When you watch Hollywood movies with black actors and actresses, we often see them as African Americans. You might be correct sometimes, but some are pure Africans or mixed.
In this article, you will meet some of your favorite black Hollywood stars, not just Africans but Nigerians.
These stars have climbed to the apex of their careers in the entertainment industry, but people never bother to find out their roots.
Many black celebs who were born outside Africa and had no idea what their African origin was had to do DNA tests to discover their African roots, and the results were terrific.
Forest Whitaker
Whitaker is one of the most familiar faces when it comes to black actors in Hollywood.
Popularly known for his role as Idi Amin of Uganda, Whitaker is one of the blacks who discovered his African roots and traced them back to the Igbo land in Nigeria.
Forests’ ancestors were from the Nkwere village in Imo state, eastern Nigeria, and when the actor visited the Nkwere people, his roots were confirmed.
The ghost dog actor was given an honorary chieftaincy title of “Nwannedinambe de Nkwerre” during his visit to his village.
Chief Ayiama-Osigwe explained that “Nwannedinambe de Nkwerre” means a brother in a foreign land.
Because Forest could trace his origin back to the village, he deserved to be honored with a title.
Other movies Forest Whitaker has starred in include American Gun, Phonebooth, Panic Room, Phenomenon, Bird, Battlefield Earth, and The Way of the Samurai.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
This handsome twelve-year-old slave actor is easily given away by his name. Chiwetel Ejiofor was born and raised in the UK by Nigerian parents of Igbo origin. Ejiofor has created a successful acting career and is a natural face to spot.
He has starred in movies like Half of a Yellow Sun, Secrets in Their Eyes, and Deadly Travel.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Adewale is a Nigerian actor who is proud of his origin and making waves in Hollywood. The actor in the movie series Oz and Lost was born in Washington, D.C., to Nigerian parents.
The southwestern Nigerian Hollywood actor is fluent in Yoruba, English, Swahili, and Italian.
He has also starred in films such as The Mummy Return, Bourne Identity, and Pompeii. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has also visited his hometown.
Hakeem Kae-Kazeem
Hakeem is a Nigerian born in Lagos who hails from Ogun, a region in the southwestern region of Nigeria.
He is mostly considered a British actor and one of the most famous Nigerian Hollywood faces.
He has starred in the TV series 24 and Criminal Minds. Other movies he has made include Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men Origins, Hotel Rwanda, and Wolverine. The actor’s parents were Muslims.
Wale
Wale, whose full name is Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, was born in Washington on September 21, 1984, and is a very famous American Rapper.
Wale’s parents are from the southwestern region of Nigeria, specifically Ogun state.
The rapper is famous in Nigeria and around the world, but he has not forgotten to mix up with other Nigerian artists even though he is based in the United States. He has collaborated with Nigerian singers like Olamide and Wizzy.
Tyler the Creator
Tyler, the creator, is believed to be black American, but he is Nigerian. Tyler’s mother is Canadian, but she gave birth to Tyler in Los Angeles. Tyler’s real name is Tyler Okonma. He was born on March 6, 1991.
Ashley Madekwe
Beautiful British actress Ashley Madekwe is bi-racial. She was born in London to an English mother and a Nigerian Father. Ashley has starred in TV series like Salem and Revenge. The actress’s father is of Igbo origin.
Nnamdi Asomugha
Have you been wondering who the man behind Kerry Washington’s smile is? Well, you have found him.
Nnamdi Asomugha is an American football player and the husband of famous Hollywood star Kerry Washington.
Nnamdi was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, on July 6, 1981, to Igbo parents. Well, I guess it’s safe to say Kerry is our Igbo sister.
Uzo Aduba
Hollywood Actress Uzoamake Nwaneka Aduba, popularly known as Uzo Aduba, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 10, 1981.
She is mostly referred to as an American actress and is famous for her role in the popular TV series Orange is the New Black.
Uzo is also one of those people whose name gives them away easily. She is from southeastern Nigeria and is another Igbo sister proudly representing Nigeria in Hollywood.
Tinie Tempah
Tinie Temper is a famous English rapper known for his love for pictures and friendship with Nigerian Professional Photographer and singer TY Bello.
Tinie’s real name is Chukuemeka Okogwu Best, a singer, producer, and songwriter.
Chukwuemeka Okogwu was born in London to Nigerian parents on November 7, 1988, and runs a management label called Disturbing London.
If disturbing London sounds familiar, it is because you have heard of it before. Wizkid was signed on to do so, but things didn’t pan out well, and he had to leave.
Dayo Okeniyi
Unlike other Nigerians in Hollywood, Dayo was born and raised in Nigeria before he moved to the United States with his family.
Dayo knows the streets of Lagos like every other Lagosian and is doing very well as a Hollywood actor.
He has featured in movies like Terminator Genisys and The Hunger Games.
Caroline Chikezie
Talk about a woman who gets into a character like she was born to be that character, and you can point to Carolyn Chikezie. Carolyn is a British actress born on February 19, 1974, in London to Nigerian parents.
She is of Igbo origin, but we have yet to confirm whether she can speak the Igbo language.
She has starred in films and TV series, including Baby Mother, Cyber Woman, As if, Judas Kiss, Casualty, Holby City, Freefall, Torchwood, Brothers and Sisters, and Supernaturals.
Hope Olaide Wilson
Hollywood actress Hope Olaide Wilson was born in the United States on August 16, 1985, to Yoruba parents from Nigeria. She speaks Yoruba, English, and French fluently.
Hope has starred in films such as Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Faith and Dreams, and After the Dark.
John Boyega
John is a Nigerian Hollywood actor born in London to Yoruba parents. He has featured in movies like Star Wars and Attacks the Block.
Olurotimi Akinosho
Olurotimi is one of the sexiest Nigerian Hollywood actors of the century. He was born to Yoruba Nigerian parents in New Jersey and has appeared in movies like Black Nativity, Divergent, and Imperial Dreams.
