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Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

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Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
MFR
Omotola at the World Economic Forum in 2015
Born
Omotola Jalade

(1978-02-07) 7 February 1978 (age 46)
Lagos State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Other names"Omo Sexy"
Omotola Jolade Ekeinde
Omotola Jalade
Omotola Ekeinde
CitizenshipNigerian
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • former model
Years active1995–present
SpouseCaptain Matthew Ekeinde
Children4

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Listenⓘ, MFR (/ˌoʊməˈtoʊlə/ OH-mə-TOH-lə; born Omotola Jalade, 7 February 1978) is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist and former model.[1][2] Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Ekeinde has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of copies.[1] Omotola is the second Nigerian and first Nigerian celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page.[3][4] She currently has a total of 3 million followers on Facebook.[5]

In 2013, she was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[6]

In 2013, Ekeinde made a brief appearance on VH1's scripted series, Hit the Floor.[7] On 2 November 2013, she spoke at the 2013 edition of the WISE- Summit, held in Doha, Qatar.[8]

In 2014, she was honoured by the Nigerian government, when she became a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for her contributions to Nigerian cinema.[9]

Early life and education

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Omotola Jalade, who is of Ondo descent, was born in Lagos State. She grew up with her parents and two younger brothers, Tayo and Bolaji Jalade. Her mother, Oluwatoyin Jalade née Amori Oguntade, Husband Captain Matthew Ekeinde, worked at J.T Chanrai Nigeria, and her father, Oluwashola Jalade, worked at the YMCA and the Lagos Country Club.[10] She attended Chrisland School, Opebi (1981–1987), Oxford Children School (1987), Santos Layout, and Command Secondary School, Kaduna (1988–1993).[11] She had a brief stint at Obafemi Awolowo University and completed her studies at Yaba College of Technology (1996–2004), where she studied Estate Management.[10] She originally wanted a career in business management. However, while awaiting her results from university, she began modelling to earn a living.[10]

Career

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Acting career

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Ekeinde was introduced to acting while accompanying a friend to an audition. Her first acting role was in the 1995 film Venom of Justice,[12] directed by Reginald Ebere.[13] She was given the lead role in the film. Her first major role was in the film Mortal Inheritance (1995), where she played a sickle-cell patient who fought for her life against small odds of survival.[14] Since then, she has starred in several films, including Games Women Play,[15] Blood Sisters,[16] All My Life, Last Wedding, My Story, The Woman in Me and others.

For her role in Mortal Inheritance, she won "Best Actress in an English Speaking Movie" and "Best Actress Overall" at the 1997 Movie Awards. She was the youngest actress in Nigeria at that time to win this.[17]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, she starred in several sequel films, including Lost Kingdom II, Kosorogun II, and Blood Sister II, leading to a grand achiever award from the Global Excellence Recognition Awards in 2004. She was awarded best Actress in a supporting role during the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005.[18]

After shooting roughly three hundred video movies, Ekeinde received her first cinematic movie role in the 2010 film "Ije".[19] This film was shot at locations in Jos and the United States."Ije" was the highest grossing Nollywood film at the time – A feat later broken by Phone Swap (2012). In 2012, she starred in the Nollywood thriller, Last Flight to Abuja which became the second-highest-grossing movie in West African cinemas in 2012.[20][21] She has gone on to win over forty domestic and international awards.[22][23][24]

In 2015, Ekeinde celebrated her 20th anniversary in the entertainment industry, having appeared in about two hundred films.[25] In June 2018, Ekeinde and fellow Nigerian Femi Odugbemi received invitations to be voting members at the Academy Awards.[26]

Music career

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Ekeinde launched a music career in 2005 with the release of her debut album titled "gba". The album produced the singles "Naija Lowa" and "The Things You Do To Me."[27][28] Her unreleased second album – Me, Myself, and Eyes, brought in production from Paul Play and Del B. It was supported by the songs "Feel Alright", featuring Harrysong, and "Through the Fire", featuring Uche.[29]

