To give a great performance is to vanish into someone else’s skin so completely that the audience forgets they are watching a performance at all. When an actor steps into a true-life story, the stakes are even higher. Unlike fiction, where the task is to persuade the audience into believing an invented world, a biopic requires re-creating lives that some viewers actually recognise.
When curating a list of the finest portrayals of real life Nigerians in Nollywood biopics, a few names might leap forward immediately, like Kehinde Bankole as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Femi Branch as Basorun Gaa. But with Nollywood making more movies based on true stories in recents, there are now even more names worthy of celebrating.
Here are some of the most powerful lead performances Nollywood actors have delivered in biographical films.
1. Bimbo Akintola as Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh in 93 Days (2016)
Running time: 2h 5m
Director: Steve Gukas
Genre: Drama
93 Days is a gripping retelling of Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola outbreak. The film follows the heroic actions of Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, played by Bimbo Akintola, and her colleagues, who contained the virus before it could spread throughout Lagos.
The true brilliance of Bimbo Akintola’s performance is how she oscillates between defiance and emotional vulnerability, sometimes all in a single scene. She truly embodies the courage and empathy of Dr. Adadevoh, who puts her life at stake to save the lives of millions..
2. Kehinde Bankole as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024)
Running time: 1h 31m
Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
Genre: Drama
This biopic follows the life of Nigeria’s foremost women’s rights activist, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (Fela Kuti’s mother). Kehinde Bankole stuns as the young FRK, tracing her rise from teacher to fearless leader of the 1947 Abeokuta Women’s Protest. The film chronicles how Ransome-Kuti fought colonial oppression and gender inequality in mid-20th-century Nigeria.
Within this framework, Bankole puts in a truly perfect performance which shines as the character evolves into the formidable Lioness of Lisabi, capturing FRK’s fiery spirit and empathetic nature. She brings warmth and confidence to the role, embodying both a devoted mother and a radical activist.
Watch Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti on Prime Video.
3. Lateef Adedimeji as Ayinla Omowura in Ayinla (2021)
Running time: 1h 59m
Director: Tunde Kelani
Genre: Drama
Played to perfection in this musical drama, Lateef Adedimeji embodies the spirit of Ayinla Omowura, the famed 1970s Apala singer from Ibadan. The film follows Ayinla’s rise to stardom and tumultuous personal life, culminating in his tragic death.
Adedimeji quite literally carries the film, from Ayinla’s signature cap to his swaggering stage presence. Able to convey enormous emotions with the slightest facial expression, his performance captures Ayinla’s charm and aptly channels the charisma that people loved about the singer.
4. Enyinna Nwigwe as Ibrahim Babangida in Badamasi: Portait of a General (2021)
Running time: 2h 15m
Director: Obi Emelonye
Genre: Drama
Badamasi transports viewers into the life of former Nigeria’s head of state, Ibrahim Babangida. The film traces Babangida’s from his ordinary and humble village origins as an orphan to becoming one of Nigeria’s most feared military leaders. Through carefully curated scenes, viewers are guided through pivotal moments in Nigeria’s history, from the civil war to the successful military coups and l the infamous June 12 annulment.
Given the unenviable task of re-enacting the story of one of Nigeria’s most feared military leaders, Nwigwe did not just put his spin on it, he made the character inextricable from himself, convincingly adopting Babangida’s posture and voice.
Watch Badamasi: Portraits of a General on Prime Video.
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5. Richard Mofe Damijo as Gunpowder in Oloibiri (2015)
Running time: 1h 50m
Director: Curtis Graham
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
In Oloibiri, RMD plays “Gunpowder”, a militant leader clearly based on Niger Delta activist Isaac Adaka Boro. The movie is set in the 1970s after Nigeria discovers oil in the village of Oloibiri. When local people see no benefit from the oil boom, Gunpowder leads a rebellion against the corrupt government and oil corporations.
