Adunni Ade

Adunni Ade (Listen^ⓘ) is a Nigerian American actress^[1] and model.^[2][3][4] She was born on the 7th of June 1976 in Queens, New York to a German American mother and a Nigerian father from Lagos.^[5]

Adunni Ade
Adunni at the AMVCAs 2020
Born	Adunni Adewale Queens, NY, U.S.
Nationality	American Nigerian
Alma mater	University of Kentucky
Occupation(s)	Actress, Film Maker, Model
Years active	2006–present
Children	2

Early life and education

Adunni Ade was born in Queens, New York^[6] to a German-Irish mother and a Yoruba Nigerian father.^[7][8]

She is a Nollywood Actress, Film maker and fashion enthusiast. She returned to Nigeria when she was a year and half old with her parents to attend her grandfather's burial. She was brought up in Lagos State, Nigeria by her father till she was in her late teens and moved back to the United States for her university education.

She attended the Chrisland primary school, Opebi, Lagos State, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate. She obtained her Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) at the Bells Comprehensive Secondary School Ota, Ogun State.^[9]

Her Lagos-based father, who is also a successful businessman inspired her to study accounting. Adunni Ade studied accounting at the University of Kentucky.^[10] Prior to her return to Nigeria, Adunni Ade worked with the State of Kentucky in the Housing sector providing living assistance and also the State of Maryland in the Medical Insurance department providing medical insurance (Medicare and Medicaid) to those in need.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Adunni Ade worked in the housing and insurance sectors in the United States before making a career change to become an entertainer.^[11] Adunni ventured into fashion modeling and was featured in America's Next Top Model. After moving back to Nigeria, she landed her first Nollywood role when she acted in the Yoruba language film "You or I" in 2013.

Her short video comedy skit "Date Gone Bad", which was released on YouTube in 2014, recorded more than 170,000 hits.^[12]

As at the time of writing this, Adunni has featured in over 250 Nollywood movies in both English and Yoruba languages.^[13][14] In 2021, Adunni Ade ventured into Film production with her Film production company Lou-Ellen Clara Company Limited and debuted her first film as an executive producer SOÓLÈ featuring A-list actors in the country such as Sola Sobowale, Femi Jacobs, Meg Otanwa, Shawn Faqua, Lateef Dimeji. The movie was directed by Kayode Kasum. Soólè hit the cinemas November 26, 2021, and grossed 10.2million naira in its opening weekend and 16 million naira in its opening week. After 9 weeks in the cinemas, soólè hit over 51 million naira in the box office making it top 10 Nollywood movies in cinemas for 2021. SOÓLÈ received in 2022 an AMVCA (Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Award) nomination for Best Actor in a comedy for Shawn Faqua.

She also received her first Yoruba Award for Best Yoruba Actress for the 5th Edition of Cool Wealth awards.^[15][16][17]

She received a Stella Award from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism for her efforts in promoting the Nigerian culture.^[18]

In 2017, Adunni Ade became the brand ambassador for OUD Majestic.^[19]

In 2018, she wrote and produced her first Yoruba movie titled: "Emi Mi – My Soul", directed by Saheed Balogun. The movie starred Ibrahim Chatta, D'Marion Young, Sunkanmi Omobolanle and Sola Kosoko.^[9]

Later that year, she produced another Yoruba drama movie titled: "Ewa – Beauty", directed by Saheed Balogun and featured Ibrahim Chatta, Yinka Quadri, Kunle Omisore and Tayo Sobola.^[9] She has been featured in well over 100 movies in Nigeria (both in the English and Yoruba aspect of Nollywood).

Personal life

Ade is the mother of two boys - Ayden Young and D’marion Young.^{[20][21][22][23]}

Selected filmography

S/N	Year	Film	Role
1	2024	Tokunbo	Iya Mulika
2	2024	Lakatabu	Tunmise
3	2024	All of Us	Elijah's Mum
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15

• (2024) as
• (2024) as
• 2024) as
• Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024) as Mrs. Thompson
• Ijogbon (2023) as Chidera
• What No One knows (2023) as Ifelolu Akenuwa
• Walking in the Shadow (2023)
• In Bed with the Pedros (2023) as Teniola
• Intercession (2023) as Nina
• The Devil You Know (2023) as Bola
• Arodan (2023) as Rumola
• The one for Sarah (2022) as Joy
• U - Turn (2022) as Amaga (Paraga Seller)
• Alaga (2022)
• The Perfect Arrangement (2022) as Veronica Otukpo
• Love or Death (2022) as Adesewa
• Iwora (2022) as Doyin
• The Silent Baron (2021)
• Soole (2021) as Sister Veronica
• Witches (2020) s Kemi
• Coincidence (2020)
• Ratnik (2020) as Peppa
• Mama Drama (2020)
• The New Normal (2020) as Monica/Faithful
• Soul behavior (2020)
• House Of Contention (2019)
• Ole Ole (2019)
• Boss of All Bosses (2018)
• The Vendor (2018) as Morayo
• Falz Experience (2018)
• Heaven on my mind (2018)
• Lagos landing (2018) as Priestess
• Orunsewa (2018) as Ilaorun
• Guynman (2017) as Ayo
• The Island (2017) as Mrs. Coker
• The Blogger's Wife (2017) as Guest Appearance
• Schemers (2016) as Cynthia
• Diary of a Lagos Girl (2016)
• For The Wrong Reasons (2016) as Boma
• It's Her Day (2016) (Earned her the nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Africa's biggest Movie Awards, AMVCA in 2017. She also won Best Supporting Actress Award at the Lagos Film Festival for the movie.)
• Head Gone (2015)
• So in Love (2015)
• What's Within (2014)
• 2nd Honeymoon (2014) as Vicky
• You or I (2013) as Titi
• Iwo tabi emi (2011)^[24][25][26]

Television

• Behind the Cloud
• Babatunde Diaries
• Jenifa's Diary Season 2
• Sons of the Caliphate Season 2

See also

• List of Yoruba people