Lifestyle
Olu Jacobs: The Godfather of Nollywood (PHOTOS)
Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs (born 11 July 1942)—popularly known as Olu Jacobs—is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors and film executives. Widely regarded as a godfather of Nollywood, his career spans more than five decades and has made him a cornerstone of African cinema and theatre.
Early Life and Training
Born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Olu Jacobs developed a passion for drama while growing up in southwestern Nigeria. In pursuit of professional training, he travelled to the United Kingdom and studied at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. This classical training equipped him with world-class stage and screen techniques that would later define his acting style.
Career in Theatre and British Television
Before returning to Nigeria, Jacobs enjoyed a thriving career in the United Kingdom. He performed in numerous British theatre productions and appeared on television series such as The Goodies and Till Death Us Do Part in the 1970s. He also featured in international films including the action-adventure Ashanti (1979) and the war drama The Dogs of War (1980), gaining valuable experience that broadened his craft and international appeal.
Nollywood Stardom
After decades abroad, Jacobs returned home and became one of the defining faces of Nollywood. Over the years he has appeared in more than 120 Nigerian films, where his deep, commanding voice and magnetic presence made him the preferred choice for roles as a patriarch, elder statesman, king, or political leader. Among his notable Nigerian works are Mirror of Beauty (2004) and Adesuwa (2012). His performances consistently blend gravitas with subtle emotional depth, shaping the standard for character acting in Nigeria’s film industry.
Awards and Recognition
Jacobs’ achievements have earned him some of the industry’s highest honors. In 2007, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Dancing Heart. In 2013, he received the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), a lifetime honor recognizing his pioneering role and mentorship in Nollywood.
Legacy and Mentorship
Beyond his on-screen work, Jacobs is celebrated as a mentor and symbol of professionalism. Together with his wife—veteran actress Joke Silva—he co-founded the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, which trains and inspires the next generation of African actors. His dedication to nurturing talent has helped institutionalize high standards of acting and production in Nigeria.
Olu Jacobs’ journey—from Abeokuta to London’s RADA and back to Nigeria—reflects a lifelong passion for the arts that has reshaped African cinema. Revered by peers and audiences alike, he remains a living legend whose presence continues to inspire respect, admiration, and excellence in storytelling.
Sources
Vanguard Nigeria, “Olu Jacobs: A Living Legend of Nollywood,” 2013.
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PHOTOS: The Food Can’t Waste, Come With Your Coolers – Hilda Baci Begs Lagosians To Eat Jollof Rice After Breaking Record
Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci has appealed to residents of Lagos to come forward and collect food from her recently concluded Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of jollof rice.
It was reports that the event, held at Eko Hotel in Lagos, produced thousands of kilograms of rice, much of which remains available despite large-scale packaging and distribution efforts.
Baci explained in a video message on Instagram that there was still an excess of food and encouraged people to bring containers to take portions home.
She stated that she would remain at the venue until the giant pot was emptied, stressing that the food must not go to waste.
According to her, everyone in Lagos is welcome to partake in the meal, which she described as well-prepared and abundant.
She said, “We’re still packaging food. There is still so much food. Please, you guys, come through and come and get the food. It’s a lot and we cannot waste it. Please, the food is good. I promise you, a trial will convince you. Just come through, you can bring your coolers. See, we still have so much food.
“Even with all the packaging, there is still so much food. Please, I beg you, you guys, you can come to Eko Hotel. This is 6 a.m. I’m not leaving this place. I’ve been here since the day before yesterday. And I’m not going to leave this place until this pot is empty and until everybody in Lagos has eaten from this food. So, please, you people should come and get this food.”
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Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has explained why she opted to cook 200 bags of rice instead of the initially announced 250 in her latest bid to set a world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style Jollof rice.
Baci, who shot to fame after her 2023 cook-a-thon, began the challenge on Friday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, drawing a carnival-like crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries.
Among those in attendance were Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State.
Addressing journalists at the venue, Baci explained that her decision to scale down was due to the 20,000kg weight limit of the crane and measuring device provided for the event.
“If you notice, when we started we weighed the pot and we need to weigh everything that goes into the pot when we’re done.
The goal was to hit about 17,000 to 18,000 kilogrammes including the pot. But since the crane can only weigh 20,000 kilogrammes, I had to go slightly below that. That’s why I cut it down by a thousand kilogrammes,” she said.
According to her, the 200 bags of rice produced 4,000kg of Jollof, which is enough to feed 20,000 people.
“This 4,000 kilogrammes of rice will still feed 20,000 people, so we’re still up there,” she added.
Baci revealed that the ambitious feat took almost a year of preparation and about nine hours of continuous cooking.
“Honestly, Gino and I figuring this whole thing out was hectic. It took Mr. Ayo two months to fabricate the custom pot, then nine months to plan the event. Cooking the entire meal itself took nearly nine hours,” she said.
Despite the stress, she described the challenge as both exciting and rewarding.
“We’re not done because we still have to distribute the food and make sure everybody here eats to their satisfaction. But so far, I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved today,” she noted.
Interestingly, Baci revealed that the idea was not originally conceived as a Guinness World Record attempt, but rather as a food experience for Nigerians.
“When I came up with this idea, I did not think about it as a world record, quite frankly. It was about bringing people together and feeding as many as possible. Some of you even came with your coolers,” she said with a smile.
“We’re feeding the nation,” she declared.
The London-based Guinness World Records also joined in the excitement, posting a video of the Lagos event on its 𝕏 handle.
“What’s cookin’? Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian style Jollof rice today,” it wrote.
This comes just two years after the body certified Baci’s record-breaking cook-a-thon in 2023, which earned her global recognition and inspired many young Nigerians to explore careers in the culinary industry.
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