, many years ago. He was once the former governor (ANTP) Lagos State.
Charles Olumo is no doubt one of the oldest veterans in the industry. He clocked 94 years this year in the industry and he is still very relevant in the industry.
Tajudeen Oyewole popularly known as “Abija” was a driver before he got involved in acting and he became stereotyped for a particular role which he always interpreted perfectly.
Fatai Adekunle is popularly known as Lalude’. He features more in Epic movies. He joined the industry in the ’70s. He got his stage name “Lalude” when he acted in Ogbori Elemosho, where he played the lead role years back.
Tayo Odueke is popularly known as “Sikiratu Sindodo. The beautiful fair-skinned actress got her stage name after starring in a movie titled “Sikiratu Sindodo” which later turned into a household name.
Bisi Ibidapo Obe is popularly known as “Bisi Omologba Logba” a name she got after featuring in a movie titled “ Bisi Omologba Logba “ where she acted the lead role, a lady with promiscuous lifestyle.
Idowu Philips who is popularly known as “Iya Rainbow” joined the movie industry through her husband’s group “Osunmare Theatre Group” where she started as a stage actress. People refer to her and her late husband as Baba Rainbow and Iya Rainbow, a name she is still bearing even after her husband’s death.
Tayo Amokade is popularly known as “Ijebu”. He got his stage name from his own unique way of comedy, especially through using the local Ijebu language.
Lanre Hassan popularly known as Iya Awero is highly respected in the industry. She features in both Engish and Yoruba movies. She got the stage name through her role in one of the Yoruba movies.
Odukanmi Kudirat is popularly known as “Iyabo Oko”. She got the name when she played a lead role in Oga Bello’s movie titled “Iyabo Oko.
Soji Taiwo popularly known as Soji “Omobanke”. He got the name through a movie he played and he often refers to himself as “Soji Omobanke”. in most movies he features in Lola Margaret is popularly known as “Bisola Alanu” a movie that shot her to Limelight.
Adebola Shoremi is a popular comic actor in the Yoruba movie industry, who is fondly called. “Lanko Omobo Dubai.
Ayobami Ojo is popularly known as “Oyita”, a name she got from her movie titled “Oyita” which shot her to the limelight.
Morenike Alausa Sulaimon is popularly known as “Mama Ereko”, a stage name she got through a movie. Most people hardly know her real name.
Hassan Taiwo Akinwande popularly known as “Yetunde Wunmi” She is a veteran actress in the industry and fans also refer to her as “Yetunde Wummy”, a name she got from a movie she starred in.
Rafiu Balogun, popularly known as “Baba Balogun is the husband to veteran actress Madam Saje. He is often referred to as “ Baba Balogun” by fans, a name he acquired in the movie industry.
Segun Arinze is popular as “Black Arrow” in movies. A name he got after featuring in a blockbuster movie. He is highly respected in the industry.
Kazeem Abimbola is popularly known as “Jigan Bolaji. He is a multi-talented actor, musician and philanthropist.
Samson Elewele is a veteran actor with a stage name. “Jinadu Ewele”. It’s a name he got through a movie he featured in the ’80s, and it was one of the movies that shot him to the limelight. Ibrahim Yekini is popularly known as Isele Kan”, a stage name he got through his outstanding Epic movie.
Adebimpe Akintunde is popularly known as “Wasila Coded”, a young and beautiful actress in the industry. She got the stage name from her personal movie, which shot her to the limelight.