In late 2012, Ekeinde began working on her third album and enlisted the help of The Bridge Entertainment. She went to Atlanta, Georgia in the United States to work with producers and songwriters who could help create a sound that would resonate with American audiences. She had studio sessions with Kendrick Dean, Drumma Boy and Verse Simmonds[30] and recorded a song with singer Bobby V.[31][32]

Reality show

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In 2012, Ekeinde also launched a reality television show, Omotola: The Real Me, on Africa Magic Entertainment, a M-Net subsidiary broadcast on DStv. She was the first Nigerian celebrity to star in her own reality show.[33]

Philanthropy

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Ekeinde became a United Nations World Food Programme Ambassador in 2005, going to missions in Sierra- Leone and Liberia. She also supports organisations such as Charles Odii's SME100 Africa to empower youth and young women in society. She has been active in the Walk the World project and participated in the Walk the World campaign in Liberia with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.[34]

Her human rights campaign work is centered on her NGO project, called the Omotola Youth Empowerment Program (OYEP). This undertaking brought hundreds of youths together for the Empowerment Walk and Convention.[35] She lent her voice in 2010 to the "Rewrite The Future" campaign of Save The Children UK.[11]

She became an Amnesty International campaigner in 2011 and has participated in campaigns in Sierra-Leone (Maternal Mortality) and a 2012 campaign for the Niger Delta in Nigeria, where she shot a video asking Shell plc and the government to "own up, clean up, pay up| and take responsibility for the oil spills in the Niger Delta.[36][37]

In June 2020, she visited an orphanage home in Tanzania run by Tanzania Mitindo House which focuses on HIV infected children, with Tanzanian actress Wema Sepetu.[38]

To promote the 2021 World No Tobacco Day and the #SmokeFreeNollywood campaign, Ekeinde and actors (Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Daniel Effiong, Meg Otanwa, Michelle Dede, Osas Ighodaro pledged to stop smoking in their movie scenes, as it had a negative influence on young kids who looked up to them.[39] The campaign was backed by US non-profit organization Tobacco-Free Kids and a sub-Saharan public strategy firm - Gatefield.[40][41]

Awards and recognition

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Ekeinde has a regular column in OK! Nigeria Magazine titled "Omotola's Diary", which features writings about her life and experiences.[42] On 5 November 2013, she received the Ebony Vanguard Award at the Music Video and Screen Awards (MVISA) held in Birmingham, England.[43] On 9 November 2013, Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Royal king of Ondo Kingdom conferred on Omotola a chieftaincy title in her hometown of Ondo State.[44]

In 2012, CNN Travel included Ekeinde's accent on their list of the "world's twelve sexiest accents|.[45] The Nigerian accent ranked fifth on the list. In 2013, she was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[6]

Ekeinde was included in the list of Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2013.[46]

In 2015, she was listed among the highest-grossing movie actors. Others on the list included Shah Rukh Khan, Frank Welker, Bob Bergen, Jack Angel, Mickie McGowan, Michael Papajohn, Martin Klebba, Clint Howard and Chris Ellis. This listing was compiled and researched by Yahoo!.[47]

Personal life

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Jalade married Captain Matthew Ekeinde in 1996. Together, they have four children.[48]

