Wale Ojo

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Not to be confused with Wole Ojo.
Wale Ojo
Wale Ojo (cropped).png
NationalityBritish-Nigerian
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom, Nigeria
Alma materUniversity of Hull, (Drama, 1986)
Occupation
  • actor
  • producer
  • director
Years active1976–present
Known forPhone Swap (film)

Wale Ojo is a British Nigerian actor. He started as a child actor in television. He subsequently continued acting roles in the UK and Nigeria.[1][2] He came into prominence in 1995 for his role in The Hard Case. He won the award for Best Actor at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[3][4]

Early life and education[]

Ojo was acting professionally as a child. At the age of 8, he worked with Akin Lewis, who played a barber on the NTA Ibadan 1980s television series Why Worry. At age 12, he moved with his family to England, where he also attended university.[5]

Ojo credits his career on influences from his mother, who was an actress and supportive of his career,[6] Chief Wale Ogunyemi, Tunji Oyelana, playwright Wole Soyinka, and Zulu Sofola.[5]

New Nigeria Cinema[]

Ojo founded New Nigeria Cinema, whose aim is to improve the quality of Nigerian films. New Nigeria Cinema hosted a film viewing and lectures at the British Film Institute in London in 2010.[7][8]

Career performances[]

TV programs[]

Year TV Program Role Notes
1989 Behaving Badly Jim Television mini-serial
1998 – 2000 Heartburn Hotel Chidi Ekechi Television serial
2009 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (TV_series) Kebone Legodimo[9]
2012 - 2016 Meet the Adebanjos Mr. Bayo Adebanjo British-Nigerian sitcom from 2012-2016.[10]
2014 Tinsel (TV series) Nosa[11] Long-running Nigerian soap opera
2018 Black Earth Rising Dr. Emmanuel Musoni[12] BBC Two production

Films[]

Year Film Role Notes
1995 The Hard Case The gambler Short film
1999 Rage (1999 film) Pin Ojo's first feature film debut. He plays a schizophrenic gangster.[13]
2011 Johnny English Reborn President Chambal
2011 The Guard Doctor Oleyuwo[14] Irish buddy film starring Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle.
2012 Phone Swap Akin Also featured Nse Ikpe Etim, Joke Silva, Chika Okpala, Lydia Forson and Hafeez Oyetoro. This was Ojo's first feature film in Nigeria.[15]
2012 Big Man
2013 Half of a Yellow Sun (film) Chief Okonji Historical film featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle, Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje and John Boyega.[16]
2014 A Letter from Adam Adam Romance starring Lydia Forson (who also wrote the screenplay), Naa Ashokor Mensah Doku, Akorfa Edjeani, Albert Jackson, Fred Kanebi, Jeff Kumordzie and Louie Lartey.
2014 Render to Caesar Pade Crime thriller also featuring Gbenga Akinnagbe, Omoni Oboli and Bimbo Manuel
2014 When Love Happens Oladele Laguda Romantic comedy featuring Weruche Opia as Moduroti (Mo) Bankole-Smith
2015 8 Bars and a Clef Felix Mensah Film about a musically gifted recording artist dealing with dyslexia.[17]
2015 Fifty (film) Kunle Stars Iretiola Doyle, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Dakore Egbuson
2016 Ayamma: Music in the Forest Prince Daraima
2016 Betrayal Funbi Written and directed by Darasen Richards. Also starring David Jones David and Theresa Edem.[18]
2016 The CEO Kola Alabi
2016 Ojukokoro Mad Dog Max This crime film is also known as Ojukokoro: Greed and includes an ensemble cast.
2016 White Colour Black Monsiour Dabo Also starring Dudley O’Shaughnessy as the main character.[19]
2017 Alter Ego (2017 film) Timothy
2017 Sand Castle Ayade Also starring Mary Uranta and Sylvia Edem.
2017 Ghost of Tarkwa Bay Nigeria’s first movie about the art of surfing. Also features Ibrahim Odrago, May Owen, Armando Abraham, and Godspower. This short film marks Wale Ojo's directorial debut.[20][21]
2018 Disguise Theophilus Vaughn
2018 Lara and the Beat Uncle Tunde
2018 New Money (2018 film) Chuka Also stars stars Jemima Osunde, Kate Henshaw, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Dakore Akande, Osas Ighodaro and Falz d Bahd Guy.[22]
2018 Voiceless Scream Dr. Joel Azubike Directed by Dotun Taylor and also stars Jide Kosoko and Adeniyi Johnson.[23]
2019 Another Father's Day Femi Daniel Sequel to Happy Father's Day film. Directed by Bukola Ogunsola. Also stars Mercy Aigbe.[24]
2019 Coming from Insanity Mr. Martins Crime drama with Gabriel Afolyan, Sani Danja, Dakore Akande, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Damilola Adegbite[25]
2019 Don't Get Mad Get Even Dr. Badejo[26] Ojo's feature film directorial debut. Features Toyin Abraham, Saheed Balogun and Nancy Isime.
2019 Jumbled
2019 Kasanova Femi[27] Also starring Iretiola Doyle, Toyin Abraham, Ruby Akubueze and Yomi Alvin.
2019 Ordinary Fellows Professor Jega A film by Lorenzo Menakaya
2019 Walking with Shadows Dad Drama also starring Ozzy Agu, Funlola Aofiyebi, Ayoola Ayolola, Zainab Balogun, Riyo David and Ade Laoye.[28]
2020 This Lady Called Life Daddy[29] Stars Bisola Aiyeola, Samuel Asa'ah, and Lota Chukwu.

