While marriage is generally perceived as a metric for success in some parts of the world, it is often more fulfilling to have people who are successful in their own rights come together and get married. Power couples are products of individuals with thriving careers in entertainment or politics. In Nigeria, from the music scene which has Adekunle Gold and Simi, to the domestic film industry with a couple like Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva, notable celebrity couples are evident.
Here is a list of seven marriages and power couples composed of individuals from the Nigerian film industry.
Lateef and Adebimpe Adedimeji
Actor and filmmaker Lateef Adedimeji, known for his lead roles in Ayinla and Jagun Jagun, tied the knot with fellow star Adebimpe Oyebade (aka Mo Bimpe) in December 2021. Lateef’s acting career spans at least 15 years, during which he has appeared in over a hundred Yoruba and English language films. Adebimpe started her career as a model in 2016 before taking on roles in the domestic film industry. She came to limelight after getting featured in the Abbey Lanre directed Yoruba film Onikede. Before their marriage, Lateef and Bimpe had been friends for a while and acted together on the same sets. While their relationship was already long rumored, it wasn’t until March 2021 that they started dating. Now married, Lateef and Bimpe are often seen together at events and award shows. The couple have a joint Instagram account @theadedimejisofficial where they share loved-up moments of themselves. Lateef and Bimpe recently starredas a fictional couple, Bashiru and Tayo, in the 2023 Biodun Stephen film, ÌGÈ – The Unlikely Oil Merchant.
Afeez Abiodun and Mide Martins
Afeez Abiodun, popularly known as Afeez Owo, has made his mark in the Yoruba language film industry as an actor and filmmaker. Mide Martins has starred in several Nollywood films since 2001 and is famous for playing temperamental women on screen. Before Afeez Owo met Mide, he used to live with his mother-in-law, Funmi Martins, who took her as a son and manager. In an interview, Afeez Owo claimed he used to manage Funmi Martins’s film production and attributes his success to her influence. When Mide returned from the UK to join her mother in Nigeria, she became friends with Afeez at first. Soon, their friendship snowballed into a relationship, and they got married. In 2016, there were rumors of the couple parting ways and living in separate apartments. But afterwards, the couple confirmed they settled their differences and reconciled. On September 7, 2021, the couple who is blessed with two children, celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary. Having survived years of marital conflicts and disagreements, they remain a union and continue to forge ahead in their filmmaking career, often featuring in each other’s productions.
Banky W and Adesua Etomi-Wellington
Nigerian RnB singer, actor and politician Banky W first met his wife Adesua officially in 2015, and then he proposed to her in February 2017. This was after they both starred as a couple, playing Dozie and Dunni respectively, in Kemi Adetiba’s commercially successful romantic comedy drama The Wedding Party in 2016. The couple had their traditional marriage ceremony in November after which they held their white wedding in South Africa in the same month. As in other marriages, the marriage of Banky W and Adesua has experienced trying times, including pregnancy complications. In 2021, Banky W and Adesua welcomed a new baby boy whom they named Hazaiah Olusegun “Champ” Wellington.
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva are known for their longevity in the Nigerian film industry, and they are possibly the most respectable Nollywood couple. Often cited as a worthy example of celebrity marriage, the couple met on a production set during the celebration of Nigeria’s 21st anniversary, where they became friends before proceeding to get married. Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva have been married for almost four decades and their union is blessed with wonderful children. Together with fellow Nollywood veteran actor Pete Edochie, Olu Jacobs is recognized as one of the greatest African actors of all time. His wife, Joke Silva, who recently starred in Chief Daddy and Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman, revealed in 2021 that her husband suffered from dementia.
C. J. and Oge Obasi
Highly talented Nigerian indie filmmakers C. J. Obasi and Oge Obasi are truly a power couple that have managed to keep their marital life private and free from scandal. Appearing more as professional partners in filmmaking, the couple are known for their experimental approach to making African films, with Oge Obasi often serving as producer and C.J. Obasi as co-producer, writer and director on the same projects. In 2012, C. J. Obasi founded Fiery Film Company together with his wife Oge, and late screenwriter Benjamin Stockton. C. J. Obasi and Oge have worked together on films such as Ojuju, O-Town and, most recently, Mami Wata.
Toyin Abraham and Kolawole Ajeyemi
Actress Toyin Abraham initially got married to Adeniyi Johnson in 2013 but filed for divorce in 2015 on grounds of infidelity. In 2017, Toyin Abraham and Kolawole Ajeyemi, both of whom had been friends for a decade, started dating. They got married in 2019, and have since then been seen offering moral and professional support to each other. Toyin Abraham, the more popular of the couple, is known for films such as Ijakumo: The Born-Again Stripper and Malaika. Together, the couple have a son, Ire Ajeyemi.
Norbert and Gloria Young
Veteran actor Nobert Young and his wife Gloria Young have been married for over two decades. Having stood the test of time, their marriage is cited as one worthy of emulation for young couples and other marital hopefuls. 63-year-old Norbert Young has featured in hundreds of Nollywood films and shows, including Checkmate, Third Eye, Tinsel, Family Circle and Day of Destiny. An award-winning actress, 57-year-old Gloria Young came into limelight after starring as Doris in 1994 Nollywood classic, Glamour Girls, and has since appeared in several films. In a 2022 interview with Punch, when queried on the secret to his successful marriage to Gloria, Norbert Young said, “there is no special thing that we do to be together. We just live our lives from day to day. We still keep being friends, keep communicating, win and face our problems together.”
