Spotlight this week is on some members of the ensemble cast of Prime Video first original Nigeria film, Gangs Of Lagos. Directed by talented filmmaker Jáde Osiberu, the film has generated a lot of excitement since its release last week.
Moviedom salutes some members of cast of Gangs of Lagos (GOL) — Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Iyabo Ojo, Chioma Akpotha, Bimbo and Toyin Abraham for their contribution in making the movie tick.
Chioma Akpotha (Mama Ify)
Notable actress Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha never disappoints when she is given a role to interpret in any film. The star of Omo Ghetto, Wives on Strike, Swallow, Lock Down and Collison Course has always interpreted roles to the hilt. The star of Bended Knees and Lara and the Beats showed stuff in GOL.
Chioma played Mama Ify, a single mum and a market woman in Isale Eko where the movie is set. She lived delightfully, the role of a loving mother who supports her son (Ify played by the singer Chike) in pursuing his dreams as an artist. After the gruesome murder of her only son, Mama Ify ignites the action that triggered the gang war in Isale Eko. To say that the Banking and Finance graduate of the Lagos State University (LASU) played a pivotal role in GOL will be stating the obvious.
Popular by her maiden name Chioma Chukwuka, the actress and mother 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 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 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
That icing was all the star of critically acclaimed movies such as Hearts on Fire, Azima, Teco Benson’s Accident and Romantic Attraction needed on her career cake to emerge one of Africa’s leading ladies.
Iyabo Ojo (Mama Obalola)
The popular actress lived the role of Mama Obalola in GOL and she acquitted herself as a dependable actress. As Mama Obalola, Iyabo wanted the best for her son Obalola (played by Tobi Bakre) and hoped that Obalola will not grow up to become a street kingpin like his father. Iyabo was convincing as Mama Obalola.
Born Alice Iyabo Ogunro in Lagos to a father who is from Abeokuta in Ogun State, the pretty actress and mother studied Estate Management at the Lagos State Polytechnic. She began her acting career in 1998 and made her debut same year in an English language movie titled Satanic. She followed that up with a major outing in a 2002 Yoruba language movie titled Baba Darijiwon, which is reputed as her break-out movie.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pinkies Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that caters for children with special needs and the less privileged, has since then acted, scripted and produced so many movies including Bolutife, Bofeboko, Okunkun Biribiri and a 2015 movie titled Silence. Her other movie credits include Arinzo, Black Vals, Twisted Twin, Gone to America and the 2018 movie Divorce Not Allowed.
Adesua Etomi-Wellington (Gift)
Adesua Etomi-Wellington played the role of Gift in GOL and she was amazing as all time. Adesua was convincing as one of the leading women in Isale Eko and a close pal of Obalola.
An actress with amazing talent, the Sugar Rush star and winner of award of best actress at the 2016 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) has continued to show stuff and has proven over time that she is that actress any good producer should engage if he or she wants an actress who can live a role believably.
Born in Owerri, Imo State, to a father who is from Edo State and a mother who is Yoruba, Adesua who is now married into the Yoruba tradition, acts with depth. She throws herself into a role and makes roles that she has plays seem as though it was written with her in mind.
Movies that have benefited from her convincing acting run include King of Boys, Muna, The Wedding Party, A Soldiers Story and Ayanma: Music in the Desert.
Tobi Bakre (Obalola)
Clearly the leading actor in GOL, Tobi is Obalola, the Isale Eko Kingpin who must protect his throne and follow in the footstep of his father, an acclaimed kingpin.
An actor with his eyes on the summit, the star of Brotherhood, Sugar Rush, The Blood Covenant and Mokalik was convincing as Obalola. Actor, model, host and compere, Tobi who made his first big appearance on the Big Brother Nigeria reality show where he emerged 2nd runner up of 20 housemates, showed stuff and lived the lead role delightfully. Tobi outing in GOL has been described as a new career height for the actor who quit a banking job for BBN.
Toyin Abraham (Bamidele)
MULTI-award-winning actress and producer, Toyin Abraham, stars in GOL as Bamidele and the actress that have successfully signed two box office hits as producer— The Ghost and the Tout and Alakada — delivered her role creditably.
Star of Elevator Baby and co-producer of the acclaimed movie Seven And A Half Dates, Toyin who is clearly one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry, won the award for best actress in a drama at the 2020 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) for her role in Elevator Baby.
The Auchi, Edo State-born actress who studied Marketing at the Ibadan Polytechnic has featured in and has produced several movies in Yoruba and English language including Okafor’s Law, Wives on Strike, Alakada Reloaded, Celebrity Marriage and KnockOut.
