In the Nigerian movie industry, celebrities are being respected in high esteem. They are always the main topic of public deliberation. It is really not an easy task for celebrities to live a private life.

Over time, there have always been a strong admiration for the acting profession because of the fame and prestige. It is a common thing to see children of Nollywood stars taking after them in same career. This is an easy path to fame as these veteran actors have built a good reputation for themselves which will definitely rub on people around them to some extent.

In Yoruba Nollywood industry, we have seen several veteran actors’ children who are also Nollywood stars and creating a niche for themselves in the acting career. In this article, we will be looking at 10 Nollywood stars who joined acting through their veteran actor parents.

1. Femi Adebayo

Femi Adebayo is a popular Nollywood actor, movie director and producer. He is popularly known as ‘Jelili’. He is a son to Yoruba veteran actor, Adebayo Salami also known as Oga Bello.

Femi Adebayo has passion for acting and with the motivation of his father, he has become an actor to reckon with in the Nollywood industry. He usually followed his veteran actor father to movie locations which sparked his interest for the profession.

Femi Adebayo decided to pursue a career in acting despite the fact that he graduated with a Law degree from University of Ilorin and received a Master’s degree in Law at University of Ibadan.

Femi Adebayo only practised the legal profession for 2 years but later fully concentrate on his acting career. His first feature movie is titled ‘Ogun Ajaye’ in 1985, the first movie produced by his father, Adebayo Salami.

Femi Adebayo came into limelight with his main role in the movie titled ‘Owo Blow’ in 1996 produced by Tade Ogidan. He fully joined the Nollywood industry in 2006 and has featured in over 500 movies and produced several Yoruba Nollywood movies. Some of his featured movies include ‘Jelili’, ‘Kodi Ologbon Aye’, ‘Mokalik’, ‘Oruka’, ‘Etiko Onigedu’, to mention a few.

2. Tope Adebayo

Temitope Adebayo is a Nollywood actor and movie director who joined acting through the mentorship of his father. He is also a son to veteran actor, Adebayo Salami and younger brother to Actor Femi Adebayo.

Tope Adebayo graduated from University of Ilorin where he studied Computer Engineering. He however chose the acting career just like his father, Oga Bello.

Tope Adebayo is popularly known as the movie character, Waidi(Wede) in popular TV series, Jenifa’s Diary.

3. Sola Kosoko

Sola Kosoko is a Nollywood actress and movie director. She is the daughter of veteran actor, Jide Kosoko. She also decided to follow her father’s footsteps in acting. Sola Kosoko has acted in several Yoruba Nollywood movies.

Sola Kosoko who recently clocked 40 years in January 2020, is a happily married woman with two kids. Her husband is identified as Abiodun Abina.

4. Bidemi Kosoko

This beautiful Nollywood actress also chose her father’s profession. Bidemi Kosoko who is also a movie producer and entrepreneur is a daughter to Yoruba veteran actor, Jide Kosoko and younger sister to Actress Sola Kosoko.

Bidemi Kosoko is a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos. She has featured in several Nollywood movies, both English and Yoruba genres. She is a mother of 1 and happily married to Daniel Bankole.

5. Mide Martins

Mide Martins is a Nollywood actress, movie producer and entrepreneur. She is the daughter of late veteran actress Funmi Martins who was a top Nollywood star in the 1990s. Funmi Martins’ acting career lasted for less than 10 years as a result of her sudden death in 2002.

Mide Martins decided to venture into her late mother’s career as a form of remembrance, a decision which Mide Martins never regretted as she couldn’t imagine pursuing another career.

Mide Martins is married to Nollywood actor and movie director, Afeez Owo and they are blessed with 2 children.

6. Laide Bakare

Laide Bakare is a Nigerian actress, movie producer and entrepreneur. She is a daughter to late veteran actor, Olumide Bakare who died suffering from a disease in 2017.

The actress who hails from Oyo state is a graduate of History and Strategic studies from the University of Lagos. She also obtained a Diploma in Theatre Arts from University of Ibadan.

Laide Bakare is a talented actress who have featured in several movies which include ‘Asiri Owo’, ‘Okun Omo Iya’, ‘Ore Meta’, etc. She is a mother of 3.

7. Muka Ray

Muka Ray is a Yoruba Nollywood actor and movie producer. He is a son to late veteran actor, Eyiwumi Ray who was active around 1970s. Eyiwumi Ray died on April 15, 1986.

Muka Ray graduated from Kwara State Polytechnic. He started his acting career at a young age with the motivation of his veteran actor father. He has acted in several Yoruba movies which include ‘Abore’, ‘Adele’, ‘Obaluaye’, ’36 Kiniun’, etc.

8. Lasun Ray

Lasun Ray is a Yoruba Nollywood actor, movie director and producer. He is also a son to late veteran actor, Eyiwumi Ray.

Lasun Ray studied Computer Science and started his acting career in 1972, when stage plays were still rampant before the advent of movies in Nigeria.

His first feature movie is titled ‘Korede’. He has acted in several Nollywood movies which include ‘Opin Irinajo’, ‘Ejika’, ‘Eewo Orisa’, etc.

9. Sunkanmi Omobolanle

Olasunkanmi Omobolanle is a Nollywood actor and movie director. He hails from Ilora, Oyo state. His father is popular Yoruba comic actor, ‘Papi Luwe’ with the real name, Sunday Omobolanle who was known for his hilarious movie roles around 1980s to 2000s.

Sunkanmi Omobolanle graduated from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye where he studied Business Administration. He was motivated by his father who is a veteran actor to join the acting league.

Sunkanmi Omobolanle has really proven his expertise in acting. He has featured in several Yoruba movies which include ‘Gongo Aso’, ‘Olaide Irawo’, etc.

10. Samuel Ajirebi

Samuel Olasehinde popularly known as Samuel Ajirebi is a Nollywood actor. He is the son of veteran actor, Ajirebi Kayode Olasehinde popularly known as Pa James in popular TV series, Papa Ajasco and Company, a Wale Adenuga Productions.

Pa James has really set a good path for his son to follow. He built a good reputation for himself in acting such that his son, Samuel Ajirebi is now benefitting from his legacy in the movie industry.