5 international celebrities you didn’t know were Nigerians

If there are two thing true about Nigerians, it is that we are everywhere and flourishing, from acting to singing to writing, Nigerians shine everywhere. Did you know the following international celebrities are Nigerians?

1. Skepta:
   

   Image via Irishexaminer

   Latest UK singing sensation and award winning Grime MC Skepta is a Nigerian and we couldn’t be prouder. The rapper, songwriter and producer’s real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga and he was born in England in 1982. Skepta’s latest album, Konnichiwa was released this year and it blew the charts, he won the BET award for best international act UK and also the 2016 Mercury Prize award. His brother Jme is also a musician while his sister Julie is a radio presenter.

2. Nonso Anozie:
   

   Image via Playbuzz

   All GOT stans know Xaro Xhoan Daxos, the powerful merchant prince of Qarth; Chukwunonso Nwachukwu Anozie is a British actor born to Nigerian parents in London. The central school of speech and drama school graduate is acclaimed for his roles as Tank in RocknRolla, Sergeant Dap in Ender’s Game, and Xaro Xhoan in GOT. He has acted in other series  like zoo and sense8.

3.  Adetomiwa Edun:
   

   Image via merlin-arthur

   If you watched the Merlin series, then this picture should jump right at you. Sir Elyan, Gwen’s brother in Merlin is a Nigerian, yup and we’re surprised too. His name is Adetomiwa Edun (such fine names), he was born to a Nigerian father and a half-Ghanaian, half-English mother in Lagos but they  moved to the United Kingdom when Tomiwa was 11 years old. He is a graduate of University of Cambridge and he became popular for his role as Sir Elyan in Merlin, he has also acted in Slaves, Law & Order: UK, The Hour, Passengers etc. Tomiwa speaks English, Yoruba and French, how cool is that!

4.  Carmen Ejogo:
   

   Image via hollywoodreporter

   We can never forget ‘Sister Anderson’ from the movie; Sparkle, oh how she thrilled us with her sonorous voice. Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo is half Nigerian, half scottish and a brilliant British actress and singer. She was a teen star that hosted the Saturday Disney morning show from 1993 to 1995. She played Coretta Scott King in the movie Selma and has featured in films such as Metro, The Avengers (1998), What’s the Worst That Could Happen?, Love’s Labour’s Lost amongst others, she even had her own show titled  The Carmen Ejogo Video Show. She also acted in the TV series, Sally Hemings: An American Scandal.

5. Sophie Okonedo:
   

   Image via amandafriedman

   Stunning Sophie is an award winning British actress, she was born to a Nigerian father and a Jewish mother. Sophie has featured in many great movies such as ‘Æon Flux’, ‘Mrs. Mandela’, ‘Skin’, Young Soul Rebels, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995), Dirty Pretty Things, Hotel Rwanda, The Secret Life of Bees and many more. She also acted in the series like Tsunami: The Aftermath and Criminal Justice.

Do you know other international celebrities who are Nigerians? Tell us about them in the comments section.