Theatre[]

Year Play Theatre Role Notes
2009 The Sunset Limited[30] Capital Centre, Warwickshire, England Black Michael Gould performed as White

Awards and nominations[]

Year Event Prize Work Result
2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Actor in a Film Phone Swap Won[31]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Laju Ayenreka (21 December 2012). "A wife for Wale Ojo". The Vanguard. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  2. ^ "I started acting 40 years ago with NTA Ibadan wale ojo". Nigeria Entertainment Today. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Photos + Full List Of Winners At The NEA". 2012.
  4. ^ Shaibu Husseini (16 July 2016). "Wale Ojo: 'The CEO' and Nollywood's new leading man". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Wale Ojo: 'The CEO' and Nollywood's new leading man". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Wale Ojo". Africa Interviews. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  7. ^ Krings, Matthias; Okome, Onookome. Global Nollywood: The Transnational Dimensions of an African Video Film Industry. Indiana University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-253-00942-5. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. ^ Curry, Neil (19 November 2010). "'New Nigeria Cinema' sparks Nollywood renaissance". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  9. ^ "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  10. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Meet The Adebanjos - Netflix Sitcom". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Wale Ojo sails with Tinsel". Businessday NG. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Black Earth Rising (TV Series 2018) - IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Wale Ojo". IMDb. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  14. ^ "The Guard (2011) - IMDb". Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Wale Ojo". IMDb. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Half of a Yellow Sun: London Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  17. ^ "8 Bars & A Clef (2015) - IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  18. ^ Richards, Darasen (16 December 2016). "Betrayal". Blackdrum 360, Darasen Richards Films. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  19. ^ Contributor, Guest. "Joseph A. Adesunloye's Feature, White colour Black, Gets UK Premiere at #LFF2016. | The British Blacklist". thebritishblacklist.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  20. ^ "New Nigeria Cinema hits National Film Theatre Southbank". African Voice Newspaper. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  21. ^ "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH WALE OJO". Bespoke Event Guide. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  22. ^ Daniel, Eniola (21 March 2018). "Veterans, newbies clash in New Money". Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  23. ^ Taylor, Dotun. "Voiceless Scream". YAE Films. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Watch Official Trailer for "Another Father's Day" starring Wale Ojo, Cee-C, Mercy Aigbe". BellaNaija. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Coming from insanity ready for public viewing". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  26. ^ Ojo, Wale (3 October 2019). "Don't Get Mad Get Even". RGD Media Productions. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  27. ^ Asurf, Oluseyi (13 September 2019). "Kasanova". Asurf Films. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  28. ^ O'Kelly, Aoife (9 October 2019). "Walking with Shadows". Oya Media. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  29. ^ Kasum, Kayode (15 May 2020). "This Lady Called Life". AzureNoir&Co, Film Trybe. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  30. ^ Josyph, Peter (2011). "Now Let's Talk about "The Sunset Limited": An Exchange With Marty Priola". The Cormac McCarthy Journal. 9 (1): 66–86. ISSN 2333-3073. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Photos + Full List Of Winners At The NEA". Information Nigeria. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2021.

External links[]

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