Alhaja Eniola Salami in King of Boys 1 & 2

It’s only right we start this off with THE King of boys. Eniola Salami came into the game with nothing and built an empire. She ran circles around all the men that underestimated her,and even when it looked like she had met her end, she still came out on top.

Kemi Salami in King of Boys 1

Kemi Salami lived a short life, but she lived it well. She didn’t take crap from anyone, and made sure everyone understood not to mess with her or her mother. She was a force to reckon with.

Isoken in Isoken

In a country that looks down on unmarried women past a certain age, Isoken found a way to live life on her own terms. She did what she wanted, fell for the person her heart chose, and refused to let anyone have a say in her life and happiness. Even when the loudest person was her mother.

Adaeze Obiagu in Lionheart

Adaeze had to constantly remind herself of who she was and what she had. She was constantly trying to figure out how to keep her father’s company afloat, even while working through all the self-doubt and insecurities that tried to sideline her goal. One of the baddest for real.

Lulu in Potato Pohtato

Unhappy in her marriage, Lulu divorced her husband, but instead of leaving him in the house they’d built together, she decided to stay there without a care in the world. Good for her, because she poured her money and sweat into it and deserved to live there too. 

Enakhe and Jacinta in Enakhe

Enakhe and Jacinta had to take over their fathers’ criminal dealings after their fathers’ deaths. They fell in love, fell out of it, built families, ran their gangs with iron fists and fought anyone in Edo state that dared to question their authority, all without breaking a nail. 

Ebere in The Mystic River

A heavily pregnant Ebere found herself at the mercy of spiriutal forces and had to fight to protect herself, her husband, and their unborn child. She goes through the series using one hand to fight off these forces and the other to discover new, chilling facts about herself.

Matilda Rishante in The Rishantes

The matriarch of her family and Nigeria’s first female senate president, Matilda 

moves around with her head up high because she knows she’s the one, and no one can tell her otherwise. She put her family and business on the map and earned her seat in government. Anyone who didn’t like it could get lost.

Sista in Sista

It doesn’t get more badass than Sista. She fought hard to create a good life for her children, and worked her fingers to the bone take care of them. We got goosebumps when she threatened Fola and told him no one could take them from her.

Kemi in Blood Sisters 

We’re absolutely here for Kemi and the lengths she went to protect Sarah. From accidentally murdering her abuser, to running from the police, Kemi decided Sarah was her sister, and if she didn’t have enough strength to fight for herself, she was going to fight on her behalf.

Aiyetide in This Lady Called Life

After being tossed out of her mother’s house and having her baby, Aiyetide still fought. She fought through her demons and the trauma of her past to realise her dream of becoming a chef, and in taking care of her son.

She’s one of the most versatile actresses in the Nigerian movie industry and these movies are proof.

Sista (2023)

Released in 2022, the Biodun Stephen-directed picture tells the story of a struggling single mother that fought tooth and nail to protect her children from their absent father when suddenly returned to get their attention. Kehinde Bankole starred as lead character Sistá, alongside reputable actors like Deyemi Okanlawo and Bisola Aiyeola.

October 1st (2014)

This Kunle Afolayan’s 2014 blockbuster explored mystery and gender-based violence in a local community. Kehinde Bankole acts as Tawa, an impressive school teacher, beside the late Sadiq Dana, Kayode Olaiya and Ibrahim Chatta.

Blood Sisters (2022)

This Ebonylife and Netflix’s production is undoubtedly one of the most talked about Nigerian limited TV series of 2022. Kehinde Bankole plays Yinka, a wife in crime, alongside Gabriel Afolayan, Nancy Isime and Ramsey Nouah.

Love Castle (2021)

Kehinde Bankole features as Adetutu in this Desmond Elliot-directed epic alongside Lateef Adedimeji and Halima Abubakar. Although the movie’s primarily about the battle for power, it also explores disability and cultural differences.

The Set Up 1 & 2 (2019 and 2022)

Kehinde Bankole teams up with Dakore Akande and Adesua Etomi-Wellington for this crime-thriller Nollywood film. Two ladies work in the underworld in order to survive. This is another action-packed production with stellar performances from Kehinde.

Prophetess (2021)

This Niyi Akinmolayan-directed comedy was majorly shot in Ibadan, and it tells a story of a prophetess who predicts football matches and her uncontrollable dabble into betting. It features Kehinde Bankole with other skilled actors like Toyin Abraham, Lateef Adedimeji and Kunle Remi.

Mama Drama (2020)

Kehinde Bankole features in this film that explores fertility issues and surrogacy. She acts as a surrogate who fell in love with her client’s husband. In this intense drama, she stars alongside Shaffy Bello, Osas Ighodalo and Kunle Remi.

Sola Sobowale

Her bombastic side eye is the blueprint for African mothers. It works perfectly when you need to give a scolding in public without speaking.

