Femi Adebayo

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Femi Adebayo
Fẹ́mi Adébáyọ̀
File:Portrait of Adebayo.jpg
Portrait of Femi Adebayo
Born (1976-12-31) 31 December 1976 (age 49)
Ilorin, Kwara State
Other namesJelili, Sonto Alapata, Ogundiji
CitizenshipNigeria
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Politician
  • Lawyer
Years active1985–present
SpouseOmotayo Adebayo
Children4
FatherAdebayo Salami
RelativesTope Adebayo
Sodiq Adebayo
Notes

Femi Adebayo (born 31 December 1976) is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, director, and lawyer. He is known for his work in Yoruba-language cinema and for directing commercially successful films such as King of Thieves (2022), Jagun Jagun (2023), and Seven Doors (2024).

In 2024, he won the Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jagun Jagun, also won the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards' Best Lead Actor for his performance in Seven Doors in 2025.

He has appeared in more than 500 films and has been active in the Nigerian film industry since the 1990s.

Early life and education

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Femi Adebayo was born on 31 December 1976 in Ilorin, Kwara State to Adebayo Salami and Alhaja Risikat Ejide.[2][1] He attended C&S College before transferring to Oke Ode Grammar School, where he served as Head Boy and completed his secondary education in 1994.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) from the University of Ilorin in 2002 and attended the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. He later completed a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree at the University of Ibadan in 2008.[1]

Career

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File:Portrait of Femi Adebayo.jpg
Portrait of Femi Adebayo

Adebayo made his acting debut in the Yoruba-language film Owo Blow in the 1990s, which brought him early recognition. He subsequently became a prominent figure in Yoruba cinema, appearing in over 500 films, including Ile Alayo, Jelili, and Survival of Jelili.[1]

Beyond acting, Adebayo expanded into film production and directing. In 2008, he founded J15 Media Network and the J15 School of Performing Arts, which has trained hundreds of aspiring actors and filmmakers for the Nigerian film industry.[3]

In 2021, he established Euphoria360 Media, a production company responsible for several large-scale Yoruba-language productions, including King of Thieves (Agesinkole), Jagun Jagun, and Seven Doors.[3]

King of Thieves (Agesinkole), released in 2022, was produced by Adebayo through Euphoria360 Media in collaboration with Anthill Studios. The film became one of the highest-grossing Yoruba-language films in Nigerian cinema history, earning over ₦320 million at the box office.[3]

In 2023, Adebayo produced the Netflix Original epic Jagun Jagun, directed by Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani. The film ranked among Netflix’s top ten non-English films globally and received multiple nominations across major Nigerian award platforms, including the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, Africa Movie Academy Awards, and Best of Nollywood Awards.[3]

His 2024 Netflix mini-series Seven Doors debuted at number one on Netflix Nigeria and remained in that position for several weeks. Adebayo’s performance earned him the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for Best Lead Actor.[3][4]

Adebayo’s films are frequently noted for their emphasis on Yoruba culture, language, costume, and mythology, combining traditional themes with contemporary cinematic techniques.[3][1]

From 2016 to 2019, Adebayo served as Special Adviser on Arts, Culture, and Tourism to the Governor of Kwara State. In this role, he worked on initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural tourism and promoting the creative economy in the state.[1]

Adebayo has signed endorsement deals with several brands, including Samsung, Trophy, Trumpy, VG Pensions, Kpearl, and Modara. He has also participated in advertising campaigns for Coca-Cola and Peak, and previously served as a brand ambassador for StarTimes.[1][3]

Personal life

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Adebayo married Omotayo Adebayo on 9 October 2016. Adebayo and his wife have one son. He also has three children from an earlier marriage.[5]

Awards and honours

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Apaadi Nominated
2015 City People Entertainment Awards Best Movie Producer Of The Year (Yoruba) Won
2017 Best Actor Of The Year (Yoruba) Won
Best of Nollywood Awards Best Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba Afaila Ojo Won [6]
2018 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Indigenous Movie (Yoruba) Etiko Onigedu Won [7]
Best of Nollywood Awards Best Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba Won [8]
2019 Best Kiss in a Movie Diamond in the Sky Nominated [9]
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) The Return of Kesari Nominated
2020 Lucifer Won [10]
2022 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Best Actor in A Comedy Progressive Tailors Club Nominated [11]
2023 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Best Actor In A Drama, Movie Or TV Series King of Thieves Nominated [12][13]
Best Overall Movie Nominated
Africa International Film Festival Globe Award Honoree Jagun Jagun Won
2024 2024 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Best Indigenous Language Movie- West Africa Jagun Jagun Won
Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Won
Abuja International Film Festival Outstanding Male Actor Won
2025 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Best Lead Actor Seven Doors Won [14]

Filmography

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Year Film Role
2025 Labake Olododo
2024 Lisabi: The Uprising Olu Olodan
Seven Doors king Adedunjoye
Beast of Two Worlds Ade Apa Igala
Queen Lateefah
Lakatabu Muyiwa
Crossroads Egunkemi
House of Ga'a Olukuoye
2023 Ijogbon Head of Amoteku
Mikolo Babablu
Jagun Jagun Ogundiji
World Famous Pastor
Diety Komokomo
2022 Maleeka Kunle
King of Thieves Adeshikoye/Adeoye
2021 cordelia Rasaki
Ile Alayo
Ete Deji
Love Castle Chief Balogun
Progressive Tailors Club Agbabiaka
The Cokers Doctor
Charge and Bail Whole Adetutu
Charlie Charlie
2020 The Miracle Centre
Special Jollof
Unroyal Royal Suitor
Mama Drama Dotun
2019 Jumbled Yinka
Survival of Jelili Jelili
Diamonds in the Sky Kayode
Mokalik Mr. Ogidan
2018 The Island kola
The Ghost and the Tout Dayo
Heaven on My Mind Soji
2017 Sola Arikusa
2014 October 1 Banji
2013 Ayitale Aderopo
2011 Jelili Jelili
2009 Apaadi
1996 Owo Blow Wole Owolabi

References

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