Wale Ojo

**Wale Ojo: Biography** Wale Ojo is a Nigerian-British actor, producer, and director. He is recognized as a prominent figure in Nollywood and the British film and television industry, known for his versatility and significant contributions to African cinema, including founding the New Nigeria Cinema movement. **Early Life and Education** Wale Ojo was born on September 9, 1964, in London, England. He began his acting career as a child star, working primarily on drama series and television soaps with Africa's first television station, WNTV Ibadan, in Nigeria. At age 12, he moved with his family to England, where he subsequently attended the University of Hull. He graduated in 1986 with a diploma in Drama. Ojo credits his mother, an actress, and Nigerian cultural icons like Chief Wale Ogunyemi, Tunji Oyelana, playwright Wole Soyinka, and Zulu Sofola as key influences on his career. **Career Progression and Notable Works** Ojo’s professional acting career in the United Kingdom began in 1986 when he played a young Othello in the east end of London. He gained international attention in 1995 for his role in the short film *The Hard Case*. His first feature film debut was *Rage* in 1999, where he played a schizophrenic gangster. His career spans both British and Nigerian productions, including roles in the television serial *Heartburn Hotel* (1998–2000), *The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency* (2009), and the British-Nigerian sitcom *Meet the Adebanjos* (2012–2016), where he played the lead. Ojo’s breakthrough into Nollywood came with the film *Phone Swap* (2012), which earned him enormous popularity in Nigeria. He has since appeared in numerous Nigerian films and series, including *Half of a Yellow Sun* (2013), *Tinsel* (2014), *Fifty* (2015), *Alter Ego* (2017), *Blood Sisters* (2022), and *Breath of Life* (2023). **Major Achievements and Advocacy** Wale Ojo has been recognized with several awards for his performances. He won the Best Actor award at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for his role in *Phone Swap*. He also received multiple nominations from the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) for his work in *Meet the Adebanjos* (Best Actor in a Comedy, 2015), *Betrayal* (Best Supporting Actor, 2018), and *Alter Ego* (Best Actor in a Drama, 2018). In 2024, he won the AMVCA award for Best Lead Actor for his performance in *Breath of Life*. Beyond acting, Ojo is an advocate for quality Nigerian cinema. He founded the **New Nigeria Cinema** movement, aimed at improving the quality and global perception of Nigerian films. The initiative hosted a film viewing and lectures at the British Film Institute in London in 2010. **Current Status** Wale Ojo continues to be active as an actor, producer, and director in the film industry, balancing his work between international and Nigerian productions. His recent award-winning performance in the 2023 film *Breath of Life* further cemented his status as one of Nigeria's most influential actors.