Nollywood boasts of several families where talent runs deep, with brothers making significant contributions to the energetic film industry.
Here are some of the notable brother duos, trios and quadrios:
1. The Afolayan Brothers: Kunle, Aremu, and Gabriel
Need more proof that creativity is a genetic trait? Then have a look at the Afolayan brothers, Kunle, Aremu, and Gabriel Afolayan.
Son of Adeyemi Afolayan, an actor, dramatist, and pioneer of Nollywood, Kunle and his brothers Aremu, and Gabriel, just like their father have continued in the line of acting, making remarkable contributions to the film and entertainment industry with their incredible talents.
Kunle, the oldest of this creative trio, was born on the 30th of September, 1974, and is currently 50 years old. He is a talented actor, producer, and movie director.
Since joining Nollywood in 2005, Kunle has contributed creatively to several movies, including Anikulapo, Ijogbon, and A Naija Christmas. In 2019, he was nominated Director of the Year at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his film Diamond in the Sky, and in 2023, he won the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for Best Overall Movie for his movie Anikulapo.
Kunle is often credited for his creative elevation of the quality of Nollywood movies, less use of cliché, and showcasing more authentic storylines. He is married to Tolu Afolayan and has four children.
Second on this train is Aremu Afolayan Listen. Born on the 2nd of August, 1980, he is a film actor and producer.
The current 44 year-old has worked on several movies such as Idamu Akoto, Dead Rite, and Ewon Laafin. In 2021, Aremu was nominated Most Searched Actor at the Net Honour.
He is married to Kafilat Olayinka Quadri. They have a daughter Iyunade Afolayan.
Third in this God-selected trio is Gabriel Afolayan or G-Fresh as he’s known musically.
Actor and singer Gabriel has been active in the movie and entertainment industry since the 2000s but rose to fame for his role as “Akin” in the Super Story Series titled Nnena. Ever since G-Fresh has been a trailblazer in the field.
He’s been featured in many films, including Blood Sisters, Gold Statue, Seven Doors, and Lisabi: The Uprising.
The University of Ibadan alumni has won multiple awards. In 2013, he won his first award for Best Supporting Actor at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, and in 2019, he won Best Actor in a Lead Role—English at the Best Of Nollywood Awards for his role as “Wale” in the movie Gold Statue.
Undoubtedly, undeniable talent runs in this family. The lineage also features 2 more brilliant creatives who have contributed to Nollywood—Anu Afolayan who is a composer and sound engineer, also worked on movies such as Soolẹ́, Alaaru, and Moji Afolayan who is an actress, filmmaker, and producer.
The brothers share a strong bond and without doubt, the Afolayan family has been a blessing to Nollywood.
2. The Edochie Brothers: Yul and Linc Edochie
Sons of legendary veteran actor, Pete Edochie, Yul and Linc Edochie are both brothers and actors in Nigeria’s vibrant film industry, Nollywood.
Born into a family of six, Lincoln Edochie aka Linc Edochie, born May 10, 1977, is the older brother of his fellow actor Yul Edochie.
He attended the Federal Government College, Wukari in Taraba State for his secondary education and later obtained a degree in Fine and Applied Arts from Imo State University (IMSU).
Having taken a lot from his father’s creative genes, Linc is an actor, director, and scriptwriter. He professionally began acting in 1995 and has been featured in multiple movies, including, The Last Enigma, The Millions Man, and Fate Whisper.
He is married to Amaka Paula Edochie. They tied the knot on 4 December 2010. The couple has two children, Janinah and Giovanni.
His younger brother Yul, who is the last child of Pete Edochie, born on the 7th of January, 1982 is an actor and the self-named movie production company Yul Edochie Academy.
The current 43 year-old actor, began acting in the mid-2000s and made his debut in 2005 in the film The Exquires. He gained recognition after starring in the movie Wind Of Glory in 2007 and has since featured in several movies like Kiss My Pain, The End Is Near, and My Loving Heart.
