Entertainment
How playing gay role boosted my career – Actor Iremide Adeoye
There is no doubt that before now, only a few Nigerian actors would readily accept a gay role in a movie, perhaps because of the fear of the aftermath from society, despite it being a make-believe.
With the exception of ‘Wura’, a 2022 original Showmax series, only a few Nollywood productions have explored the reality and intricacies of a gay character in recent times.
Nollywood’s foray into queer narratives has been modest, with films like “Hell or High Water” (2016), directed by Asurf Oluseyi. This short film tells the story of a young pastor who grapples with his feelings for a fellow male pastor.
Then, there is “Dapper” (2017), directed by Chike Nwoffiah, another short film that explores the life of a Nigerian lesbian who returns to Nigeria to make amends with her estranged mother.
Also, “No Hiding Place” (2021), directed by Teco Benson, is another short Nollywood drama that explores the challenges faced by a closeted gay man living in Nigeria.
However, these previous queer-themed movie attempts remained short and fell short of fully immersing viewers in the daily lives and emotions of their queer characters.
Enter Iremide Adeoye
“Wura,” on the other hand, carved its path by delving deep into the life of Lolu Adeleke, portrayed by Iremide Adeoye, a queer character grappling with the complexities of love and family expectations.
His romantic journey intertwined with characters like Femi and Adebayo paints a vivid picture of the multifaceted nature of same-sex relationships.
What sets “Wura” apart is its commitment to offering a more genuine, positive, and realistic portrayal of queer love, diverging from the stereotypical and often negative depictions that have plagued Nollywood in the past.
Notably, the series consciously avoided physical displays of affection, such as kissing or touching, while still managing to convey the depth of emotions shared by its characters.
In an exclusive interview with Premium Times, Adeoye, a 26-year-old actor and digital content creator, expressed his surprise at the overwhelming reception of his character in Wura, Lolu Adeleke.
Many would think that acting a gay role in Nigeria would ostracise him from society, but on the contrary, he said playing a ‘Lolu Adeleke’ has become a significant peak in his career.
He shared, “When the audience can relate with the character, that’s great news for me.”
Although Iremide has been featured in Nollywood movies like ‘The Order of Things and ‘Tiger Tail’, these flicks were not enough to give him the breakthrough his career has seen since the wake of playing ‘Lolu Adeleke’, a queer character in the movie, Wura.
Queer role
The fashion enthusiast and actor said his role in the series and the reception have been fantastic.
He said, “People have come to resonate more with the character, way more than I expected, and that is the joy for me as an actor when the audience can relate with the surface; that’s great news for me.
“Acting as a queer character in Nollywood as Lolu Adeleke. It has been the biggest queer representation in Nollywood on that scale, and it feels great to be one of the performers of something like that. I was expecting some backlash, of course, because acting a queer character in a homophobic country, you don’t know what to expect.
“Still, you know what to expect, but so far, so good; despite the bad and negative sides I have seen, I feel like the love has overshadowed the bad side. For me, I don’t want to focus on the negativity that comes from playing that character; the love and the people that do appreciate the work that I do is what I pay my attention to.”
Beyond his acting career, he has actively engaged with his audience through platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, where he shares insights into filmmaking, fashion, and beauty.
Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has questioned the authenticity of an interim order issued by the Lagos State High Court on 2 September 2026, restraining her from publishing photographs of Priscilla Ojo’s one-year-old son, Rakeem Mkambala, and from posting editorials concerning the family on specified social media platforms.
Anjorin raised the issue during an Instagram Live session on Friday, 4 September, after Priscilla shared a copy of the court order online.
The actress argued that publicising court documents before formally serving the respondent undermines the case.
“Your case na dead on arrival. If you post court letter on any platform before serving person wey you wan go serve, that court case na fake court case,” Anjorin said during the live session.
Her comments came shortly after the High Court of Lagos State granted an ex parte application brought by Priscilla, her husband, Tanzanian singer Juma Mussa Mkambala, and their son, Rakeem.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya issued the interim order in Suit No. LD/ADR/6646/2026.
The order restrains Anjorin, as well as people acting under her authority, from publishing, posting, circulating, uploading or broadcasting photographs of Rakeem on specified social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok.
The court also directed Anjorin to cease publishing or broadcasting editorials concerning the applicants on the platforms covered by the order.
An ex parte order is made at an interim stage without the respondent being heard. The order is therefore not a final determination of the dispute and remains subject to further proceedings.
Priscilla shared the certified copy of the order on her Instagram Story on Friday, bringing the legal development into public view.
Anjorin’s reaction centres on the timing and manner in which the court documents were publicised. Her assertion that such publication makes a case “fake” is her own claim and is not a finding contained in the court order.
The development marks another chapter in the prolonged public dispute between Anjorin and Priscilla’s family, particularly Priscilla’s mother, actress Iyabo Ojo.
The disagreement has played out largely on social media and has previously resulted in legal action, including a ₦1 billion defamation suit filed by Iyabo Ojo against Anjorin.
In recent weeks, the dispute has also drawn Priscilla and her young son into the controversy, following public comments by Anjorin concerning the family.
Kesiena Tony Adjekpovu, popularly known as Kess, has said that participating in Big Brother Naija can make life harder, offering a candid reflection on the challenges that may come with the reality television experience.
The former Big Brother Naija housemate made the comment in a statement shared on social media, where he suggested that winning or simply taking part in the reality show does not necessarily make life easier after leaving the house.
“Big Brother makes your life harder,” Kess said.
The remark has drawn attention because life after reality television can bring a different set of expectations, particularly as former housemates adjust to increased public attention and the pressure that can accompany visibility.
Kess was a housemate on the seventh season of Big Brother Naija, which aired in 2022. He entered the show as a businessman and was among the contestants who competed for the season’s grand prize.
His time on the programme also placed him in the public eye, giving viewers an opportunity to follow his personality and relationships inside the house.
Kess’s latest comment offers a more reflective view of the reality TV platform, suggesting that the experience does not end when a contestant leaves the house.
However, he did not provide further details in the available post explaining which specific aspects of life after Big Brother he was referring to.
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