If you are Nigerian, you have probably heard the line, “Does that person have two heads?” one too many times from your parents while growing up. Dear reader, it turns out people with two heads do exist. Like singers who have been killing it in their lane for the longest only to randomly stray into the lane of acting and kill it there too.
Being a singer who also acts isn’t exactly out of the ordinary. Stage and movie musicals have a long history of requiring performers who can sing and act. However, there are some who just do both so well that it makes you pause and beg them to leave some talent for the rest of us. Like these ten Nigerian musicians who are dominating both the music and movie industries.
1. Falz
At the age of 19, Folarin Falana, better known as Falz, released his first mixtape, Shakira. Seven years later, he co-produced Chemistry, his viral EP with Simi. From his performance in the Soldier music video, it was clear to anyone with eyes that he would do amazing as an actor.
Since then, he has gone on to star as the endearing Sege in Jenifa’s Diary, a role that earned him the Best Actor in a Comedy or Movie Series award at the 2016 AMVCAs. Two years later, he clinched the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2018 AMVCAs for his role as Quam in New Money. All this is to say that his decision to build an acting career was far from unfounded.
2. Reminisce
Rapper to villain-actor is exactly the kind of career pivot I would love to see on my résumé. After launching his music career with Edge Records in 2006, Reminisce went on to release five studio albums, with his third, Baba Hafusa debuting at no. 12 on the Billboard World Albums Chart.
He made his acting debut in Kemi Adetiba’s King of Boys as the crime lord Makanaki, and he absolutely ate that role up. It was almost as if he was made for it. Shout-out to the movie gods for the brilliance.
Watch King of Boys on Netflix.
3. Phyno
Phyno is widely known as the undisputed king of Igbo rap, using indigenous language to create a unique sound that resonates across Nigeria. With hits like Ghost Mode featuring Olamide, Fada Fada, Connect, and Deal With It, he has built a cult following in the East while maintaining broader appeal.
He made his acting debut in Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, Nigeria’s first Netflix original film. Phyno played Pete, the younger brother of Genevieve’s character, Adaeze.
4. Banky W
The afropop singer released his debut album in 2006, but Banky W was never going to stop at just music. In 2009, he founded his own record label, Empire Mates Entertainment, a move that went on to produce acts like Wizkid, Niyola, Skales, and others.
A decade after his first album, Banky W made his film debut in Kemi Adetiba’s The Wedding Party. In the film, he absorbs the role of Dozie Okeke, a husband . We see this same ability to bring characters to life in Up North and Sugar Rush, proving that acting is not just a side quest for him.
Watch Wedding Party on Netflix.
5. Chike
In 2015, Chike made the top ten in MTN Project Fame. A year later, he was 1st Runner-up on the Voice Nigeria. Since his short stints in this music reality competitions, the singer has gone ahead to make a name for himself in the music industry including releasing the widely acclaimed, Boo of the Booless. But somewhere underneath, a dream of taking on the big screen bubbled.
That dream materialised with his performance as Ify in Gangs of Lagos, Jade Osiberu’s crime thriller. Even before that, he had appeared in television roles on Africa Magic’s Battleground.
Watch Gangs of Lagos on Prime Video.
ALSO READ: 10 Nigerian Musicians Who Used To Be Famous and What They Do Now
6. Bisola Aiyeola
Bisola Aiyeola emerged from the Big Brother Naija house as the season’s first runner-up in 2017, but acting is not the only talent she has up her sleeves. Long before Big Brother Naija, she was a top contestant at the 2008 edition of MTN Project Fame.
Her acting career has been nothing short of spectacular. She shot to the limelight for her role as Bimpe Adekoya in the popular web series Skinny Girl in Transit. And since then, she’s won multiple awards including the AMVCA Trailblazer Award and has been nominated for Best Actress several times.
Watch Skinny Girls in Transit on YouTube.
7. Illbliss
Believe it or not, before playing Odogwu Malay, he had no formal acting experience. And it tracks. The character leans heavily on the same cool, steady confidence he brings to his music. With twelve solid albums in his discography, he has clearly made his mark in the music industry, but he didn’t stop there.
Like Reminisce, rapper Illbliss made his acting debut in King of Boys and immediately made an impression.
Watch King of Boys on Netflix.
8. Asake
You might know Asake as Mr Money, or as the guy who seemingly can’t spot one look for more than three minutes . What you might not know is that he actually started out as an actor in Yoruba films. One of his notable roles was as a cameraman in the Yoruba film Ijọba Ọ̀sẹ̀ Kan.
Anyone who has seen an Asake set knows he is a one of a kind of performer. His vocals are not the only thing doing the work. There is a careful artistry in how he takes the stage, and artistry definitely gotten from his acting roots. From straight-up comedic roles in Yoruba films to showing up in Broda Shaggi skits, the “Dem Never See Me Coming” crooner has truly seen and done it all. The world is truly run by theatre kids.
Watch Ijoba Ose Kan on YouTube.
9. Yemi Alade
If you watched the Johnny music video, this should not surprise you. Her performance was so convincing I had imaginary beef with Johnny too. The smash hit went on to become a continent-wide phenomenon, racking up over 100 million views on YouTube.
So when Alade played Mogambe, the fierce head of a drug trafficking gang In Funke Akindele’s record-breaking Omo Ghetto: The Saga, it was no surprise she pulled it off gracefully. The role required Yemi to tap into a completely different persona from her glamorous music image, and she delivered exceptionally.
Watch Omo Ghetto: The Saga on Netflix.
10. Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage has never been one to limit herself, and her foray into acting is no exception. You honestly cannot expect anything less from the queen of Afropop. I mean dominating the ever changing afrobeats scene for over a decade is no mean feat.
The Afrobeats superstar made her acting debut in 2023 by co-producing and starring in Water and Garri, a feature length film that was inspired by her earlier EP in 2021.
Watch Water and Garri on Prime Video.
