Four Popular Nigeria Actors You Didn’t Know Are From Gabon

Nollywood is home to some of the most talented actors and actresses in the world. Because Nollywood is the Nigerian film and television industry, it is natural to assume that everyone involved is 100 percent Nigerian. That, however, is not the case.

Today, we’ll count down four Nollywood stars you might not know are also Gabonese. Are you eager to discover who they are? Then let’s get started!

1. Hadiza Aliyu

Hadiza Aliyu, also known as Hadiza Gabon, is a professional Nigerian actress and filmmaker who primarily appears in Hausa and English films. Hadiza has served as an ambassador for MTN Nigeria and Indomie Noodles throughout her career, and she has also won awards for best actress at the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards and best actress at the 2nd Kannywood/MTN Awards in 2014. She was recently seen in the blockbuster film Lagos Real Fake Life.

Hadiza Aliyu, like Jim Iyke, was born in Libreville, Republic of Gabon, and is therefore a Gabonese woman by birth.

2. Jim Iyke

Jim Iyke, a Nollywood superstar, is by far one of Nigeria’s most popular actors. He was and continues to be known as Nollywood’s bad boy. Jim rose to the top of the Nigerian entertainment industry thanks to his oyinbo accent and ability to play crazy, radical, bad boys. He has since gone on to star in blockbuster films such as Last Flight to Abuja, Merry Men, Beyonce and Rihanna, Stalker, and most recently, Bad Comments.

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Because of Jim Iyke’s success in Nigeria, some people may be surprised to learn that the phenomenal actor was born on September 25, 1976 in Libreville, Gabon. He was born to Igbo parents, Mr and Mrs Stephen Okolue, whose surname was changed to Esomugha from Ogwugwu Village in Anambra State’s Enugu Agidi town. Jim Iyke was born in Gabon.

3. Zack Orji

Zack Orji, a Nigerian actor, is another well-known face who has graced our screens for many years. He made his film debut in 1991 with the film Unforgiven Sin, a role he revealed in interviews he got without even auditioning. Since then, Zack Orji has appeared in a slew of classic films, including Glamour Girls, Blood Money, The Bridge, Three Wise Men, Nneka the Pretty Serpent, and others.

Zack Orji was born in Libreville, Gabon in 1960 and grew up in Cameroon, Benin, and Togo, where he became bilingual, allowing him to speak English and French fluently. By birth, he is a Gabonese man.

4. Leo’nel

Chukwuemeka Lionel Orji, also known as Leo’nel, is a Nigerian musician who has performed songs such as Uju and Roll. Leo’nel is also the son of actor Zack Orji, who, as we recently discovered, is Gabonese by birth, making Leo’nel, his son, a Gabonese by blood.

Gabonese actors include Jim Iyke, Hadiza Aliyu, Zack Orji, and Leo’nel. Which of them surprised you the most when you found out? Do not missout on our stories, Like and Follow our Facebook page.