Patience Ozokwor

Think of your disciplinarian granny and you’ll get the gist of Mama G’s side eye. Use this one with caution.

Mercy Johnson

You need this one in your bombastic side eye kit as a woman. It’s the one you give your man when he’s exhibiting annoying behaviors. 

Funke Akindele

This is the African aunty bombastic side eye. A must-have if you have nephews and cousins that have to be kept in line without raising a finger.

Mide Martins

 Giving strong “try me” energy, this is the side eye you need for street credibility. Use it when you find yourself in street brawls.

Lola Idije

A brother or sister is capping effortlessly and you’re bearing witness to it all? This is the side eye that puts them in their place.

Today, we are ranking the five Nollywood step mothers who gave us unbelievable joy whenever they came on screen.

5. Shola Sobwale

Before I fell in love with Shola Sobowale in King Of Boys, I fell in love with her Super Story. During that era, Shola starred in several roles where she redefined the art of being a step mother and the art of insulting people.

4.Ngozi Ezeonu

In the earlier days of her career, Ngozi Ezeonu was the one who was victimized by her husband’s other wife and that was a fun watch. But when she turned the table around and became the one doing the victimization, I was intrigued. I won’t say much but this woman played so many roles taunting and torturing Mercy Johnson that I can’ t help but wonder if Mercy Johnson has nightmares featuring Ngozi Ezeonu.

3. Eucharia Anunobi

I would actually not mind having Eucharia Anunobi for my step mother. Granted, she would kill my dad by making her sugar baby throw him off a balcony but at least we’ll bond by doing each other’s makeup and drawing thin eyebrows for each other.

2.Clarion Chukwuka

Let me start by saying that as a kid, I was wildly obsessed with Clarion Chukwuka growing up. The sage and anti-men advice, the wild hair colors, her nails which rivals Cardi B’s and her general iconic-ness. I can’t believe Nollywood made her into the bad guy for wanting her daughters and step-daughters to decenter men and seek reparations. 

1. Patience Ozokwor

If you google ‘step mother in Nollywood’ you are likely going to see loads of videos and images of Patience Ozokwor because this woman is the genre itself. No one else can be simultaneously oppressing a whole village, her step daughter and her husband. The devil works hard, Kris Jenner works harder, but you see Patience Ozokwor? She outworked, outsold, and outdid them. No one is like her. No one has invented and reinvented the act of shadiness backed by sly and unprovoked wickedness quite like she has in Nollywood. We salute a queen.

For more like this, check out Zikoko Memes

Today, we honour the elegant Stephanie Okereke Linus.

Stephanie Okereke Linus has been in the movie industry for over two decades. She was a teenager when she appeared in two Nollywood movies, Compromise 2 and Waterloo in 1997.

Born on the 2nd of October 1982 in Ngor Okpala, Imo state, Stephanie’s dream was to become an actress. While she was still in secondary school, was actively involved in the drama community and after graduating, she went on to study English and Literary Studies in the University of Calabar. It was in the university that she began to attend auditions and eventually snagged her roles in Compromise 2 and Waterloo which earned her an award for Most Promising Actress in Nigeria and another for the Best New Actress to Watch Out For at the African Movie Academy Awards and the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

Stephanie also has repute as a model. In 2002, she emerged second place in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant.

In 2007, Stephanie released her first movie Through the Looking Glass in which she worked as director, scriptwriter, producer, and actress. The movie was nominated for Best Screenplay in the African Academy Awards in 2009.

In 2011, Stephanie was honoured by the Nigerian government with a National Honour (Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR) which is an award given to a celebrity in Nigeria who has contributed immensely to the economic growth of the country through entertainment.

In 2014, Stephanie released another movie, Dry, which she wrote, directed, produced and acted in. The movie won many awards including the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards and 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards’ best movie overall movie with the prize of a brand new car. 

In April 2012 Stephanie got married to Linus Idahosa in Paris, France, at a private wedding ceremony. The couple have a son, Maxwell Enosata Linus, born in 2015.

Stephanie is our Woman Crush Forever!

Want more posts about legendary Queens Of Nollywood? Then you should check out our Queens Of Nollywood archive.

Today, we honour the charming Idowu Philips.

Idowu Philips (Iya Rainbow) was born on the 16th of October, 1942 in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, where she had her primary and secondary education. She was admitted into the nursing school and became certified as a nurse. For over 20 years she worked as a certified nurse in general hospitals across Nigeria and acted occasionally in the theatre. She was married to the late Augustine Ayanfemi Philips who worked with Hubert Ogunde’s theatre group.

In 1986, after her husband’s death, Idowu Philips retired from nursing and ventured into full-time acting as a member of Hubert Ogunde’s theatre group. Her stage name Iya Rainbow is from the name of the theatre group Osumare, meaning Rainbow.

