Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Explained

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
Birth Name:Omotola Jalade
Birth Date:7 February 1978
Birth Place:Lagos State, Nigeria
Nationality:Nigerian
Other Names:"Omo Sexy"
Omotola Jolade Ekeinde
Omotola Jalade
Omotola Ekeinde
Citizenship:Nigerian
Alma Mater:
Years Active:1995–present
Children:4
Spouse:Captain Matthew Ekeinde

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, (; born Omotola Jalade, 7 February 1978) is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist and former model.[1] [2] Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Ekeinde has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of copies.[1] Omotola is the second Nigerian and first Nigerian celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page.[3] [4] She currently has a total of 3 million followers on Facebook.[5]

In 2013, she was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[6]

In 2013, Ekeinde made a brief appearance on VH1's scripted series, Hit the Floor.[7] On 2 November 2013, she spoke at the 2013 edition of the WISE- Summit, held in Doha, Qatar.[8]

In 2014, she was honoured by the Nigerian government, when she became a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for her contributions to Nigerian cinema.[9]

Early life and education

Omotola Jalade, who is of Ondo descent, was born in Lagos State. She grew up with her parents and two younger brothers, Tayo and Bolaji Jalade. Her mother, Oluwatoyin Jalade née Amori Oguntade, Husband Captain Matthew Ekeinde, worked at J.T Chanrai Nigeria, and her father, Oluwashola Jalade, worked at the YMCA and the Lagos Country Club.[10] She attended Chrisland School, Opebi (1981–1987), Oxford Children School (1987), Santos Layout, and Command Secondary School, Kaduna (1988–1993).[11] She had a brief stint at Obafemi Awolowo University and completed her studies at Yaba College of Technology (1996–2004), where she studied Estate Management.[10] She originally wanted a career in business management. However, while awaiting her results from university, she began modelling to earn a living.

Career

Acting career

Ekeinde was introduced to acting while accompanying a friend to an audition. Her first acting role was in the 1995 film Venom of Justice,[12] directed by Reginald Ebere.[13] She was given the lead role in the film. Her first major role was in the film Mortal Inheritance (1995), where she played a sickle-cell patient who fought for her life against small odds of survival.[14] Since then, she has starred in several films, including Games Women Play,[15] Blood Sisters,[16] All My Life, Last Wedding, My Story, The Woman in Me and others.

For her role in Mortal Inheritance, she won "Best Actress in an English Speaking Movie" and "Best Actress Overall" at the 1997 Movie Awards. She was the youngest actress in Nigeria at that time to win this.[17]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, she starred in several sequel films, including Lost Kingdom II, Kosorogun II, and Blood Sister II, leading to a grand achiever award from the Global Excellence Recognition Awards in 2004. She was awarded best Actress in a supporting role during the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005.[18]

After shooting roughly three hundred video movies, Ekeinde received her first cinematic movie role in the 2010 film "Ije".[19] This film was shot at locations in Jos and the United States."Ije" was the highest grossing Nollywood film at the time – A feat later broken by Phone Swap (2012). In 2012, she starred in the Nollywood thriller, Last Flight to Abuja which became the second-highest-grossing movie in West African cinemas in 2012.[20] [21] She has gone on to win over forty domestic and international awards.[22] [23] [24]

In 2015, Ekeinde celebrated her 20th anniversary in the entertainment industry, having appeared in about two hundred films.[25] In June 2018, Ekeinde and fellow Nigerian Femi Odugbemi received invitations to be voting members at the Academy Awards.[26]

Music career

Ekeinde launched a music career in 2005 with the release of her debut album titled "gba". The album produced the singles "Naija Lowa" and "The Things You Do To Me."[27] Her unreleased second album – Me, Myself, and Eyes, brought in production from Paul Play and Del B. It was supported by the songs "Feel Alright", featuring Harrysong, and "Through the Fire", featuring Uche.[28]

In late 2012, Ekeinde began working on her third album and enlisted the help of The Bridge Entertainment. She went to Atlanta, Georgia in the United States to work with producers and songwriters who could help create a sound that would resonate with American audiences. She had studio sessions with Kendrick Dean, Drumma Boy and Verse Simmonds[29] and recorded a song with singer Bobby V.[30] [31]

