Meet ''11 World Famous Celebrities you never knew were Nigerians''

Nigerians are known for their passion of travelling abroad. They not only survive in any of these countries but become successful and among the best in their fields. In the entertainment industry today, there are several famous blacks who are excellent in their arts that we do not know are Nigerians.

Some of the stars on this list were born in Nigeria and grew up abroad, while some others were born and bred outside the country but have Nigerian parents. Let’s meet these stars:

1. Chiwetel Ejiofor

The most popular among them is Chiwetel Ejiofor who starred in ’12 Years A Slave’, ‘Half of A Yellow Sun,’ ‘Deadly Voyage‘, ‘Secret In Their Eyes,’ among others. Chiwetel was born and bred in the U.K by his Nigerian parents from the Igbo tribe.

2. Hakeem Kae-Kazim

Hollywood actor, Kazeem was born in Lagos State and is a native of Ogun State. He has featured in several hit movies such as ‘Hotel Rwandan,’ ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ ‘At World’s End and many TV series including 24, and Criminal Minds. He has also featured in some Nollywood movies like ‘Last Flight To Abuja,’ ‘Black November‘ and ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun.’ Currently, he is a brand ambassador for Etisalat Nigeria.

3. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Former fashion model of Yoruba origin, and Hollywood actor, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, is best known for his roles in ‘The Mummy Returns‘, ‘Pompeii,’ ‘The Bourne Identity‘, and in TV series ‘Lost‘ and ‘Oz‘. He was born in Washington, D.C to Nigerian parents and is fluent in Yoruba, Italian and Swahili, aside English language.

4. Caroline Chikezie

Caroline was born in England to Nigerian parents but was sent to boarding school in Nigeria at a point, in an attempt to make her abandon her dreams to become an actress. She choose acting to taking over her father’s hospital in Nigeria. So far, the 41-year-old has featured in ‘Holby City,’ ‘Casualty,’ ‘Babymother,’ ‘ As If ,’ ‘Judas Kiss,’ ‘Free Fall‘, ‘Torchwood’, ‘Cyberwoman“,’ ‘Supernatural,’ and ‘Brothers and Sisters’.

5. Nonso Anozie

Nonso Anozie is an English actor of Nigerian descent. Apart from movies, he was cast to play in the TV series ‘Game of Thrones‘ and ‘Dracula‘.

6. David Oyelowo

Hollywood actor David Oyelowo was born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, to Nigerian parents. He has featured in movies like: ‘The Butler, Small Island, Rise of the Planet of the Apes,Middle of Nowhere, Lincoln, and Blood and Oil,’ (a film about Niger-Delta, oil and militancy in Nigeria).

7. Sophie Okonedo

Born to a Nigerian father and a Jewish mother, Sophie Okonedo is a British actress and singer. She has played in such great movies as ‘Æon Flux‘, ‘Mrs. Mandela’, ‘Skin’ and many more.

8. Sade Adu

56 years old American R&B singer, and Grammy award winner, Helen Folasade Adu was born on January 16, 1959 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. When Sade was 11 years old, she moved to Holland-on-Sea, Essex, to live with her mother, then she later moved to London and studied fashion design at Saint Martin’s School of Art before she started singing. She is best known for her hit song ‘Sweetest Taboo.’

9. Tracy Ifeachor

Tracy is a British-Nigerian television and theatre actress best known for playing in the ‘Doctor Who Christmas special, The End of Time‘, and TV series ‘Crossbones‘.

10. Carmen Ejogo

Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo was born in  1973 in London and began her career as a teenager. Her father is Nigerian while her mother is Scottish. The British actress has featured in ‘What’s the Worst That Could Happen?’, ‘The Purge: Anarchy‘ and ‘Selma‘. She has received several awards, including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

11. Zain Asher

32-year-old Zain Ejiofor Asher, is a news anchor at CNN International and is the younger sister of Hollywood actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Asher studied French and Spanish at Oxford University and also is a graduate of Journalism.