A man who wears many hats, Yul is also a politician and a pastor. In 2017, he contested for the governorship position in Anambra State, and in 2024 unveiled his ministry called “True Salvation Ministry”.
Thanks to his successful deep dive into Nollywood, amongst Pete Edochie’s children, Yul Edochie is the most known.
The brother’s relationship has been perceived to be a bit rocky. In an interview with Kanayo, a popular actor and industry veteran, when asked about how he and his family felt about Yul’s marriage to a second wife, Linc said: “If a person’s decision hurts someone close to you, you should think about it”. In his response when asked about Yul’s marital show off on social media, he said Yul is not the first person to pick a second or third wife and that he should marry quietly and move on.
Nonetheless, Pete’s discipline has ensured that the family keeps most of their private life away from public display. He has quite an extensive family and it is heartwarming to see all six of his children grown up and excelling.
3. Femi, Tope, Sodiq, and Tijani Adebayo
Another prolific trio in Nollywood are the 3 sons of veteran actor, film producer, and owner of the fast-growing YouTube movie channel Oga Bello TV, Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello.
One of nine sons inspired by his father’s journey and illustrious career in Nollywood, Femi Adebayo began acting in 1985 featuring in his father’s first movie titled Ogun Ajayi and has since then starred in over 500 movies including Jagun Jagun, Seven Doors, and House of Ga’a.
An award-winning actor, Femi has won multiple awards such as Best Yoruba Actor at the 17th African Film Awards, and at the Best of Nollywood Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria Awards in 2012.
Although famous for his roles in Nollywood’s Yoruba division, he has a passion for the legal practice and has pursued that passion obtaining a degree in law from the University of Ilorin and a master’s from the University of Ibadan.
His brothers, Tope, Sodiq, and Tijani all filmmakers and movie producers who have worked closely as a family and creatively on individual projects.
Tijani Adebayo was ranked second highest earning Nollywood directors by FilmOne in 2022. He’s directed multiple movies like 77 Bullets, Ijakumo, Ada Omo Daddy, and Alakada: Bad and Boujie. He also won Director of the Year in 2024 at the Best of Nollywood Awards for the movie Jagun Jagun.
Sodiq, a committed production manager, is known for his key role in groundbreaking movies such as Omo Ghetto: The Saga, The Monkey Men, and Here Love Lies.
These Adebayo brothers are just a very small cutout of the extensive family of Oga Bello. The family is blessed with 18 children, 9 sons and 9 daughters.
4. Elozonam and Kanso Ogbolu
Elozonam Ogbolu is an actor, singer, and music producer who gained recognition as the 8th finalist on Season 4 of Big Brother Naija is the fraternal twin of Kanso Ogbolu who is an animation filmmaker, director, and CEO of OBK Studios.
Apart from sharing the same birthday (4th March 1986), Elozonam and his brother Kanso share a passion for content creation, entertainment, and creative storytelling.
Elozonam has been featured in top Nollywood, the likes of A Weekend to Forget, Sanitation Day, and Bad Boys and Bridesmaid. His brother, a graduate of architecture has nearly 15 years of experience in the creative industry working with different brands as an animator and has won multiple awards.
This brother duo is indisputably one of the most creative, and a collaboration between them would be explosive.
5. Lateef and Azeez Adedimeji
Lateef Adedimeji is a talented Nollywood actor, known for his captivating performances, versality, and pioneering Yoruba movies in the Nigerian film industry. Said to be one of the highest-earning actors in the field, Adedimeji began acting in 2007, officially entering the acting scene when he joined Orisun TV. He got recognized and came into the spotlight in 2013 with i feature in the movie Kudi Klepto. Since then, he’s displayed his excellent creativity in over 70 movies.
He is the brother of fast-rising actor Azeez Adedimeji. Azeez, although new to the industry has started displaying his impeccable creativity through his role in movies like That One Time, and The Cokers, where he featured as “Debo”, acting alongside his brother Lateef.
Azeez is also an incredible costume designer and has worked on different movies like Niniola in 2022.
