Spotlight on stars of Kunle Afolayan’s Swallow

The follow spot is on the leading ladies and men of the wave making film by Kunle Afolayan Swallow – Ijeoma Grace Agu, Deyemi Okanlanwon, Eniola Badmus, Chioma Akpotha and Niyola Eniola. These notable screen celebrities put up a delightful performance in the compelling masterpiece that is clearly homage to a nostalgic past and it was indeed a cinematic masterpiece.

Showing currently on Netflix, the Netflix original is an adaptation of Sefi Atta‘s best-selling novel, Swallow, which explores the burgeoning drug trafficking trade. Directed by Kunle Afolayan, if the movie that is set against the backdrop of Lagos of the 1980’s has continued to retain number one position on Netflix, it is because the movie is not just a delight to watch, but also Afolayan and his crew at KAP pulled a good cast that gave the movie its acting credits. The spotlight is on some of the leading men and ladies.

Ijeoma Grace Agu (Rose)
NOTABLE actress Ijeoma Grace Agu played Rose in Swallow and she delivered on all counts. Although not the lead actress, Ijeoma’s performance made the performance by the leading actress appear pale. Ijay as the biochemistry graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka was brilliant as Rose and she played the role to the hilt.

Married to filmmaker Daniel Emeke Oriahi, the actress, who was raised in Benin City and Lagos, started off her professional career in 2007 with a role in Eldorado, that long rested television series directed by Fidelis Duker. But the star of Oko Asewo (Taxi Driver), Hoodrush and Misfit revealed in an interview that acting for her started at age 14 in early school.

An alumnus of Royal Arts Academy and in fact one of the first students to register at the Emem Isong led academy, Ijay came into limelight following her role in Hoodrush. The recipient of the 2014 Best of Nollywood Most Promising actress award rode on the back of Hoodrush to pick up roles in movies such as Misfit, The Arrangement, Beyond Blood, One Room, The Choice of Aina, Flower Girl, From Within, Just Not Married, Taxi Driver among others.

Ijay had received a best supporting actress nomination at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards and had won the award grant from Theatre Royal Stratford East for a one- woman show she developed in 2012

Chioma Akpotha

Popular by her maiden name Chioma Chukwukah, the Banking and Finance graduate of the Lagos State University (LASU) has risen steadily to become a queen on the acting turf. Chioma whose debut as an actress was in the movie titled Apple by Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun got a confirmation of her star status when she was crowned the best actress in Africa for her deep runs in the urban telling Sins of the Flesh at the 2007 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). That icing was all the star of critically acclaimed movies such as Hearts on Fire, Azima, Wives on Strike, Accident and Romantic Attraction needed on her career cake to emerge one of Africa’s leading ladies.

Deyemi Okanlawon (Sanwo)
OBVIOUSLY the star of Swallow, the notable Nollywood actor turned content distributor, Deyemi Okanlawon, played Sanwo in the movie and put up a superb performance. A critic described his performance as ‘role killing’.

Indeed, Deyemi interpreted his role as Sanwo delightfully and he kept a steady mien throughout the movie, the first of the three movies that will be signed by Kunle Afolayan for Netflix. A film, television, theatre and voice actor, Deyemi showed stuff as an actor and was believably in character.

Best known for his roles in the TV Series Gidi Up, Okanlawon was born in Lagos, studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos and obtained a Certificate in Acting for Film, from the New York Film Academy. He made his feature film debut in the 2010 movie ZR-7. In 2013, he switched careers to focus on acting full-time and has since featured in over 50 films, 8 stage plays and has appeared in OLX and GLO TV commercials. Movies in his pouch include Greg Odutayo’s Beyond Blood, If Tomorrow Never Comes and No Man’s Land.

Eniola Badmus

A native of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State where she was also born, Eniola attended the University of Ibadan and the Lagos State University where she said she bagged first and second degrees in Theatre Arts and Economics respectively. The witty actress joined the industry in 2008 and she has since then been busy sparring in several Yoruba and English movies including Angelina, Blackberry Babes, Village Babes, Oreke Temi and Omo Jesu.

Eniola Akinbo aka Niyola (Tolani Ajao)
A NIGERIAN singer and songwriter, Eniola Akinbo who is popular as Niyola got her acting break in Swallow and for a first timer in front of the screen and playing lead in a star studded movie. Popular opinion is that the singer, who was inspired to pursue a career in music after attending a Funmi Adams concert, didn’t do too badly in her role as Tolani Ajao.

Born in Lagos, Niyola began her music career in 2006 and briefly with eL Dee’s Trybe Music label before she moved on to Make Sum Noise Entertainment. But in 2012, the Me n U (In Da Club), No More and Dem Say singer signed a record deal with Empire Mate and in 2013 she released the single Toh Bad, her first release under the label.