In our series “Mixed-race faces from some other places” we look to shine a light on the successful mixed people from countries other than the usual suspects of UK and USA. There is a world of mixed achievement out there and a lot of pride and success to be celebrated, often under very adverse conditions.
Mixed Nigeria
his week’s talented celebrities are some of the biggest and brightest stars within their chosen field of entertainment. This collection of singers, actors, sporting personalities, politicians and models and all have one thing in common: their mixed-race heritage.
In no particular order we have……
Anthony Joshua
Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua was born on 15 October 1989 in Watford, Hertfordshire, the son of Yeta and Robert Joshua. His mother is Nigerian, while his father is of Nigerian and Irish ancestry. Joshua’s Nigerian background can be specifically traced back to the Yoruba people, amongst whom he is of aristocratic rank.
Fights 24
Wins 23
By KO 21
Losses 1
Nneka Egbuna
Nneka Egbuna, widely known as Nneka, is a successful Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. Nneka is the daughter of an Igbo Nigerian father and a mixed race half-German mother. She first gained public attention in 2004 while performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star, Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark.
The autobiographical
song “Halfcast”
details the discovery
of her mixed-race
identity.
Richard Ayoade
Richard Ellef Ayoade is an English comedian, actor, writer, filmmaker, author and television presenter. He is best known for his role as the socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in Channel 4 sitcom “The IT Crowd”, for which he won the 2014 BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance. Richard was born in London to a Norwegian mother and a Nigerian father.
Sade Adu
Born, Helen Folasade Adu popularly known as Sade Adu or simply Sade, is a Nigerian-British singer, songwriter, and actress. Sade was born in Ibadan, Nigeria to a Nigerian father and an English mother and raised in Essex, England. She gained some recognition as a fashion designer and part-time model, prior to joining the band Pride in the early 1980s. The “Sweetest Taboo” singer is a four time Grammy winner with her popularity almost universal. Sade was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002 for services to music, and stated her award was “a great gesture to me and all black women in England”. She was promoted to Commander of the same Order (CBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours, also for services to music.
Adunni Ade
Model and Nollywood actress Adunni Adewale, popularly known as Adunni Ade, was born in Queens, New York, United States to a German American mother and a Yoruba Nigerian father. She received a Stella Award from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism for her efforts in promoting the Nigerian culture.
Caroline Ekanem
Nollywood actress and one-time producer Caroline Ekanem was born to a Scottish father and a Nigerian (Akwa Ibom) mother. She won the Best Actress of the year Award at the MVA (Academy Member Vote Awards).
Shan George
Nollywood actress, singer, film producer and director, Shan George, was born in Ediba, a town in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria to a Nigerian mother and a British father and refers to herself as a “Bush Girl”. She is best known for her role in the movies Outkast and Welcome to Nollywood.
Jiddena
Wisconsin-born American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, popularly known as Jidenna, was born to a white American mother and a Nigerian father who is Igbo.
Ramsey Nouah
Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Jr, popularly known as Ramsey Nouah, was born in Edo State to an Israeli father and a Yoruba mother who hails from Owo, Ondo State. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2010. He made his directorial debut with the film Living in Bondage: Breaking Free in 2019
Ade Bantu
Adegoke Odukoya, well-known as Ade Bantu, is a Nigerian German musician, producer, actor and social activist, born in Wembley, London, who is the front man of the 13-piece band BANTU (Brotherhood Alliance Navigating Towards Unity). He has been a judge on the MTN Project Fame West Africa and co-founder of Afropolitan Vibes, a monthly concert series started in 2013 to celebrate live music across different genres and generations. He also founded the Afro-German musical collective and NGO, Brothers Keepers. Adé Bantu is also the co-founder and creative director of BornTroWay, a community arts project targeted at disadvantaged youths in major African cities.
“Growing up in a household where Europe and Africa were constantly renegotiating their relationship, I was made to understand the best of both worlds coming together.”
Taio Cruz
Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, known professionally as Taio Cruz, is an English singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer. Taio was born in London to a Nigerian father and a Brazilian mother. He has won numerous awards including Best British Song at the Brit Awards, 2010’s Breakthrough Artist at the American Music Awards, along with numerous Billboard and ASCAP Awards.
Sophie Okonedo
British actress Sophie Okonedo is an English film, theatre and television actress. Sophie was born in London to Joan Allman, her British mother and Henry Okonedo, her British-Nigerian father. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019 New Year honors.
Carmen Ejogo
British singer, television and film actress Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo’s father is a Nigerian, while her mother is Scottish. She began her career as host of the Saturday Disney morning show from 1993 to 1995 and went on to become a sought after actor in the US and UK.
Daddy Freeze
Nigerian broadcaster, presenter and social activist Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, is also the founder of the Free the Sheeple movement in Nigeria. Freeze was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania to a Nigerian (Yoruba) father and a Romanian mother. He has hosted a number of music concerts, comedy shows and Nollywood premieres in Nigeria, Ghana and the United Kingdom.
Mrs Florence Ajumobi
The former First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajumobi, was born in Benin, the capital of the then Bendel State of Lebanese descent from her father’s side and Yoruba descent from her mother’s side. She is the Yèyé Ààré of Ibaanland. This title was conferred on her on the 16th of December 2016 by Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Have we forgotten someone that simply must be on this list? If so, send the details to reachout@1mixedfamily.com for possible inclusion in this article. All participation is welcome.