Seun Ajayi

EARLY LIFE

Seun Ajayi was born on 31 March in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. He is a native of Ijebu Ibefun in Ogun State. He is the last of five children. His father is a retired civil servant (who worked with NAFDAC for over 30 years), and his mother is a businesswoman who owned a bookshop and distributed goods. The family moved to Lagos when Seun was nine years old. He completed his primary and secondary education in Lagos. He initially considered studying mechanical engineering and briefly enrolled in a pre-degree program for mathematics at Ogun State University, but later switched to the arts. He gained admission to the University of Lagos, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts, focusing on directing. During his university years, he acted and co-directed course plays under directors such as Tunji Sotinmirin and Segun Adefila, performing in works including Ade Ire by Ahmed Yerima and Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman.

CAREER

Seun Ajayi is a Nigerian actor, voice-over artist, MC, and media professional. His professional acting career began in late 2007 when he emerged as second runner-up in Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) Season 3, under the mentorship of Norbert Young and Femi Branch. He is best known for his lead role as Dayo in the Africa Magic television sitcom Hustle, which gave him over 136 hours of Pan-African screen time. Other notable television and web series credits include Gidi Up (as Wole), Crimson (as Akin), The Smart Money Woman, Becoming Abi, Princess on a Hill (as Kayode), Gidi Culture, Have a Nice Day, and The Maze. On the big screen, he has appeared in Ojukokoro: Greed (2016, as Monday), Suru L’ere (2016, as Arinze), Black Val (2016), 93 Days (2016, as Dr. Niyi Fadipe), God Calling (2018, as Tope), The Ghost and the House of Truth (2019, as Debo), The Lost Okoroshi (2019, as Raymond), Uneven (2020, as Mike), Who Lived at Number 6 (2021, as Kunle), Ije Awele (2022, as Kunle), No Way Through (2023, as Jude Nwafor), A Troubled Heart (2023, as Sodiq), JAPA (2024, as Sola), Through His Eyes (2024, as Ogbutu), Lisabi: The Uprising (2024, as Olo Olori Ilari / Old Olori Ilari), and others. He has also worked on short films such as Erased (2016), Stuck (2019), and Buried (2021). Ajayi has provided voice-overs for major brands including Uber, Keystone Bank, First Bank, The Guardian, Ndani Communications, Total, Olam, Temple Productions, Telemundo, and DStv. He has received nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Supporting Actor, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for Best Actor in an Original Comedy Series, The Future Awards Africa Prize for Acting, and City People Movie Awards for Revelation of the Year. In 2015, he participated in the Nollywood Meets Hollywood program in Los Angeles.

PERSONAL LIFE

Seun Ajayi married Damilola Oluwabiyi on 9 September 2017 in a star-studded wedding in Lagos. A video of him excitedly dancing after unveiling his wife went viral. The couple has two children: a son (Modebare, born January 2019) and a daughter (born 2021). In 2024, they renewed their wedding vows. Seun has described marrying Damilola as one of the best decisions of his life and often speaks positively about their partnership and family life. He has siblings including sisters Dolapo, Sola, and Yeside, and a brother named Tunde. He also has numerous nieces and nephews.

Seun Ajayi is recognized for his versatility, charm, and ability to play strong, mysterious, or comedic characters. He continues to work across film, television, voice-over, and hosting. He remains active on social media, sharing insights into his career, family life, and industry experiences. He has spoken about the underestimation of Nigeria’s entertainment industry and the importance of continuous growth as an artist.