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Oftentimes, we hear of British and American celebrities who are of Nigerian origin and making remarkable waves in the international entertainment space. From Sade Adu and Hakeem Kae-Kazim who are Yorubas from southwest Nigeria, to Jidenna and Carmen Ejogo from Eastern Nigeria as well as Damson Idris who is Yoruba, among many others, the list goes on.
While international stars of Nigerian origin are making waves in the global scene and putting Nigeria on the global map, there are also prominent ‘foreign’ stars making it big in Nigeria. They’ve become household names in Nigeria such that many may find it hard to believe they have roots in other countries aside from Nigeria.
Let’s take a look at some of them!
Ramsey Nouah
Ramsey Nouah has been a Nollywood actor for so long that he might not even need to be on this list. From Silent Night (1999) to The Figurine (2009) to Living in Bondage (2019), he’s been killing every role, but we just thought you should know; your all-time fave is actually Jewish Israeli. Although, his mother is from Owo, Ondo state, hence his middle name, ‘Tokunbo’.
Sophie Rammal
Sophie is popularly known by her marital surname, ‘Alakija’, hence why many might think that she’s more Nigerian than she really is. However, though her mother is from the Efik tribe in Nigeria, her father is Lebanese. From her performances in movies like Orunsewa (2018), Ile Owo (2022), and Dinner at My Place (2022), one could rightly say that she’s Nigerian through and through.
Sunshine Rosman
When you spotted this beautiful actress in Africa Magic’s Dilemma (2021), A Christmas Getaway (2022), or The Church Boy (2022), you probably guessed that she was mixed. Well, you were not wrong. Sunshine Rosman is actually Italian but has Nigerian ties through her mother, who is from Imo state.
Di’ja
Singer-songwriter Hadiza Blell-Olo, a.k.a Di’ja is signed to Mavin Records and is known for her popular 2014 single, ‘Awww’. Her good command of the Hausa language had us thinking she was Nigerian, and although her mother actually is Northern Nigerian, Di’ja’s father is Sierra Leonean. Interesting!
Ben ‘Lugo’ Touitou
Ben Touitou is popular for his roles in Time and Chance, Lagos Cougars, Before Valentine’s, and a handful of others. One could guess from his name that he’s not from these parts, but you might never have guessed that he’s also Jewish-Israeli. However, the ‘Lugo’ in his name is short for Nnanyelugo, his Igbo name, indicating that he’s part Nigerian as well!
– Nigerian Entertainment Today.
