Crossing over from one part of Nigeria’s entertainment industry can be a major hit or miss. Last time, we successfully listed out musicians whose acting didn’t make us cringe to death. Revisiting this dynamic yet again, we’ve decided to shift focus to the actors who took their drama from film sets to some of our favorite music videos.
1. Funke Akindele in Wizkid’s Pakurumo
Back when the “kid” part of Wizkid was still valid, he dropped the video to one of the best songs off his debut album, Superstar. Featuring an ensemble cast that included Lynxx, Banky W in disguise, Mo’Cheddah and Skales, the video’s standout ended up being the one and only Funke Akindele aka Jenifa. It felt only right, considering her name is the first on the roll call when Wiz starts singing.
2. Adesua Etomi in everything Banky W
Nigeria’s celebrity “it” couple has conquered everything from the box office to the charts. When they’re not acting opposite each other, they’re singing and dancing in videos to remind us that they’re in love, and the rest of us single folks are in the ghetteaux.
3. Tonto Dikeh in Mama G’s National Moi Moi
Before she became a big name in Nollywood or the actress responsible for one of the worst actors to musician transitions, Tonto Dikeh was one of the backup dancers in Mama G’s National Moi Moi video.
4. Alexx Ekubo in Yemi Alade’s Johnny
The type of breakfast Johnny gave Yemi Alade is one for the books. Playing her and getting someone else pregnant? What a wow. Starring Alexx Ekubo in the titular role, this was the song that turned Yemi Alade into a bonafide superstar
5. Beverly Osu in Ice Prince’s Oleku
When this song dropped in 2010, we all thought we’d never hear anything better. This was it, the apex of good Nigerian music. Now, over ten years later, Oleku still gets the club super hyped. Fun fact, if you watch the video closely, you might spot a familiar face in a short blue dress. Yes, you guessed it, that’s pre-fame Beverly Osu.
6. Nkem Owoh in Timaya’s Money
If there’s one thing Nollywood has taught us, it is that one day, you’ll be uplifted from poverty and all your haters will scream “had I known”. So it only makes sense that when Timaya decided to adopt this fake theory in his music video for his 2016 video for Money, he called on one of the most iconic Nollywood stars, Nkem Owoh.
7. Yvonne Jegede in Djinee’s Ego
Once upon a time, this was the heartbreak song that had Nigerians by the neck. Djinee was serving R&B realness down to the white singlet. Starring a young Yvonne Jegede, now that we’ve watched the video again, we can totally understand why Ego walked away. Just take a look at the décor in his apartment. Ewww. Definitely cause for breaking up abeg.
8. Bryan Okwara in Waje and Tiwa Savage’s Onye
Proving once again that men are detty liars and they cannot be trusted, the video for Waje and Tiwa Savage’s collaboration shows the two women trying to outdo each other in the “pick me” race for Bryan Okwara’s heart. Tiwa goes as far as pounding yam for him. For a man? Wow. The Kemi Adetiba-directed video ends with Bryan leaving both women for sugar mummy Omawunmi and her jeep. Tragic