Selected filmography

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Actor
Title Year Role Notes
Iva 1993 with Francis Duru, Olu Jacobs
Venom of Justice 1995
Mortal Inheritance 1996 Kemi Johnson with Fred Amata, Kunle Bamtefa, Abiola Atanda
Scores to Settle 1998 with Pete Edochie, Kanayo O. Kanayo
Lost Kingdom 1999 with Pete Edochie, Enebeli Elebuwa
Kosorogun 2002 with Faithia Balogun, Shan George
When Love Dies 2003 Mary
Under Fire with Chiege Alisigwe, Charles Awurum
The Outsider
Rescue
Blood Sisters Gloria with Genevieve Nnaji
Royal Family 2004
Die Another Day Queen
A Kiss from Rose with Desmond Elliot, Fred Amata
Games Women Play 2005 Yvonne
Brave Heart with Zack Orji, Emma Ayalogu
Taste of Sin 2006 Debbie With Funke Adewusi, Uduak Akrah
The Revelation 2007
Sand in My Shoes with Tchidi Chikere, Mike Ezuruonye
Careless Soul With Emeka Ike, Ralph Onu
Yankee Girls 2008 Immaculate With Suen Akindele, Musa Abudu
Temple of Justice with Nonso Diobi, Queen Nwokoye
My Last Ambition 2009 Amanda With Nonso Diobi, Nadia Buari
Ije: The Journey 2010 Anya Opara Michino With Genevieve Nnaji, Odalys Garcia, Ulrich Que
A Private Storm 2010 Gina With Ramsey Nouah, Ufuoma Ejenobor, John Dumelo
Ties That Bind 2011 Adobea Onyomena With Ama K. Abebrese, Kimberly Elise
Last Flight to Abuja 2012 Suzie With Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Jim Iyke, Jide Kosoko
Amina Amina With Charlie Buck, Alison Carroll, Jonathan Cohen
Hit The Floor 2013 Omotola
Blood on the Lagoon 2014[49] Scarlett Belo With Stephen Abeng, Akuma Agu, Niran Aladetan
My Only Inheritance
Alter Ego 2017 Ada Igwe With Wale Ojo and Kunle Remi
The Island Mrs Tokunbo Bowe Cole TV series
The Tribunal
Up Creek a Paddle TBA Desiye Post production
RattleSnake: The Ahanna Story 2020 Maimuna Atafo With Stan Nze, Osas Ighodaro
Shadow Parties 2021[50] as Princess Fadekemi With Toyin Abraham, Ayanfe Adekunle
Lockdown 2021 Dr Njoku With Omini Aho, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • GBA (2005)
  • Me, Myself, and Eyes (unreleased)

Singles

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Year Title Album
2014 "Barren Land"[51] Me, Myself, and Eyes
2015 "Strong Girl (Remix)"[52] As featured artiste —