Reality show

In 2012, Ekeinde also launched a reality television show, Omotola: The Real Me, on Africa Magic Entertainment, a M-Net subsidiary broadcast on DStv. She was the first Nigerian celebrity to star in her own reality show.[32]

Philanthropy

Ekeinde became a United Nations World Food Programme Ambassador in 2005, going to missions in Sierra- Leone and Liberia. She also supports organisations such as Charles Odii's SME100 Africa to empower youth and young women in society. She has been active in the Walk the World project and participated in the Walk the World campaign in Liberia with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.[33]

Her human rights campaign work is centered on her NGO project, called the Omotola Youth Empowerment Program (OYEP). This undertaking brought hundreds of youths together for the Empowerment Walk and Convention.[34] She lent her voice in 2010 to the "Rewrite The Future" campaign of Save The Children UK.[11]

She became an Amnesty International campaigner in 2011 and has participated in campaigns in Sierra-Leone (Maternal Mortality) and a 2012 campaign for the Niger Delta in Nigeria, where she shot a video asking Shell plc and the government to "own up, clean up, pay up| and take responsibility for the oil spills in the Niger Delta.[35] [36]

In June 2020, she visited an orphanage home in Tanzania run by Tanzania Mitindo House which focuses on HIV infected children, with Tanzanian actress Wema Sepetu.[37]

To promote the 2021 World No Tobacco Day and the #SmokeFreeNollywood campaign, Ekeinde and actors (Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Daniel Effiong, Meg Otanwa, Michelle Dede, Osas Ighodaro pledged to stop smoking in their movie scenes, as it had a negative influence on young kids who looked up to them.[38] The campaign was backed by US non-profit organization Tobacco-Free Kids and a sub-Saharan public strategy firm - Gatefield.[39] [40]

Awards and recognition

Ekeinde has a regular column in OK! Nigeria Magazine titled "Omotola's Diary", which features writings about her life and experiences.[41] On 5 November 2013, she received the Ebony Vanguard Award at the Music Video and Screen Awards (MVISA) held in Birmingham, England.[42] On 9 November 2013, Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Royal king of Ondo Kingdom conferred on Omotola a chieftaincy title in her hometown of Ondo State.[43]

In 2012, CNN Travel included Ekeinde's accent on their list of the "world's twelve sexiest accents|.[44] The Nigerian accent ranked fifth on the list. In 2013, she was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[6]

Ekeinde was included in the list of Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2013.[45]

In 2015, she was listed among the highest-grossing movie actors. Others on the list included Shah Rukh Khan, Frank Welker, Bob Bergen, Jack Angel, Mickie McGowan, Michael Papajohn, Martin Klebba, Clint Howard and Chris Ellis. This listing was compiled and researched by Yahoo!.[46]

Personal life

Jalade married Captain Matthew Ekeinde in 1996. Together, they have four children.[47]

Selected filmography

Actor
TitleYearRoleNotes
Venom of Justice1995
Mortal Inheritance1996Kemi Johnson
Scores to Settle1998with Pete Edochie, Kanayo O. Kanayo
Lost Kingdom1999
Kosorogun2002with Faithia Balogun, Shan George
When Love Dies2003Mary
Under Firewith Chiege Alisigwe, Charles Awurum
The Outsider
Rescue
Blood SistersGloriawith Genevieve Nnaji
Royal Family2004
Die Another DayQueen
A Kiss from Rosewith Desmond Elliot, Fred Amata
Games Women Play2005Yvonne
Brave Heartwith Zack Orji, Emma Ayalogu
Taste of Sin2006DebbieWith Funke Adewusi, Uduak Akrah
The Revelation2007
Sand in My Shoeswith Tchidi Chikere, Mike Ezuruonye
Careless SoulWith Emeka Ike, Ralph Onu
Yankee Girls2008ImmaculateWith Suen Akindele, Musa Abudu
Temple of Justicewith Nonso Diobi, Queen Nwokoye
My Last Ambition2009AmandaWith Nonso Diobi, Nadia Buari
2010Anya Opara MichinoWith Genevieve Nnaji, Odalys Garcia, Ulrich Que
A Private Storm2010GinaWith Ramsey Nouah, Ufuoma Ejenobor, John Dumelo
Ties That Bind2011Adobea OnyomenaWith Ama K. Abebrese, Kimberly Elise
Last Flight to Abuja2012SuzieWith Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Jim Iyke, Jide Kosoko
AminaAminaWith Charlie Buck, Alison Carroll, Jonathan Cohen
Hit The Floor2013Omotola
Blood on the Lagoon2014[48] Scarlett BeloWith Stephen Abeng, Akuma Agu, Niran Aladetan
My Only Inheritance
Alter Ego2017Ada Igwe With Wale Ojo and Kunle Remi
The Island Mrs Tokunbo Bowe ColeTV series
The Tribunal
Up Creek a PaddleTBADesiyePost production
Shadow Parties2021[49] as Princess FadekemiWith Toyin Abraham, Ayanfe Adekunle
Lockdown2021Dr NjokuWith Omini Aho, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

