Femi Adebayo
Femi Adebayo (born 31 December 1976) is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, director, and lawyer. He is known for his work in Yoruba-language cinema and for directing commercially successful films such as King of Thieves (2022), Jagun Jagun (2023), and Seven Doors (2024). In 2024, he won the Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jagun Jagun, also won the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards' Best Lead Actor for his performance in Seven Doors in 2025.
Also recorded as Femi Adebayo Salami · Fẹ́mi Adébáyọ̀
Femi Adebayo
- Name
- Femi Adebayo
- Born
- 31 December 1976
- Birthplace
- Ilorin, Kwara State
- Education
- * University of Ibadan
- Occupation
- * Actor
- Spouse
- Omotayo Adebayo
- Nationality
- Nigeria
- Fields
- theater arts
- Known for
- Jagun Jagun · Seven Doors · King of Thieves · Kesari
- Languages
- English · Yoruba · Nigerian Pidgin
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Femi Adebayo (born 31 December 1976) is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, director, and lawyer. He is known for his work in Yoruba-language cinema and for directing commercially successful films such as King of Thieves (2022), Jagun Jagun (2023), and Seven Doors (2024). In 2024, he won the Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jagun Jagun, also won the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards' Best Lead Actor for his performance in Seven Doors in 2025.
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Femi Adebayo was a Nigerian actor, film director and film producer, among other activities. The actor was born in Lagos.
Femi Adebayo studied at University of Ibadan and University of Ilorin. The actor worked in Lagos. Femi Adebayo was active in theater arts.
Works include Jagun Jagun, Kesari, King of Thieves and Seven Doors. Languages used include English, Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q19282080 · wikipedia · Femi Adebayo
In this article
Biography
Biography
He has appeared in more than 500 films and has been active in the Nigerian film industry since the 1990s.
Femi Adebayo studied at University of Ilorin and University of Ibadan. The recorded working language is English, Yoruba and Nigerian Pidgin. The field of work recorded is theater arts. Places of work recorded in the authority are Lagos. Works named in the authority record are Jagun Jagun, Seven Doors, King of Thieves and Kesari.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Femi Adebayo • Born — 31 December 1976 • Birthplace — Ilorin, Kwara State • Other Names — Jelili, Sonto Alapata, Ogundiji • Citizenship — Nigeria • Education — * University of Ibadan • University of Ilorin • Occupation — * Actor • Director • Producer • Politician • Lawyer • Children — 4 • Father — Adebayo Salami • Relatives — Tope Adebayo Sodiq Adebayo • Years Active — 1985–present • Spouse — Omotayo Adebayo
Early life and education
Early life and education
Femi Adebayo was born on 31 December 1976 in Ilorin, Kwara State to Adebayo Salami and Alhaja Risikat Ejide. He attended C&S College before transferring to Oke Ode Grammar School, where he served as Head Boy and completed his secondary education in 1994. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) from the University of Ilorin in 2002 and attended the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. He later completed a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree at the University of Ibadan in 2008.
Career
Career
Adebayo made his acting debut in the Yoruba-language film Owo Blow in the 1990s, which brought him early recognition. He subsequently became a prominent figure in Yoruba cinema, appearing in over 500 films, including Ile Alayo, Jelili, and Survival of Jelili. Beyond acting, Adebayo expanded into film production and directing. In 2008, he founded J15 Media Network and the J15 School of Performing Arts, which has trained hundreds of aspiring actors and filmmakers for the Nigerian film industry. In 2021, he established Euphoria360 Media, a production company responsible for several large-scale Yoruba-language productions, including King of Thieves (Agesinkole), Jagun Jagun, and Seven Doors. King of Thieves (Agesinkole), released in 2022, was produced by Adebayo through Euphoria360 Media in collaboration with Anthill Studios. The film became one of the highest-grossing Yoruba-language films in Nigerian cinema history, earning over ₦320 million at the box office. In 2023, Adebayo produced the Netflix Original epic Jagun Jagun, directed by Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani. The film ranked among Netflix’s top ten non-English films globally and received multiple nominations across major Nigerian award platforms, including the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, Africa Movie Academy Awards, and Best of Nollywood Awards. His 2024 Netflix mini-series Seven Doors debuted at number one on Netflix Nigeria and remained in that position for several weeks. Adebayo’s performance earned him the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for Best Lead Actor. Adebayo’s films are frequently noted for their emphasis on Yoruba culture, language, costume, and mythology, combining traditional themes with contemporary cinematic techniques. From 2016 to 2019, Adebayo served as Special Adviser on Arts, Culture, and Tourism to the Governor of Kwara State. In this role, he worked on initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural tourism and promoting the creative economy in the state. Adebayo has signed endorsement deals with several brands, including Samsung, Trophy, Trumpy, VG Pensions, Kpearl, and Modara. He has also participated in advertising campaigns for Coca-Cola and Peak, and previously served as a brand ambassador for StarTimes.
