Nigerians have never met a room they couldn’t enter, and that includes the Love Island villa. Over the years, Islanders with Nigerian roots have given us some of the franchise’s funniest, messiest and most memorable moments. Here’s every Nigerian who’s appeared on Love Island and how their villa journey played out.
Opeyemi “OP-I” Sowande (UK Season 13)
Ope was easily one of the funniest people in the villa, but he was also one of the most hot-headed, and viewers quickly turned on him. He had everyone scratching their heads after declaring his type was blonde white women, only to spend most of his time chasing Angelista (a black woman), who rejected him. Then, after days of flirting with Victoria, he acted like she’d ruined his life by choosing him. He was voted out a few days later, but it still felt like there was more of Ope we never got to see.
Victoria Onanusi (UKSeason 13)
Victoria barely had time to unpack her suitcase before she was sent home, so we never really got to know her. After missing out on Sam, she tried her chances with OP, but quickly realised the chemistry wasn’t there. Before either of them could figure things out, the other Islanders voted them the weakest couple and sent them packing. Poor girl.
Chidi Ogandu (UK Season 13)
At times, it genuinely felt like Chidi forgot he was on Love Island. While everyone else was grafting, he was happy to just chill. Even when his partner locked lips with someone else, he stayed unbothered. He came across as one of the villa’s sweetest guys, although he also casually admitted he’d kept someone in a situationship for almost three years. Maybe producers dumped him before we got to meet the other Chidi.
Bilikis (BillyKiss) Azeez (UK Season 13)
Billykiss had the kind of sharp mouth you’d expect from a Yoruba babe. She was confident and never one to let anyone bully her. After her first couple fizzled out, she found a promising connection with Boris, but their slow-burn romance simply ran out of time. Just as things were starting to blossom, the Islanders voted her the least favourite girl and sent her home.
Ayo Odukoya (UK Season 11)
Ayo started the season as one half of everyone’s favourite couple with Mimii before creating one of the villa’s biggest love triangles with Jess. Even after choosing Jess, he still wanted to have his cake and eat it. That moment where he saw Mimii with Josh, mouth hanging open and all, is exactly why the playboy allegations will never leave him. He and Jess made it to the finale, but their relationship lasted less than two months outside the villa.
Josh Oyinsan (UK Season 11)
Viewers loved Josh because he knew exactly what he wanted and wasted no time going after it. When Ayo fumbled Mimii, Josh stepped in and never looked back. It was the little things, like writing her a poem after learning she’d never received one, that made everyone root for them. They became the first Black couple to win the show, but broke up a few months later. Did we fall for the greatest PR couple in Love Island history? We’ll probably never know.
Uma Jammmeh (UK Season 11)
Uma was one of Season 11’s biggest sweethearts, so viewers were heartbroken when Wil cheated on her in Casa Amor. Just when it looked like producers had sent in the perfect rebound in bombshell Reuben, Uma shocked everyone by choosing to leave the villa with Wil after he was voted out. Fans couldn’t believe she’d choose the man who’d just broken her heart. They’re still together, so maybe she knew something the rest of us didn’t.
Catherine Agbaje (UK Season 10)
Catherine went from being everyone’s favourite girl to public enemy number one almost overnight. Fearing Scott would have recoupled, she brought back Elom from Casa Amor, only for Scott to return single. Instead of piping low, she doubled down on her decision and rubbed her new relationship in Scott’s face. She and Elom were dumped not long after.
Ella Thomas (Funke baby) (UK Season 10)
Funke baby’s facial expressions deserved their own camera. Pair that with her dramatic relationship with Tyrique and you had one of Season 10’s most entertaining couples. They stressed viewers every other episode, but everyone still rooted for them. They finished third, and stayed together for a while, but their relationship only got messier before ending about a year later.
Whitney Adebayo (UK Season 10)
Whitney had the villa and the internet wrapped around her finger. Her relationship with Mehdi never convinced viewers, who felt he didn’t fully appreciate her enough. Then came Lochan, who felt like her perfect match. Apart from her clash with her fellow Nigerian sister Ella, her villa journey went surprisingly smoothly, and they finished second. Unfortunately, their love story didn’t survive outside the villa and ended in a very public,messy breakup.
Toby Aromolaran
Toby first won viewers over in Season 7 with his chaotic but lovable romance with Chloe, and the pair finished as runners-up. He returned for Love Island Games, where he found another romance with Georgia, which carried into Love Island: All Stars. They eventually split, but Toby clearly wasn’t done with the villa because he popped up AGAIN on the second season of Love Island Games. Four seasons later, our brother is still searching for love. He might need to start looking for another island.
Martin Akinola (UK Season 9)
Martin was the typical nonchalant guy. While Tanya poured her heart out to him, he was busy eating an ice lolly. So it wasn’t exactly shocking when Tanya ended things in one of the season’s most brutal recouplings by publicly declaring her love for Shaq. Viewers initially felt sorry for Martin, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in the villa. All sympathy disappeared when he slut-shamed Tanya after he was dropped from the show.
Dami Hope (UK Season 8)
Dami might just be one of the most entertaining Islanders the franchise has ever cast. His fun personality and undeniable chemistry with Indiyah kept viewers hooked all season. Exploring with someone else in Casa Amor almost cost him everything, but he talked his way back into Indiyah’s good books. They finished third and stayed together for over two years before the post-villa curse eventually caught up with them. They split up after a video of Indiyah kissing another man went viral.
Ikenna Ekwonna (UK Season 8)
Before there was Dami and Indiyah, there was Ikenna and Indiyah. The only problem was that they gave besties more than lovers. He tried to move on to other girls once they agreed they were better off as friends, but he was voted out before he could form another connection.
Ovie Soko (UK Season 5)
Ovie was so loved that viewers wanted him to win the £50,000 even if he stayed single. It wasn’t just because he was ridiculously good-looking. He was funny and became the villa’s unofficial agony aunt, always dishing out solid advice whenever everyone else’s relationships were falling apart. His connection with India eventually took them to third place, although most people would tell you they were really voting for Ovie.
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