Femi Adebayo
Femi Adebayo | |
|---|---|
Fẹ́mi Adébáyọ̀ | |
Femi Adebayo, a Nigerian actor and filmmaker | |
| Born | 31 December 1976 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Other names | Jelili, Sonto alapata, Ogundiji |
| Citizenship | Nigeria |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse | Omotayo Adebayo |
| Children | 4 |
| Father | Adebayo Salami |
| Relatives | Tope Adebayo Sodiq Adebayo |
| Notes | |
Femi Adebayo Salami (ⓘ) (born 31 December 1976) is a Nigerian film director, actor, lawyer,[2] producer and special adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on Arts, Culture, and Tourism.[3][4] He is the son of actor Adebayo Salami.[5] In 2024, he won the Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jagun Jagun, also won the AMVCA Best Lead Actor award for his remarkable performance in Seven Doors in 2025.
Early life
Adebayo was born on 31 December 1978 in Lagos State, Nigeria. His father, who is actor Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello),[6] hails from Ilorin, Kwara State.[7]
Education
Adebayo attended the C&S College, Ilorin, Kwara State for his secondary school education. He then went to the University of Ilorin, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in law. He later earned a master's degree in law at the University of Ibadan.[8][1]
Career
Adebayo began acting in 1985, the same year he featured in his father's first movie titled Ogun Ajaye.[9]
Adebayo has starred in over 500 Nigerian films, winning four awards as Best Yoruba Actor at the 17th African Film Awards popularly known as Afro Hollywood Awards at the Stratford Town Hall in London.[10] He also won an award in the same category for the Best of Nollywood Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria Awards in 2012.[11][1] Adebayo has a long list of movies to his credit, which includes the Sonto Alapata, Wura Ati Fadaka, Ma Wobadan and Buga, among others. He is the MD/CEO of J-15 Media Network Nigeria.[7][1]
Adebayo signed a deal with a digital TV platform, StarTimes as her ambassador.[12]
In 2022, Femi Adebayo was nominated for Best Actor in A Comedy (AMVCA)[13]
In July 2022, he was named as the ambassador for Kubanah whisky along with some other Nollywood actors[14]
Personal life
Adebayo married Omotayo Adebayo on 9 October 2016. Adebayo and his wife have one son. He also has three children from an earlier marriage.[15]
Awards and honours
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Apaadi | Nominated | |
| 2015 | City People Entertainment Awards | Best Movie Producer Of The Year (Yoruba) | Won | ||
| 2017 | Best Actor Of The Year (Yoruba) | Won | |||
| Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba | Afaila Ojo | Won | [16] | |
| 2018 | Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Indigenous Movie (Yoruba) | Etiko Onigedu | Won | [17] |
| Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba | Won | [18] | ||
| 2019 | Best Kiss in a Movie | Diamond in the Sky | Nominated | [19] | |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) | The Return of Kesari | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Lucifer | Won | [20] | ||
| 2022 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actor in A Comedy | Progressive Tailors Club | Nominated | [21] |
| 2023 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actor In A Drama, Movie Or TV Series | King of Thieves (Agesinkole) | Nominated | [22][23] |
| Best Overall Movie | Nominated | ||||
| Africa International Film Festival | Globe Award Honoree | Jagun Jagun | Won | ||
| 2024 | 2024 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Indigenous Language Movie- West Africa | Jagun Jagun | Won | |
| Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Won | |||
| Abuja International Film Festival | Outstanding Male Actor | Won | |||
| 2025 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Lead Actor | Seven Doors | Won | [24] |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Labake Olododo | |
| 2024 | Lisabi(The uprising) | Olu Olodan |
| Seven Doors | king Adedunjoye | |
| Beast of two worlds | Ade Apa Igala | |
| Queen Lateefah | ||
| Lakatabu | muyiwa | |
| crossroads | Egunkemi | |
| House of Ga'a | Olukuoye | |
| 2023 | Ijogbon | Head of Amoteku |
| Mikolo | babablu | |
| Jagun Jagun | Ogundiji | |
| world famous | pastor | |
