Femi Adebayo Salami

EARLY LIFE

Femi Adebayo Salami was born on December 31, 1978, in Lagos State, Nigeria, to veteran Nollywood actor Adebayo Salami (known as Oga Bello), who hails from Ilorin, Kwara State. He grew up in a large polygamous family in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos, immersed in the entertainment world due to his father's pioneering role in Yoruba cinema. Femi attended C&S College in Ilorin for his secondary education, followed by a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Ilorin, and later earned a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Ibadan. His early exposure to filmmaking came at age seven, debuting in his father's 1985 film Ogun Ajaye, sparking a lifelong passion for acting despite his legal training.

CAREER

Femi Adebayo is a multifaceted Nollywood icon, renowned for his work in Yoruba-language films as an actor, director, producer, and lawyer. He has starred in over 1,000 films, including classics like Owo Blow (1996), Sonto Alapata, Wura Ati Fadaka, Ma Wobadan, Buga, King of Thieves (2022), Jagun Jagun (2023), and Seven Doors (2025). As a producer and CEO of J-15 Media Network Nigeria (also associated with Euphoria360 Media), he has helmed hits like Diamonds in the Sky, Survival of Jelili, Ile Alayo, and Etiko Onigedu, with King of Thieves becoming Nollywood's highest-grossing film of 2022. His accolades include four Best Yoruba Actor wins at the Africa Film Awards (Afro Hollywood Awards) in London, Best Yoruba Actor at the 2012 Best of Nollywood Awards, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Yoruba) at the 2018 Best of Nollywood Awards, Best Supporting Actor at the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards for Jagun Jagun, and Best Lead Actor at the 2025 AMVCA for Seven Doors.

PERSONAL LIFE

Femi Adebayo was first married to Khadijat Adebayo, with whom he had three children: daughter Firdaus Niniola Adebayo and twin sons Fadlullah and Fadlurahman Adebayo; the couple divorced in 2008 due to irreconcilable differences but maintains a cordial co-parenting relationship. He remarried Omotayo Maimunat Sanusi (also known as Omotayo Adebayo) on October 9, 2016, in a private Lagos ceremony, and they welcomed a son. Adebayo, a father of four, often shares family moments on social media while keeping details private; he has been romantically linked to actress Funke Akindele in rumors, which he denied. He credits his father for mentoring him in balancing career and family, emphasizing cultural values and retirement planning.

Femi Adebayo founded the J15 School of Performing Arts to nurture emerging talents and promote Yoruba cinema globally. He advocates for industry collaboration, micro-pension schemes for actors, and cultural preservation through films addressing Nigerian societal issues. In 2025, he mourned veteran actor Segun "Chief Kanran" Remi, noting their recent collaboration. Recent X discussions highlight his influence, with users praising family skits alongside his father and brother Tope, and collaborations like with comedian Taaooma.