Biography
EARLY LIFE
Born on October 26, 1983, in Lagos, Nigeria, Folake Olowofoyeku is the youngest of 20 children. Her father, Babatunji Olowofoyeku, was a prominent Nigerian politician and lawyer. She grew up on Victoria Island, Lagos, and also spent time in London. At age 18, she emigrated to the United States to live with her sister, where she initially studied economics before pursuing a degree in theater.
CAREER
Olowofoyeku began her career in off-Broadway theater in New York City. She rose to prominence starring as Abishola in the CBS sitcom 'Bob Hearts Abishola' (2019–2024), the first American sitcom to feature a Nigerian family. Her film work includes roles in 'When They Could Fly', 'Death Race 2050', and the voice of Amara in 'Mufasa: The Lion King'. As a musician under the moniker 'The Folake', she creates Afro-beat electronic music and appeared as a bassist in David Bowie's music videos for 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)' and 'The Next Day'.
PERSONAL LIFE
Residing in Los Angeles, Olowofoyeku is fluent in Yoruba and English. During her time at the City College of New York, she played NCAA Division III basketball for the CCNY Beavers. She is a dedicated fan of science fiction, citing Octavia Butler as a favorite author. Her nephew, Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku, was part of the creative team behind the Disney+ series 'Iwájú'.
Filmography
No filmography available for this person yet.
Box Office
Weekly Top Grossing3 Cold Dishes
₦5,331,351.00
Gingerrr
₦12,727,775.00
Gingerrr
₦21,139,500.00
The Herd
₦16,977,673.00
3 Cold Dishes
₦15,261,240.00
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Popularity Score
Top 98% of African actors
