Nigerian Celebrities in diaspora: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Many are still of the opinion that Nigerians are no good people. But I’m sure such opinions would change if we take our time to review what success our Nigerian countrymen make both in Nigeria and outside the country. The entertainment industries of different countries have Nigerians making waves and making strong impacts. One of such celebrities who rock one of the movie industries outside Nigeria is Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

Adewale was born in Islington, London on 22 August 1967 to Yoruba parents. He has a law degree from Kings College London and a Masters in law from the University of London.  He speaks fluently Yoruba, Italian and Swahili and partly French.

Adewale’s childhood experience wasn’t the kind any one would wish an enemy. Perhaps that gives the reason the actor, scriptwriter and director is warming up to do a movie entitled ‘Farming’ that will tell his own story. He regards himself as ‘black Oliver twist’ and that he really is considering that his Nigerian parents who at the time of his birth were students in London handed him over to white working class couple in Tilbury when he was barely six weeks old.

While at the university, Adewale worked in a clothes shop where, in turn, he was introduced to modelling. That took him around the world and eventually to Hollywood, and the cast of the film ‘Congo’.  According to Adewale, the moment he started acting he knew it was his vocation as he realized that the sum total of his life added up to it. And when they said action, he had plenty.

Adewale who was recently announced the highest-paid actor by People With Money magazine, pulling in an astonishing $46 million between May 2014 and May 2015, a nearly $20 million lead over his closest competition has starred in several films and television series including; HBO series Oz, ABC series Lost, Game of thrones season five, Get rich or die trying, American Odyssey, Annie, Pompeli, The Bourne identity and others. Presently he is filming ‘Suicide squad’.

He had also featured in various music videos including;  You Don't Love Me (No, No, No) Dawn Penn "Love No Limit" – Mary J. Blige, "I Want It All Night Long" – Heather Hunter , "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" – En Vogue, "Jealousy" – Pet Shop Boys, "Talk It Over" – Grayson Hugh.