23 Nollywood stars with popular nicknames

One unique feature about the industry is the way practitioners 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.