| Diety | Komokomo | |
| 2022 | maleeka | Kunle |
| King of Thieves | Adeshikoye/Adeoye | |
| 2021 | cordelia | Rasaki |
| Ete | Deji | |
| love castle | chief Balogun | |
| progressive tailor club | Agbabiaka | |
| The cokers | Doctor | |
| charge and bail | Whole Adetutu | |
| 2020 | The miracle center | |
| special jollof | ||
| unroyal | Royal suitor | |
| mama drama | Dotun | |
| 2019 | jumbled | Yinka |
| survival of jelili | Jelili | |
| Diamonds in the sky | Kayode | |
| Mokalik | Mr. Ogidan | |
| 2018 | The island | kola |
| The ghost and the tout | Dayo | |
| heaven on my mind | Soji | |
| 2017 | Sola Arikusa | |
| 2014 | October 1 | Banji |
| 2013 | Ayitale | Aderopo |
| 2011 | Jelili | Jelili |
| 2009 | Apaadi | |
| 1996 | Owo Blow | Wole Owolabi |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Makori, Edwin Kwach (21 January 2021). "Femi Adebayo biography: age, wives, children, house & net worth". Legit.ng. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "Femi Adebayo: My father doubles as my boss in the industry". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ Haynes, Jonathan (2016). Nollywood: The Creation of Nigerian Film Genres (illustrated ed.). University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226387956.
- ^ Ganiu, Olaitan (3 July 2021). "Femi Adebayo says unruly behaviour won't be tolerated in Nollywood". The Nation. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Augoye, Jayne (18 April 2014). "I will still practise law – Femi Adebayo". The Punch. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ "Femi Adebayo Celebrates Father, Oga Bello As He Clocks 70". Independent Newspaper Nigeria. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ a b Adebayo, Femi (4 January 2015). "My mum is stricter than dad – Oga Bello's son". The Punch (Interview). Interviewed by Gbenga Adeniji. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ Adebayo, Femi (19 January 2015). "Separating your emotions from acting is based on professionalism says Femi Adebayo (Jelili)". Encomium Magazine (Interview). Interviewed by Encomium Weekly. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ Leadership (27 November 2014). "Pass On The Baton: Stars Taking After Their Fathers' Profession". Leadership. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Ayodele (23 February 2016). "Actor appointed SA to Kwara State Governor". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Tella, Anu (23 November 2014). "Day a fan kissed me in the presence of my wife – Femi Adebayo". Vanguard. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ Ige, Rotimi (12 January 2022). "Nollywood Icon, Femi Adebayo Becomes StarTimes Brand Ambassador". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Royal, David (9 May 2022). "AMVCA 2022: Movies, actors that got double nominations". Vanguard News. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Destiny Etiko, Femi Adebayo, Nosa Rex, Nastyblaq emerge Kubanah Whisky's ambassadors". Sun News Online.
- ^ Ayodele, Johnson (4 November 2017). "Actor and wife are not separated according to this video". Pulse Nigeria. Pulse Africa. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ "BON Awards 2017: Kannywood's Ali Nuhu receives Special Recognition Award". Daily Trust. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "AMVCA 2018: Full list of winners". Punch Newspapers. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ Augoye, Jayne (10 December 2018). "BON Awards 2018: Tope Oshin, Tana Adelana win big". Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ Bada, Gbenga (15 December 2019). "BON Awards 2019: 'Gold Statue', Gabriel Afolayan win big at 11th edition". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ Augoye, Jayne (7 December 2020). "BON Awards: Laura Fidel, Kunle Remi win Best Kiss (Full List of Winners)". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ "2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees". AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ Peaceman, Pandora (17 April 2023). "AMCVA 2023: Femi Adebayo Bags 8 Nominations On 'King Of Thieves'". New Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ Oyediran, Tosin (11 May 2025). "FULL LIST: Femi Adebayo's Seven Doors scores big at #AMVCA11, wins best lead actor, actress". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2 June 2025.