YearTitleAlbum
2014"Barren Land"[50] Me, Myself, and Eyes
2015"Strong Girl (Remix)"[51] As featured artiste

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultRef
1997The Movie Awards (THEMA)Best Actress EnglishMortal Inheritance
Best Actress Overall
2004City People awards for ExcellenceBest ActressHerself
Global Excellence Recognition AwardsBest Actress & Grand Achiever
Civil Enlightenment Organization of Nigeria (CEON)Best Individual & Symbol of Creativity
NUSEC AwardsBest Actress
20051st Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2006Youths Benefactor's AwardMost friendly Actress
20092009 Best of Nollywood AwardsBest Actress Leading Role (Yoruba)
2009 Nigeria Entertainment AwardsBest Actress
20102010 Nigeria Entertainment AwardsBest Actress Film/Short StoryDeepest of Dreams
2010 Ghana Movie AwardsBest Actress-Africa Collaboration A Private Storm
20118th Africa Movie Academy AwardsAfrica Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting RoleTies That Bind
2011 Ghana Movie AwardsBest Actress-Africa Collaboration
2011 Best of Nollywood AwardsBest Actress Leading Role (English)A Private Storm
2011 Nigeria Entertainment AwardsBest Actress Film/Short StoryIjé
2012Eloy AwardsActress of the YearTies That Bind
Screen Nation AwardsPan African Best ActressHerself
Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts Awards (BEFFTA)Film Actress Icon
2012 Golden Icons Academy Movie AwardsGIAMA Humanitarian AwardOmotola Youth Empowerment Foundation
Viewers Choice -FemaleHerself
2012 Nigeria Entertainment AwardsBest Actress in A FilmTies That Bind
2012 Nollywood Movies AwardsBest Actress in a Leading RoleA Private Storm
20132013 Nollywood Movies AwardsPopular Online ChoiceHerself
Music Video and Screen Awards (MVISA)Ebony Vanguard Award[52]
2013 Nigeria Entertainment AwardsBest Lead Actress in a FilmLast Flight to Abuja
2014MTV Africa Music Awards 2014Personality of the YearHerself[53]
2016City People Social Media AwardsFemale Entertainment Personality Herself[54]
2017Nollywood Travel Film Festival Best ActressAlter Ego[55]
Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival
Best of Nollywood AwardsLifetime Achievement AwardHerself[56]
Best Kiss in a MovieHerself and Kunle Remmy
Best Actress Leading Role (English)Alter Ego
City People Movie Awards
2018Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards (AMVCA)Best Actress in a Movie/TV Series[57]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: 10 things to know about 'Omosexy'. 17 January 2014. 15 March 2022 . CNN Entertainment.
  2. Web site: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde biography: Age, husband, children, movies. 3 February 2021. Kelvin. Okafor. 15 March 2022 . . en-US.
  3. News: Nigeria: Omotola Hits 1 Million Facebook Likes . All Africa. 16 February 2013. Leadership. 4 July 2013.
  4. Web site: Omotola surpasses 1m 'likes' on Facebook. 10 February 2013. Osagie. Alonge. Nigeria Entertainment Today.
  5. Web site: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: Actress celebrates 3m followers on Facebook. Odumade. Omotolani. 20 July 2016. Pulse Nigeria.
  6. News: Richard . Corliss . The 2013 Time 100: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. London . 18 April 2013. . 5 June 2013.
  7. Web site: Nigerian Actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Will Make USA TV Debut On 'Hit The Floor' Tonight. Tambay. A. Obenson. IndieWire. IMDb. 24 June 2013. 28 June 2013.
  8. Web site: Gorgeous Omotola speaks at the WISE Summit in Doha,Qatar(PHOTOS). Mufutau. Omolewa. ModernGhana. 16 December 2013. 3 November 2013.
  9. Web site: Jonathan's steward, taxi driver, traffic warden, 304 other Nigerians get National Honours . Musikilu. Mojeed . 18 September 2014 . . 24 September 2014.
  10. Web site: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. Heels of Influence. en-US. 2020-05-28.