Personal life
Personal life
Adebayo married Omotayo Adebayo on 9 October 2016. Adebayo and his wife have one son. He also has three children from an earlier marriage.
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Film — Role • 2025 — Labake Olododo • 2024 — Lisabi: The Uprising — Olu Olodan • Seven Doors — king Adedunjoye • Beast of Two Worlds — Ade Apa Igala • Queen Lateefah • Lakatabu — Muyiwa • Crossroads — Egunkemi • House of Ga'a — Olukuoye • 2023 — Ijogbon — Head of Amoteku • Mikolo — Babablu • Jagun Jagun — Ogundiji • World Famous — Pastor • Diety — Komokomo • 2022 — Maleeka — Kunle • King of Thieves — Adeshikoye/Adeoye • 2021 — cordelia — Rasaki • Ile Alayo • Ete — Deji • Love Castle — Chief Balogun • Progressive Tailors Club — Agbabiaka • The Cokers — Doctor • Charge and Bail — Whole Adetutu • Charlie Charlie • 2020 — The Miracle Centre • Special Jollof • Unroyal — Royal Suitor • Mama Drama — Dotun • 2019 — Jumbled — Yinka • Survival of Jelili — Jelili • Diamonds in the Sky — Kayode • Mokalik — Mr. Ogidan • 2018 — The Island — kola • The Ghost and the Tout — Dayo • Heaven on My Mind — Soji • 2017 — Sola Arikusa • 2014 — October 1 — Banji • 2013 — Ayitale — Aderopo • 2011 — Jelili — Jelili • 2009 — Apaadi • 1996 — Owo Blow — Wole Owolabi
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
His recorded languages were English, Yoruba and Nigerian Pidgin. His recorded confession was Islam. He was the child of Adebayo Salami.
Identity
Identity
Femi Adebayo is recorded as actor, lawyer, film director, special adviser and film producer.
Awards and honours
• Year — Award — Category — Work — Result — Ref • 2009 — Africa Movie Academy Awards — Best Actor in a Supporting Role — Apaadi • 2015 — City People Entertainment Awards — Best Movie Producer Of The Year (Yoruba) • 2017 — Best Actor Of The Year (Yoruba) • Best of Nollywood Awards — Best Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba — Afaila Ojo • 2018 — Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards — Best Indigenous Movie (Yoruba) — Etiko Onigedu • Best of Nollywood Awards — Best Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba • 2019 — Best Kiss in a Movie — Diamond in the Sky • Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) — The Return of Kesari • 2020 — Lucifer • 2022 — Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards — Best Actor in A Comedy — Progressive Tailors Club • 2023 — Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards — Best Actor In A Drama, Movie Or TV Series — King of Thieves • Best Overall Movie • Africa International Film Festival — Globe Award Honoree — Jagun Jagun • 2024 — 2024 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards — Best Indigenous Language Movie- West Africa — Jagun Jagun • Africa Movie Academy Awards — Best Actor in a Supporting Role • Abuja International Film Festival — Outstanding Male Actor • 2025 — Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards — Best Lead Actor — Seven Doors
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Olaope, Yinusa. How Femi Adebayo reframes Nollywood. The Sun. 6 December 2025.
- 2.Fasan, Yewande. Femi Adebayo celebrates mother's birthday with heartfelt tribute. The Nation. 13 January 2025.
- 3.Femi Adebayo is reinventing Nollywood one epic at a time. The Guardian.
- 4.Ogunseyin, Oluyemi. Seven Doors wins big at 2025 AMVCA, secures three major awards. The Guardian. 10 May 2025.
- 5.Ayodele, Johnson. Actor and wife are not separated according to this video. Pulse Nigeria. Pulse Africa. 4 November 2017.
- 6.BON Awards 2017: Kannywood's Ali Nuhu receives Special Recognition Award. Daily Trust. 23 November 2017.
- 7.AMVCA 2018: Full list of winners. The Punch. 2 September 2018.
- 8.Augoye, Jayne. BON Awards 2018: Tope Oshin, Tana Adelana win big. Premium Times. 10 December 2018.
- 9.Bada, Gbenga. BON Awards 2019: 'Gold Statue', Gabriel Afolayan win big at 11th edition. Pulse Nigeria. 15 December 2019.
- 10.Augoye, Jayne. BON Awards: Laura Fidel, Kunle Remi win Best Kiss (Full List of Winners). Premium Times. 7 December 2020.
- 11.2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list. BBC News Pidgin.
- 12.Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees. AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees. April 2024.
- 13.Peaceman, Pandora. AMCVA 2023: Femi Adebayo Bags 8 Nominations On 'King Of Thieves'. New Telegraph. 2023-04-17.
- 14.Oyediran, Tosin. FULL LIST: Femi Adebayo's Seven Doors scores big at #AMVCA11, wins best lead actor, actress. The Punch. 11 May 2025.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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