Nigerian women are beautiful, hardworking and goal-getters. This is evident in the historically high number of women dominating the Nigerian entertainment industry today; their voices are becoming more powerful than ever. They are taking charge of the industry like never before, setting records, garnering recognition and leading the industry forward. As a matter of fact, they have continued to challenge the notion of the patriarchal structures that have been in place for thousands of years.
Some of these women stood on the shoulders of countless others who laid the foundation; they, however, didn’t have the opportunity to break the glass ceiling. Over the past year, they overcame the obstacles of their time, to do what has never been done before.
Some first achieved something spectacularly new; others are receiving a recognition that is long overdue. Collectively and across the globe, they have created a remarkable legacy for the generations that follow. These women’s voices have reached a volume that will lead the Nigerian entertainment industry into the future.
1. Mo Abudu (Media/Film)
Mo Abudu has been described by Forbes as “Africa’s Most Successful Woman” and the first African woman to own a Pan-Africa TV channel. She was listed as one of the 25 most powerful Women in Global TV by The Hollywood Reporter. The media mogul also received the Entrepreneur of the Year award by WomenWerk in New York (2014).
While these are incredible feats and there’s a lot more to Abudu‘s portfolio, her story did not start there.
In 2000, Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu started a privately-owned HR development company called Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited (VLA); it quickly became one of the fastest-growing human resources consultancy firms in Nigeria.
But that was not all she envisioned; she wanted to give Africa a voice and tell its stories the proper way. This desire birthed Inspire Africa and, in 2006, she took the centre stage in television with Moments with Mo; the first Pan-African talk show which led her to be regularly compared to Oprah Winfrey.
In 2013, she moved into film production and founded EbonyLife Films. The production company has birthed hit films like Fifty, The Wedding Party 1&2, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Chief Daddy, Your Excellency and Oloture. The three highest-grossing Nigerian films of all times are all EbonyLife productions.
In 2019, Abudu became the first African to chair the International Emmy Awards Gala. Following her appointment as the first African director of the Academy, the 56-year-old has done nothing but break barriers and open doors for newcomers.
2. Genevieve Nnaji (Film)
The year 2019 began gloriously for women in film when Netflix acquired Lionheart, its first original film from Nigeria.
Nnaji led the charge in changing the status quo by becoming Nollywood’s first director to have her film, Lionheart, acquired by the streaming giant. And it didn’t stop there; it became the first Nigerian film to be submitted for an Oscar consideration.
One amazing thing the dark-skinned beauty did with Lionheart was to successfully showcase women’s power, breaking into stereotypical barriers in society.
The film-star started her acting career as a child actor in the ‘90s popular television soap opera, Ripples, at the age of 8. Dedicating nearly 2 decades of her life to the Nigerian film industry, Nnaji has continued to defy all odds by taking huge steps to amplify Nigerian female filmmakers’ voices.
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3. Tiwa Savage (Music)
While music formats and tastes have changed over time, one thing remains constant: the powerful voice of women in music. Formerly a back-up singer for international artistes like Mary J Blige and George Michael, Savage moved back to Nigeria from the UK and elevated the prevalence of music among female singers in Nigeria by giving it a new face.
She was soon regarded as the Queen of Pop, having made her impressive debut in 2013 with the hit single Kele Kele off the album, Once Upon a Time.
Savage’s contribution to the Nigerian music industry has earned her several achievements; including becoming the first woman to win the Best African Act category at the 2018 Europe Music Awards. She took it a step further when she signed a publishing and distribution deal with Universal Music Group in 2019.
4. Kemi Adetiba (Media/Film)
Major tent pole projects, which motion-picture juggernauts were banking eagerly on, have been helmed by female directors like Kemi Adetiba.
Prior to her transition to being a film director, Adetiba started out professionally as a radio presenter with Rhythm 93.7 FM. She then transitioned to being a face on television by producing and presenting several shows on M-Net. She was also a presenter on Soundcity TV and hosted Maltina Dance Hall for three consecutive seasons.
mbition within the entertainment industry expanded when she progressed to becoming a music video director. She’s the brain behind some of our favourite award-winning music videos like Tiwa Savage’s My Darling, Olamide’s Sitting on the Throne, Banky W’s Lagos Party, and many more.
Her boundary-pushing and innovative tendencies didn’t stop there; Adetiba ventured into the film scene in 2016, making her directorial debut, with The Wedding Party; which has become one of Nollywood’s highest grossing films. She quickly made history as the first female director to have the highest opening week in history. Adetiba soon broke her own record with her second film, King of Boys, which was released in October 2018. Since then, she has continued to shine her light over the filmmaking scene in Nigeria.
5. Funke Akindele (Film)
There are few Nollywood forces as unrelenting and influential as Funke Akindele. Her career is full of record-breaking feats. She is often lauded as the best actor of this generation. Akindele made her first TV appearance in the 1990s high-school drama series, I need to know. She then swerved into Yoruba film full-time, steadily working her way up. In 2008, she took the industry by storm with the film, Jenifa, and won the African Movie Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading role for her performance in the comedy film. She later started the Jenifa Diaries series in 2015, and that changed the course of her career.
