Follow Us on Google
Nigeria’s influence on global entertainment and popular culture goes far beyond Afrobeats and Nollywood.
Across Hollywood, British cinema, music, sports and even the British royal family, several globally recognised personalities have Nigerian roots.
Some were born in Nigeria and later built careers abroad, while others were born in Europe or the United States to Nigerian parents.
There are also stars whose Nigerian ancestry was discovered much later through genealogy.
Daily Sun brings to you seven world-famous celebrities with Nigerian ancestry.
1. Meghan Markle
One of the most high-profile celebrities to discover Nigerian ancestry in recent years is Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan revealed in 2022 that a genealogy test showed that she is 43 per cent Nigerian.
She made the revelation during an episode of her podcast Archetypes, explaining that she had taken the test a few years earlier and wanted to learn more about her heritage.
Her Nigerian ancestry became even more prominent when she and her husband, Prince Harry, visited Nigeria in May 2024.
During a women’s leadership event in Abuja, Meghan spoke emotionally about discovering her Nigerian roots and described the experience of learning more about her heritage as “humbling” and “eye-opening.”
She also referred to Nigeria as “my country.”
During the visit, Nigerians warmly embraced her, with some traditional leaders and members of the audience giving her the Igbo name Ifeoma, meaning “a treasured thing.”
Although Meghan was born in Los Angeles and is widely known for her acting career and her former role as a senior member of the British royal family, her revelation has made her Nigerian ancestry one of the most talked-about aspects of her heritage.
2. Anthony Joshua
British-Nigerian boxing superstar Anthony Joshua is another global celebrity whose Nigerian heritage is deeply connected to his family history.
Born in Watford, England, Joshua is the son of Nigerian parents, Robert and Yeta Joshua, who both grew up in Sagamu, Ogun State.
His Nigerian ancestry is particularly associated with the Yoruba people.
Joshua also spent part of his childhood in Nigeria as a boarding-school student at Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State, before returning to Britain.
His connection to Nigeria has remained highly visible throughout his boxing career.
He has proudly displayed the Nigerian flag alongside the Union Jack and has often spoken about his Nigerian roots.
Joshua also has a tattoo of the African continent with Nigeria outlined on his shoulder.
His Nigerian family history goes back several generations, as his great-grandfather, Daniel Adebambo Joshua, was a wealthy landowner and merchant.
The family name became associated with the Joshua lineage following his conversion to Christianity.
Today, Joshua is regarded as one of Britain’s most successful heavyweight boxers, while his Nigerian heritage has made him particularly popular among sports fans in Nigeria.
3. John Boyega
British actor John Boyega became a global star after portraying Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Born in London in 1992, Boyega is the son of Nigerian parents, Samson and Abigail Adegboyega. Both of his parents are of Yoruba descent.
Boyega grew up in Peckham, South London, and developed his passion for acting at a young age. He attended Theatre Peckham, where his talent was recognised early.
His breakthrough came with the 2011 British science-fiction film Attack the Block, which earned him critical acclaim.
He subsequently landed the role of Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, making him an international star.
Boyega reprised the role in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
Beyond Star Wars, Boyega has appeared in films including Detroit, Pacific Rim: Uprising and They Cloned Tyrone.
His Nigerian background has remained an important part of his identity, with his Yoruba heritage connecting him to one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups.
4. David Oyelowo
David Oyelowo is a British-American actor and producer whose Nigerian roots are particularly strong.
Born in Oxford, England, in 1976, Oyelowo was raised by Nigerian parents. His father, Stephen, is from Oyo State, while his mother is of Igbo heritage from southeastern Nigeria.
Interestingly, Oyelowo spent part of his childhood in Nigeria. His family moved to Lagos when he was six years old, after his father took up work with Nigeria’s national airline and his mother worked for a railway company.
His Nigerian connection is even more notable because he is an omoba, or prince, within the Yoruba traditional system. His grandfather was reportedly a king in Awe, Oyo State.
Oyelowo has built an impressive international acting career, starring in productions such as Selma, Interstellar, A United Kingdom, Les Misérables, The Butler and Nightingale.
His performance as civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma earned him widespread critical acclaim and established him as one of Britain’s most respected actors in Hollywood.
5. Chiwetel Ejiofor
Chiwetel Ejiofor is another major British actor with strong Nigerian roots.
Born in Forest Gate, London, in 1977, Ejiofor was raised by Nigerian parents of Igbo descent. His father, Arinze, was a doctor, while his mother, Obiajulu, was a pharmacist.
His connection to Nigeria has influenced some of the most important work of his career.
Ejiofor starred as Odenigbo in Half of a Yellow Sun, the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel about the Nigerian-Biafran War.
The project was particularly personal for him because his parents came from the same region of southeastern Nigeria where much of the story is set.
He achieved worldwide recognition for his performance as Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
He has also appeared in Children of Men, Inside Man, Doctor Strange, The Martian, Sherlock Holmes and The Lion King.
Ejiofor has repeatedly spoken about his Nigerian and Igbo identity, making his heritage an important part of his connection to Nigeria.
6. Sade Adu
Grammy-winning singer Sade Adu is one of the most influential musicians with Nigerian ancestry.
Born Helen Folasade Adu in Ibadan, Nigeria, Sade is the daughter of a Nigerian father, who was an economics lecturer, and an English mother, who worked as a nurse.
Her parents had met in London while her father was studying at the London School of Economics. After getting married, they moved to Nigeria, where Sade was born.
When she was four years old, her parents separated, and her mother took Sade and her elder brother back to England, where she grew up.
Sade later became the lead singer of the band Sade, whose sophisticated combination of soul, jazz, R&B and pop turned the group into a global phenomenon.
Songs such as ‘Smooth Operator’, ‘Your Love Is King’, ‘No Ordinary Love’ and ‘The Sweetest Taboo’ helped establish her as one of the most recognisable voices in contemporary music.
Her Nigerian connection is reflected in her full name, Helen Folasade Adu, with “Folasade” being a Yoruba name.
7. Skepta
British grime star Skepta, born Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr., is another globally recognised celebrity with Nigerian ancestry.
Born in London, Skepta was raised by Nigerian parents and comes from both Yoruba and Igbo backgrounds. His father is Yoruba, while his mother is Igbo.
Skepta became one of the leading figures in Britain’s grime movement, helping take the genre from London’s underground scene to an international audience.
His influence extends beyond music. He has worked as a producer, fashion designer, filmmaker and visual artist, while collaborations with major international musicians have further expanded his profile.
His connection to Nigeria is particularly strong. In 2018, Skepta was honoured with a Nigerian chieftaincy title, Amuludun of Odo-Aje, in Ogun State.
His career has also demonstrated how Nigerian heritage continues to influence Britain’s music and fashion industries.
