Temi Ami-Williams

EARLY LIFE

Temiloluwa Ami-Williams was born and raised in Akowonjo, Lagos, Nigeria. She is a twin (her sister is Tolu Ami-Williams). She developed an early interest in performance through her father’s love of foreign films; she would watch them, experiment with accents, and recite lines. She has a twin sister with whom she performed on stage early in her career. She studied Theatre Arts at the University of Lagos, graduating in 2018. During her university years she appeared in stage productions including Sad Pink (British Council / Lagos Theatre Festival 2016) and Strelitzia (Lagos Theatre Festival 2018).

CAREER

Ami-Williams began as a costume designer, crafts person, and dancer before fully embracing acting. She is the Chief Creative Officer / founder of Unteamed Nigeria (also referred to as Untaemed), a craft and costuming company serving stage, film, television, music videos, commercials, and animated characters. She is also Creative Director at New Wine Studios, where she produces experimental and ethnographic films. Her breakthrough came with the lead role of Rosa in Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) (2020), directed by Arie and Chuko Esiri. The film premiered at the 70th Berlinale and received international critical acclaim. For her performance she won the FESPACO Prize for Best Young Actor from West Africa in 2021 — a historic achievement for a Nigerian actress at Africa’s most prestigious film festival. She was also nominated for The Future Awards Africa Prize for Acting. Other credits include: The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos (2024, lead as Jawu; Sundance and Berlinale World Cinema Fund support; premiered at Toronto International Film Festival) Guest appearance on FBI: International (2022) Supporting or cameo roles in projects such as Christmas in Lagos (2024) Her own short films, including Ladipo’s Garden (2021) and Ìrètí (2024), the latter reflecting her cancer journey; Ìrètí has screened at festivals including Film Africa London and AFRIFF. She continues to work across acting, directing, producing, costume design, and cultural research, with a focus on African heritage, ethnographic filmmaking, and impact-driven storytelling. She has expressed interest in larger-scale international projects while remaining rooted in Nigerian and African narratives.

PERSONAL LIFE

Ami-Williams is open about her Christian faith, which she credits as central to her resilience. In late 2019 (around age 22), she was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer after experiencing severe back pain. The illness was physically, mentally, and spiritually challenging; she lost her hair and faced significant physical limitations. She has spoken about the support of family, friends, prayer networks, and the Eyimofe directors (Arie and Chuko Esiri). She later channelled the experience into creative work, including her short film Ìrètí. She has lived and worked in Europe (including Hungary during her master’s studies and for a FBI: International shoot in Budapest) while maintaining strong ties to Lagos.

Temi Ami-Williams is a multidisciplinary artist who blends performance, design, research, and filmmaking. She has taught (including at a school for autistic children) and is involved in cultural heritage preservation, exploring technologies such as motion capture and virtual reality. Her career is marked by resilience, faith, and a commitment to excellence and social impact. She continues to expand her work internationally while contributing to Nigerian cinema and the broader creative industries.