As Gunpowder, RMD nails the tones and mannerisms of a Niger Delta militant who cares deeply about his people. He makes Gunpowder’s radicalization from hopeful soldier to disillusioned rebel feel both urgent and tragic.
6. Femi Branch as Bashorun Gaa in House of Ga’a (2024)
Running time: 1h 59m
Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
Genre: Drama, Biography, History
House of Ga’a is an epic about 18th-century Oyo politics. Femi Branch plays Bashorun Gaa, the powerful kingmaker who becomes more dominant than the Alaafin (king) himself. The film follows Ga’a’s ruthless rise and eventual downfall through his son’s eyes.
House of Ga’a is basically the Femi Branch show with the way he completely owns the character. His physical transformation and demeanour vividly bring this historical figure to life on screen.
Watch House of Ga’a on Netflix.
7. Clarion Chukwurah as Elder Irene Yepayeye in Apaye (2014)
Running time: 2h 21m
Director: Desmond Elliot
Genre: Drama
Apaye tells the story of Elder Irene Yepayeye Uriah-Dieah (aunt to former president, Goodluck Jonathan), a woman from Bayelsa State who endures poverty, abandonment, and social stigma after leaving an abusive marriage to raise six children on her own. The film follows her struggles as a single mother, highlighting the sacrifices she makes to provide education and stability for her children.
Clarion Chukwura drew heavily from her experiences and regrets, imbuing lrene with a potent authenticity, making her depiction of the character’s resilience painfully real and arresting. Both physically and emotionally, Chukwura’s commitment to the role is astounding, resulting in a piercing and powerful display of maternal strength.
8. Charles Okafor as Archbishop Benson Idahosa in Idahosa Trails (2017)
Running time: 1h 50m
Director: Stanlee Ohikhuare
Genre: Drama
This drama follows a skeptical American journalist who seeks out Nigerian Pentecostal leader Archbishop Benson Idahosa on a quest to revive his writing career. Charles Okafor plays Idahosa, the charming preacher whose faith reportedly healed the sick. The film’s focus is on the journalist’s transformation as he witnesses Idahosa’s ministry.
Played by Charles Okafor, Idahosa’s character exudes the warmth and the camaraderie that his followers admire. His portrayal captures Idahosa’s gentle authority and humour, often shown smiling or laughing as he welcomes people to church. By conveying a loving, humble conviction, Okafor makes the evangelist’s larger-than-life personality feel real.
Watch Idahosa Trails on Prime Video.
9. William Benson as Herbert Macaulay in The Herbert Macaulay Affair (2019)
Running time: 1h 30m
Director: Imoh Umoren
Genre: Drama
William Benson takes on Herbert Macaulay, the early 20th-century Nigerian nationalist known as the “father of Nigerian nationalism.” The film follows Macaulay’s decades-long fight against colonial rule in Lagos and Benson imbues Macaulay with energy and eloquence, fully embodying the fiery, moustached rebel.
In scenes of protest or debate with colonial officials, Benson commands attention, bringing to life Macaulay’s wit and passion. His performance shifts between defiant leader and tender family man, and this portrayal has earned him praise for bringing historical gravitas to a figure many Nigerians only recognise from history books.
Watch The Herbert Macaulay Affair on Apple TV.
10. Chuks Joseph as Tizzy in Dark October (2023)
Running time: 1h 50m
Director: Toka Mcbaror
Genre: Drama, Melodrama
Dark October is a thriller drama based on the real-life lynching of four university students in Port Harcourt (the “Aluu Four”). Chuks Joseph plays Tizzy, one of the students wrongly accused of theft. The film focuses on the harrowing events leading up to the tragedy and its aftermath.
Joseph’s portrayal is especially poignant: he brings a tenderness alongside youthful optimism that makes the violence that befalls his character even more devastating. By convincingly depicting the student’s fear, Joseph helps turn this tragedy into a personal story and ultimately humanizes the victims.
Watch Dark October on Netflix.
