Joke Silva
- Born
- 1961-09-29 (age 64)
- Birthplace
- Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Occupation
- Director, Businesswoman, Philanthropist, Actress
- Active
- 1990 - Present
- Spouse
- Olu Jacobs
- Alma Mater
- Holy Child College, Obalende, Lagos; University of Lagos; Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, London
- AKA
- Joke Silva Jacobs
Biography
EARLY LIFE
Joke Silva was born on September 29, 1961, in Lagos, Nigeria, into a Saro/Amaro family of four children. Her father, Chief Emmanuel Afolabi Silva, was a prominent lawyer, while her mother, Dr. (Mrs.) Marianne Abimbola Silva, was a pioneering medical doctor who served as the first female medical director of Lagos State. She attended Holy Child College, Obalende, Lagos, and studied at the University of Lagos and Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. At university she was part of a cultural group that included the playwright Bode Osanyin and the singer Stella Monye. She took a year off from her studies, during which time she began working as an actress before relocating to England where she studied Drama at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Initially, her parents were opposed to Silva's decision to go into the theatre but they soon began to support her, happy at the success she made of her career. During a slow period of her career, Silva returned to school, studying English at the University of Lagos.
CAREER
Silva has starred in numerous films and television series in both the English and Yoruba languages. One of her earliest roles was in the 1990 English television series Mind Bending. In 1993, she appeared in Owulorojo, followed by Violated in 1996. In 1998, she starred opposite Colin Firth and Nia Long in the British-Canadian film The Secret Laughter of Women, in which she portrayed Nene. Author Finola Kerrigan noted that Silva stood out as an exceptional actress in the Nigerian film industry after mentioning her role. In 2002, Silva starred opposite Bimbo Akintola in Keeping Faith. Akintola later cited Silva, whom she refers to as "Aunty Joke", as a major career influence, adding, "Silva has done a lot, but it's not even about the things that she did, it's about the things she didn't realize that she did". Also in 2002, Silva co-produced and starred in The Kingmaker with Olu Jacobs. This was followed by roles in pictures such as A Husband's Wife (2003), Shylock (2004), and A Past Came Calling (2004). In 2006, Silva was awarded the "Best Actress in a Leading Role" award at the 2nd Africa Movie Academy Awards for her role in Women's Cot. Later that year, Silva starred opposite Genevieve Nnaji in Mildred Okwo's action thriller 30 Days, which received 10 nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2008. She also narrated Jeta Amata's Anglo-Nigerian production The Amazing Grace, which was shot in Calabar. The film was lauded by critics, and was nominated for 11 Africa Movie Academy Awards. The News noted Silva's "song-like voice, [which] provides insight to the actions". In 2007, Silva starred opposite Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Michael Okon and Fred Essien in Ndubuisi Okoh's To Love and to Hold. Silva won a Best Supporting Actress award in 2008 for her "methodical portrayal of a grandmother" in White Waters (2007), though she was not at the ceremony to receive her award in person. In a November 2008 interview, Silva professed that "whenever she had to play an evil character in a film, she would pray and use Jesus as her 'hedge'". Silva is also the recipient of an EMOTAN Award from African Independent Television (AIT) and the SOLIDRA Award for Visual Art. In 2011, Silva starred alongside Nse Ikpe Etim, Wale Ojo and Lydia Forson in Kunle Afolayan's romantic comedy Phone Swap. Lauded by the critics, and one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year, it received four nominations at the 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards, including a nomination for Best Nigerian Film. It also won the award for Achievement in Productions Design. In 2013, Silva took to the stage to appear in the Thespian Family Theatre and Productions staging of the "Mad King of Ijudiya" at the Agip Hall of Muson Centre of Lagos at Christmas. Two shows were put up at 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm on 21, 22, 28 and 29 December, which Vanguard described as a "rich blend of folklore, traditional dance and music that naturally transports the audience to a typical African village setting".
PERSONAL LIFE
Silva is married to veteran actor Olu Jacobs and has two children. The couple met in 1981 at the National Theatre, Lagos during the 21st Independence anniversary. Silva is Director of Studies at the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, while her husband served as chairman. Lufodo Academy is one of several assets the couple owns as part of the Lufodo Group, including Lufodo Productions, Lufodo Consult, and Lufodo Distribution. She has curated for the Bank of Industry (BOI) in Theatre, Film, Documentary and Poetry and the 2012 London Olympics, and is also the pioneer managing director of Malete Film Village, in association with Kwara State University. In addition to her work as an actress, Silva is a philanthropist and a strong supporter of women's emancipation and empowerment, contributing to their education, training and progress. On 29 September 2014, Silva was honored as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, one of Nigeria's national honors, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. In September 2016, she was unveiled as the brand ambassador for AIICO Pension Managers Limited (APML). Silva, in the year 2020, led the campaign supporting ailing Nigerian actors soliciting for funds to pay for medical bills. She did that through the instance of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, which revealed plans to inaugurate health insurance schemes for its members. In November 2021, Joke had an interview with Chude Jideonwo where she revealed that her husband Jacobs is battling with Dementia with Lewy bodies. In 2022, she was appointed into Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign Team.
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 99% of African actors