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref
1997 The Movie Awards (THEMA) Best Actress English Mortal Inheritance Won
Best Actress Overall Won
2004 City People awards for Excellence Best Actress Herself Won
Global Excellence Recognition Awards Best Actress & Grand Achiever Won
Civil Enlightenment Organization of Nigeria (CEON) Best Individual & Symbol of Creativity Won
NUSEC Awards Best Actress Won
2005 1st Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Best Actress in a Supporting Role Won
2006 Youths Benefactor's Award Most friendly Actress Won
2009 2009 Best of Nollywood Awards Best Actress Leading Role (Yoruba) Nominated
2009 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Actress Nominated
2010 2010 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Actress Film/Short Story Deepest of Dreams Nominated
2010 Ghana Movie Awards Best Actress-Africa Collaboration A Private Storm Nominated
2011 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Ties That Bind Nominated
2011 Ghana Movie Awards Best Actress-Africa Collaboration Won
2011 Best of Nollywood Awards Best Actress Leading Role (English) A Private Storm Nominated
2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Actress Film/Short Story Ijé Nominated
2012 Eloy Awards Actress of the Year Ties That Bind Won
Screen Nation Awards Pan African Best Actress Herself Won
Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts Awards (BEFFTA) Film Actress Icon Won
2012 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards GIAMA Humanitarian Award Omotola Youth Empowerment Foundation Won
Viewers Choice -Female Herself Nominated
2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Actress in A Film Ties That Bind Nominated
2012 Nollywood Movies Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role A Private Storm Nominated
2013 2013 Nollywood Movies Awards Popular Online Choice Herself Won
Music Video and Screen Awards (MVISA) Ebony Vanguard Award Won [53]
2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Lead Actress in a Film Last Flight to Abuja Nominated
2014 MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 Personality of the Year Herself Nominated [54]
2016 City People Social Media Awards Female Entertainment Personality Herself Won [55]
2017 Nollywood Travel Film Festival Best Actress Alter Ego Won [56]
Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival Won
Best of Nollywood Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Herself Won [57]
Best Kiss in a Movie Herself and Kunle Remmy Nominated
Best Actress Leading Role (English) Alter Ego
City People Movie Awards Nominated
2018 Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards (AMVCA) Best Actress in a Movie/TV Series Won [58]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: 10 things to know about 'Omosexy'". CNN Entertainment. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. ^ Okafor, Kelvin (3 February 2021). "Omotola Jalade Ekeinde biography: Age, husband, children, movies". legit.ng. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Nigeria: Omotola Hits 1 Million Facebook Likes". Leadership. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013 – via All Africa.
  4. ^ Alonge, Osagie (10 February 2013). "Omotola surpasses 1m 'likes' on Facebook". Nigeria Entertainment Today.
  5. ^ Odumade, Omotolani. "Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: Actress celebrates 3m followers on Facebook". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  6. ^ a b Corliss, Richard (18 April 2013). "The 2013 Time 100: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde". Time magazine. London. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  7. ^ A. Obenson, Tambay (24 June 2013). "Nigerian Actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Will Make USA TV Debut On 'Hit The Floor' Tonight". IMDb. IndieWire. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  8. ^ Omolewa, Mufutau (3 November 2013). "Gorgeous Omotola speaks at the WISE Summit in Doha,Qatar(PHOTOS)". ModernGhana. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  9. ^ Mojeed, Musikilu (18 September 2014). "Jonathan's steward, taxi driver, traffic warden, 304 other Nigerians get National Honours". Premium Times. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  10. ^ a b c "Omotola Jalade Ekeinde". Heels of Influence. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  11. ^ a b The360reporters (20 April 2020). "Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Net Worth 2020_Biography, Age, Marriage, Movies And Endorsements Deals". Latest News and Entertainment Updates. Retrieved 28 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Omosexy celebrates 25 years in entertainment with sexy look - P.M. News".
  13. ^ "Reginald Ebere (Writer, Director) | Movies | INSIDENOLLY". www.insidenolly.ng.
  14. ^ "Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: 10 things to know about 'Omosexy'". January 2014.
  15. ^ izuzu, chibumga (19 June 2014). "Throwback to the Movie "Games Women Play"". Pulse Nigeria.
  16. ^ Blood sister. 31 March 2003. OCLC 558658799 – via Open WorldCat.
  17. ^ "Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Biography: Career, Husband, Children, Movies". nigerianfinder.com. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  18. ^ Folaranmi, Femi (13 May 2005). "Rhythm of a new world of movies As Nollywood stars storm Yenagoa for AMAA". The Daily Sun. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  19. ^ "IJE". Vow Foundation. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  20. ^ "Last Flight to Abuja grosses N8m in the box office". Vanguard Newspaper. Vanguard. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  21. ^ "Omotola Clinches Actress of the Year Award". The Daily Sun. 26 November 2012.