  11. Web site: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Net Worth 2020_Biography, Age, Marriage, Movies And Endorsements Deals.. The360reporters. 2020-04-20. Latest News and Entertainment Updates. en-US. 2020-05-28.
  12. Web site: Omosexy celebrates 25 years in entertainment with sexy look - P.M. News.
  13. Web site: Reginald Ebere (Writer, Director) | Movies | INSIDENOLLY. www.insidenolly.ng.
  14. Web site: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: 10 things to know about 'Omosexy'. January 2014.
  15. Web site: Throwback to the Movie "Games Women Play". chibumga. izuzu. 19 June 2014. Pulse Nigeria.
  16. Book: Blood sister. 31 March 2003. 558658799 . Open WorldCat.
  17. Web site: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Biography: Career, Husband, Children, Movies. 2021-09-15. nigerianfinder.com.
  18. Web site: Folaranmi . Femi . Rhythm of a new world of movies As Nollywood stars storm Yenagoa for AMAA . The Daily Sun . 13 May 2005 . 29 May 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060909132636/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showtime/2005/may/13/showtime-13-05-2005-006.htm . 9 September 2006 .
  19. Web site: IJE . Vow Foundation . 28 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130117085830/http://ijethemovie.com/ . 17 January 2013 . dmy-all .
  20. Web site: Last Flight to Abuja grosses N8m in the box office . Vanguard Newspaper . Vanguard . 18 August 2012 . 23 April 2014.
  21. Web site: Omotola Clinches Actress of the Year Award . The Daily Sun. 26 November 2012 .
  22. Web site: Osaremen Ehi. James. Omotola Emerges Biggest Box-Office Actress of the Year ...As Last Flight To Abuja Becomes 2012 Best Box-Office Hit. Nigeria films. 11 November 2012. 4 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313063016/http://nigeriafilms.com/news/19501/2/omotola-emerges-biggest-box-office-actress-of-the-.html. 13 March 2013. dead.
  23. News: The 2013 Time 100: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. Shout-Africa. 18 April 2013. 5 June 2013.
  24. News: Media. Bigsam. The Nigerian Voice. Last Flight to Abuja is the number 2 film in West African Cinemas . 8 August 2012. 26 May 2013.
  25. Web site: "Omosexy is a Nollywood cornerstone" – Yahoo. Pulse Nigeria. 11 January 2015. Chidumga Izuzu. 11 January 2015.
  26. News: Meet voting members of Oscars 2018: Odugbemi, Omotola . 25 July 2018.
  27. Web site: 2018-06-22 . Omotola Jalade Ekeinde's Biography and Age Accomplishments . 2022-03-15 . BuzzNigeria.com . en-US.
  28. Web site: Media. Bigsam. HOW CELEBRITIES AND DIGNITARIES MINGLED AT OMOTOLA'S ALBUM LAUNCH . Modern Ghana. 19 July 2013.
  29. News: Omotola Jalade features top foreign acts in new album as she returns to music.. Nigerian Monitor. 18 January 2013. 5 January 2013 .
  30. News: Eta. Philip. PHOTOSPEAK: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde records with Bobby V in Atlanta . Daily Post. 28 January 2013. 5 June 2013.
  31. News: James . Osaremen Ehi . UPDATED: Omotola Storms Atlanta Studio With Bobby V [Picture] ]. Nigeria Films.com . 28 January 2013 . 2 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130202190808/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/20300/2/updated-omotola-storms-atlanta-studio-with-bobby-v.html . 2 February 2013 . dead .
  32. Web site: Africa Magic Dstv. Omotola:The Real Me. MultiChoice Ltd. 20 July 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140319065204/http://africamagic.dstv.com/category/shows/omotola-the-real-me/. 19 March 2014. dead.
  33. Web site: Hunger. fight. TNT Corporate Responsibility. Gearing up for Walk the World in Liberia. 7 March 2007. 4 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064627/http://www.movingtheworld.org/cordelia_salternour/blog/2007/03/07/gearing_up_for_walk_the_world_in_liberia. 4 March 2016. dead.
