Owobo Ogunde

EARLY LIFE

Owobo Ogunde was born into a prominent Yoruba theatre family on 5 May 1978 in Ijebu Ososa, Ogun State. He is the last son of the late Chief Hubert Adedeji Ogunde and the late Mrs Orisabunmi Ogunde. Growing up in a polygamous family where his father had ten wives and many children, Owobo was immersed in the performing arts from a very young age. He began acting as a child in the 1970s under his father’s direct mentorship. One of his early notable performances was portraying the character Oriadekigbe in his father’s stage production Aropin T’Enia, staged at Glover Hall in Lagos. He was also a founding member of the Nigerian National Troupe and appeared in a stage adaptation of Things Fall Apart where he played the role of a white man. In 1992, at the age of 13–14, he relocated to the United Kingdom, where he later pursued studies in Information Technology.

Owobo Ogunde is married to Adetutu Ogunde, a lawyer and human rights activist. The couple, who reside in London, United Kingdom, have two children. He is described as a dedicated family man who balances his professional life with family responsibilities. He is a Christian of Yoruba ethnicity. His personal interests include football, fitness (particularly running), and supercars. He maintains a relatively private personal life outside of occasional professional updates.

Owobo Ogunde’s career spans theatre, film, and the technology sector. After moving to the UK in 1992, he built a successful career as an IT programmer and senior professional, leading large-scale implementation projects for investment companies. He returned to acting with a prominent role in Kunle Afolayan’s Netflix production Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre (2024), playing the character Bashorun. This marked his notable entry into modern Nollywood cinema and has generated interest in further film roles. His earlier theatre work with the Ogunde Theatre Company and the Nigerian National Troupe established him as part of Nigeria’s rich cultural and theatrical heritage. He continues to work in the UK as an IT expert and entrepreneur while occasionally taking on acting projects that celebrate Nigerian culture.