  22. ^ James, Osaremen Ehi (11 November 2012). "Omotola Emerges Biggest Box-Office Actress of the Year ...As Last Flight To Abuja Becomes 2012 Best Box-Office Hit". Nigeria films. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  23. ^ "The 2013 Time 100: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde". Shout-Africa. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  24. ^ Media, Bigsam (8 August 2012). "Last Flight to Abuja is the number 2 film in West African Cinemas". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  25. ^ ""Omosexy is a Nollywood cornerstone" – Yahoo". Pulse Nigeria. Chidumga Izuzu. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  26. ^ "Meet voting members of Oscars 2018: Odugbemi, Omotola". Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  27. ^ Honey Boy, 1 January 2006, retrieved 3 January 2018
  28. ^ "Omotola Jalade Ekeinde's Biography and Age Accomplishments". BuzzNigeria.com. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  29. ^ Media, Bigsam. "HOW CELEBRITIES AND DIGNITARIES MINGLED AT OMOTOLA'S ALBUM LAUNCH". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  30. ^ "Omotola Jalade features top foreign acts in new album as she returns to music". Nigerian Monitor. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  31. ^ Eta, Philip (28 January 2013). "PHOTOSPEAK: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde records with Bobby V in Atlanta". Daily Post. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  32. ^ James, Osaremen Ehi (28 January 2013). "UPDATED: Omotola Storms Atlanta Studio With Bobby V [Picture]". Nigeria Films.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  33. ^ "Omotola:The Real Me". Africa Magic Dstv. MultiChoice Ltd. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  34. ^ Hunger, fight (7 March 2007). "Gearing up for Walk the World in Liberia". TNT Corporate Responsibility. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  35. ^ Aiki, Damilare (24 January 2012). "BN Exclusive: In Loving Memory of her Mother, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde's Foundation OYEP gives 20 Widows AMAZING Makeovers – Must See Photos!". Bella Naija. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  36. ^ Macnamara, Lucy (17 April 2012). "'Nollywood' Star Omotola Jalade Ekeinde calls on Shell to clean up the Niger Delta". Amnesty International. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  37. ^ Akintayo, Opeoluwani (7 January 2012). "'Nollywood' Star Omotola Jalade Ekeinde calls on Shell to clean up the Niger Delta". All Africa. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  38. ^ "Omotola storms Tanzania for charity". Vanguard News. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  39. ^ "World No Tobacco Day 2021: Nollywood celebrities pledge to stop smoking scenes". Vanguard News. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  40. ^ "Omotola, Dakore, Nollywood artistes pledge to stop smoking scenes in movies". Daily Trust. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Omotola, Dakore, others pledge to stop smoking scenes in movies". Tribune Online. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  42. ^ Aiki, Damilare (26 August 2012). "Nollywood's Omotola; Cocktails with Omotola Jalade Ekeinde". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  43. ^ Alonge, Osagie (7 November 2013). "Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde honoured at Music Video and Screen Awards". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  44. ^ "Omotola Jalade, David Mark, Others Receive Chieftaincy Title in Ondo Kingdom". Naij News. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  45. ^ Burchette, Jordan (30 November 2010). "World's 12 sexiest accents". CNN. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Influential People In Africa: See the Nigerian list". News Ghana. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  47. ^ "The Highest-Grossing Movie Stars You've Probably Never Heard Of". Yahoo Movies UK. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  48. ^ "How Omotola, hubby kept the nuptial fire burning for 25 years". Vanguard News. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  49. ^ ""Blood in the Lagoon" Watch Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Okey Uzoeshi in trailer". Pulse.ng. Chidumg Izuzu. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  50. ^ "Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde | Actress, Writer, Producer". IMDb. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  51. ^ "Omotola releases single from upcoming album". Vanguard. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  52. ^ "D'banj Bono, Waje, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde star in conscious 'Strong girl' remix". Pulse.com.gh. David Mawuli. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  53. ^ "Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde honoured at Music Video and Screen Awards". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 7 November 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  54. ^ "Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  55. ^ "Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Wins Award as 'Female Entertainment Personality'". 14 March 2016.
  56. ^ "Omotola Jalade, wins best actress award at Nollywood Travel Film Festival". The Guardian (Nigeria). 18 September 2017.
  57. ^ "BON Awards 2017: Kannywood's Ali Nuhu receives Special Recognition Award". Daily Trust. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  58. ^ "25YearsOfOmosexy: Celebrating Achievements Of Omot... - All News Nigeria". allnews.ng. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
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