  34. Web site: Aiki. Damilare. BN Exclusive: In Loving Memory of her Mother, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde's Foundation OYEP gives 20 Widows AMAZING Makeovers – Must See Photos!. Bella Naija. 24 January 2012 . 2 May 2013.
  35. Web site: Amnesty International. Macnamara. Lucy. 'Nollywood' Star Omotola Jalade Ekeinde calls on Shell to clean up the Niger Delta. 17 April 2012 . 5 June 2013.
  36. Web site: All Africa. Akintayo. Opeoluwani. 'Nollywood' Star Omotola Jalade Ekeinde calls on Shell to clean up the Niger Delta. 7 January 2012 . 5 June 2013.
  37. Web site: 2012-06-29. Omotola storms Tanzania for charity. 2021-02-12. Vanguard News. en-US.
  38. Web site: 2021-05-31. World No Tobacco Day 2021: Nollywood celebrities pledge to stop smoking scenes. 2021-06-11. Vanguard News. en-US.
  39. Web site: Omotola, Dakore, Nollywood artistes pledge to stop smoking scenes in movies. 2021-06-11. Daily Trust. 31 May 2021. en.
  40. Web site: 2021-05-31. Omotola, Dakore, others pledge to stop smoking scenes in movies. 2021-06-11. Tribune Online. en-US.
  41. Web site: Aiki. Damilare. Nollywood's Omotola; Cocktails with Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. Jamaica Observer. 26 August 2012 . 2 May 2013.
  42. Web site: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde honoured at Music Video and Screen Awards . Nigerian Entertainment Today . 7 November 2013 . 7 March 2014 . Alonge, Osagie . https://web.archive.org/web/20140313235131/http://thenet.ng/2013/11/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-honoured-at-music-video-and-screen-awards/ . 13 March 2014 . dead .
  43. Web site: Omotola Jalade, David Mark, Others Receive Chieftaincy Title in Ondo Kingdom . Naij News . 5 November 2013 . 7 March 2014.
  44. Web site: Burchette . Jordan. CNN. World's 12 sexiest accents. 30 November 2010. 20 July 2013.
  45. Web site: 2013-12-12. Top 100 Influential People In Africa: See the Nigerian list. 2021-01-06. News Ghana. en-US.
  46. Web site: The Highest-Grossing Movie Stars You've Probably Never Heard Of. Yahoo Movies UK. 9 January 2015.
  47. Web site: 2021-03-28 . How Omotola, hubby kept the nuptial fire burning for 25 years . 2022-07-19 . Vanguard News . en-GB.
  48. Web site: "Blood in the Lagoon" Watch Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Okey Uzoeshi in trailer. Pulse.ng. 2 February 2016. Chidumg Izuzu. 2 February 2016.
  49. Web site: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Actress, Writer, Producer . 2024-06-17 . IMDb . en-US.
  50. Web site: Omotola releases single from upcoming album . . 24 January 2014 . 7 February 2014.
  51. Web site: D'banj Bono, Waje, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde star in conscious 'Strong girl' remix. Pulse.com.gh. 25 September 2015. David Mawuli. 9 February 2016.
  52. Web site: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde honoured at Music Video and Screen Awards. Nigerian Entertainment Today. 16 December 2013. 7 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131210235616/http://thenet.ng/2013/11/omotola-jalade-ekeinde-honoured-at-music-video-and-screen-awards/. 10 December 2013. dead.
  53. Web site: Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Davido lead nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards . Sowetan LIVE . 17 April 2014.
  54. Web site: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Wins Award as 'Female Entertainment Personality'. 14 March 2016.
  55. Web site: Omotola Jalade, wins best actress award at Nollywood Travel Film Festival. 18 September 2017. The Guardian (Nigeria).
  56. Web site: 2017-11-23. BON Awards 2017: Kannywood's Ali Nuhu receives Special Recognition Award. 2021-10-07. Daily Trust. en.
  57. Web site: 25YearsOfOmosexy: Celebrating Achievements Of Omot... - All News Nigeria. 2020-05-28. allnews.ng. en.