Ifeoma Fafunwa
- Birthplace
- Lagos Island, Nigeria
- Occupation
- Theatre Maker, Creative Director, Playwright, Artist, Activist, Interior Architecture Designer
- Spouse
- Tani Fafunwa
- Alma Mater
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute; Dorsey Studios for the Performing Arts; University of Southern California; Aspen Institute; MIT Media Lab
Biography
EARLY LIFE
Ifeoma Fafunwa was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Carol Obianwu, a physics teacher and vice principal of St. Gregory’s College, and Walter Obianwu, an internationally competitive tennis player. She attended St. Mary’s Primary School, Lagos, and Holy Child College, Obalende. At 17, she moved to the US for university.
CAREER
After graduation, she worked for several years as an interior architecture designer in Atlanta and as a Creative Director at an advertising agency in Denver, Colorado. She then moved to Los Angeles to be closer to Film, Theatre, and Television. Ifeoma is the founder and creative director of iOpenEye Africa Foundation, a Nigerian non-profit organization focused on using performance art to drive social change. Her play, HEAR WORD!, which she directed and co-wrote, has been seen by over 120,000 live audience members worldwide. She was listed as one of the '12 Artists who changed the world in 2019.' Ifeoma's activist work is featured in the award-winning documentary film titled MrsF (on Al Jazeera). She describes herself as a social-impact theatre maker, artist and activist, writing, directing, and producing socially transformative plays. She also facilitates pro-bono acting and storytelling workshops and serves as Chief Creative Officer at iOpenEye Africa Foundation. Her earlier directing, producing, and writing work includes Eggs & Fleas by Blue Sphere Alliance, Sefi Atta’s plays, Bigger & Better and The Engagement, Digging for Gold produced by Lufodo, 100 Million Vagabonds, and Love & Recession. She also directed one of Nigeria’s cultural submissions for the London 2012 Olympics, and her work has been featured at the Lagos Theater Festival, the Tate Modern and London’s International Festival of Theatre (LIFT).
PERSONAL LIFE
In 2001, Ifeoma married Tani Fáfúnwá and in 2003 she returned to Nigeria where she currently lives and works. Ifeoma and Tani have four children.
Filmography
No filmography available for this person yet.
Awards
0 won / 1 nominated · 0% win rateAMVCA
Best Lead Actress
2026
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 99% of African actors