Over the course of her career, Iya Rainbow has featured in several Nigerian films. At present, she features in Airtel ads as a Nigerian mother-in-law and always brings joy to our faces.

We stan a dynamic queen!

She was born on the 3rd of May 1979 in Mbaise, Imo State as the fourth of eight children. Along with being an actor, she’s also a producer, director, entrepreneur, and former model. She attended Methodist Girls School and the University of Lagos, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in creative arts

Nnaji began her career as a child actor in the 1987 television soap opera, Ripples. She was just 8 years old at the time. During her time in university, she began auditioning for acting jobs. Her first major movie role was in the 1998 movie, Most Wanted. She went on to star in other movies like Camouflage (1999), Love Boat (1999), Sharon Stone (2001), Blood Sister (2002), Battle Line (2002), etc.

In 2004, Nnaji signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record label, and released her debut album, One Logologo Line.^[12] It is a mix of R&B, Hip-Hop, and Urban music. The album spawned the single “No More” which was widely ridiculed by Nigerians due to how terrible a song it was. However, it was later praised for being a lowkey feminist anthem that was way ahead of its time.

She produced her first movie in 2015 titled Road To Yesterday, and it went on to win the best movie at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Her directorial debut, titled Lion Heart, was released in 2018 and was immediately acquired by Netflix (making it the first Netflix original film from Nigeria). In the same year, she also starred in the movie Farming, the directorial debut of American based Nigerian actor, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. She appeared alongside Kate Beckinsale, Damson Idris, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

She has featured in many commercials. In 2004, she was the face of Lux beauty soap, appeared in ads for Omo detergent and Pronto beverage. In 2008, she launched the clothing line, St Genevieve.

All hail a queen!

Today, we honour the magnificent Omotola Jalade Ekeinde.

Born on the 7th of February 1978, Omosexy (a nickname she was given by fans for obvious reasons) is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist, and former model. She wasborn into a family of five and attended Chrisland School and Command Secondary School for her secondary education. She started her tertiary school education at Obafemi Awolowo University and completed it at Yaba College of Technology where she studied Estate Management.

Omotola’s original ambition was to work in Business Management. While waiting for her results after university, she began modelling to earn a living. During this time, she accompanied a friend to the auditions for the 1995 movie, Venom of Justice. She somehow ended up getting the lead role in the movie and caught the acting bug. Her role in the 1996 movie Mortal Inheritance gained her critical acclaim and mainstream recognition, shooting her into the list of A-list actors in Nollywood. She went on to star in such movies as Scores to Settle (1998), Lost Kingdom (1999), Blood Sisters (2003), Games Women Play (2005) etc.

After over 300 straight-to-video releases, Omotola starred in her first cinematic release in 2010. The movie, named Ije: The Journey, reunited Omotola with her Blood Sisters co-star, Genevieve Nnaji and was shot in parts of Nigeria and the United States. It became the highest-grossing movie at the time (until it dethroned by 2012’s Phone Swap).

In 2005, Omotola launched a music career with the release of her debut album titled, Gba. The album produced the singles Naija Lowa and the less commercially successful The Things You Do To Me. The singles Feel Alright and Through the Fire were released to promote her sophomore album. The album, though recorded, was never released for unknown reasons.

She married Captain Matthew Ekeinde in 1996 and had a white ceremony in 2001 that took place onboard a Dash 7 aircraft flying from Lagos to Benin. Together, they have four children.

Here’s to many more years of Omosexy gracing us with her many talents.

Today, we honour the resplendent Clarion Chukwura.

Clarion Chukwura (real name: Clara Nneka Oluwatoyin Folashade Chukwurah) is a Nigerian actress and humanitarian. She was born on the 24th of July, 1964 and comes from Anambra state.

She had her nursery school education in Lagos and then attended Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha for secondary education. Knowing that she wanted a career in acting, she proceeded to study Acting and Speech in the Department of Dramatic Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University.

She began her acting career in 1980 and got her first movie role in 1982’s Money Power, a film by veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Ola Balogun. She gained more recognition when she landed a role on the popular 1984 television soap opera, Mirror in the Sun. She was the first Nigerian to win the Best Actress award at the 1982 FESPASCO film festival in Burkina Faso.

Chukwura is known for playing rich, wealthy, and flamboyant characters. Since her Nollywood debut in 1984, she has starred in the following movies: Fiery Force, Money Power, Farewell to Babylon, Igbotic Love (LMAO), Forbidden Choice etc.

Chukwurah has been married three times and is the mother of popular music video director, Clarence Peters whose father is musician, Shina Peters. She met him while they were both filming Money Power. She is the recipient of many acting awards and has been recognised as a peace ambassador by the United Nations for her charity work across Africa.

Here’s to many more years of this legend living her best life.