Showbiz & Entertainment
Notable Nigerian Entertainers Whose Mothers Are From Edo State
Edo Women: The Unsung Heroines Behind Famous Nigerians
Edo women have long played a crucial role in shaping the destinies of their children, many of whom have gone on to become household names in Nigeria’s entertainment and sports industries.
While these women may not always be in the spotlight, their influence and nurturing have contributed significantly to the success of these celebrities.
In addition to the rising stars from Edo State itself—such as Rema, DJ Neptune, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Cynthia Morgan, Osas Ighodaro, Nancy Osime, Yvonne Jegede, Victor Osimhen, Linda Osifo, Skale, Crayon, and others—there are several prominent Nigerians who have Edo mothers.
These women, often quietly supporting their children’s rise to fame, have become the backbone of their success.
Meanwhile, there are some Nigerian celebrities from other tribes whose mothers hail from Edo State. They are the focus of this article, and they include:
Vector
Olanrewaju Ogunmefun, better known by his stage name Vector, is a rapper, singer and songwriter. The 40-year old is known for his lyrical prowess and contributions to the Nigerian hip-hop scene.
He has released three studio albums, including State of Surprise and The Second Coming (2012).
Vector, though originally from Ogun State, has a mother who is from Edo State. He is the fourth of five children.
Teni
Lasisi Elenu
Nosa Afolabi better known as Lasisi Elenu, is a comedian, actor, compere. He is one of Africa’s most popular social media influencers. He is known for his skits with a ‘wide mouth’ disguise filter during performances and on social media.
The 35-year old Elenu was recently featured in Netflix thriller, The Ghost and the Tout. He is from Offa, Kwara State though his mother is from the Bini tribe of Edo State.
Davido
The 31-year-old David Adedeji Adeleke known professionally as Davido,is regarded as one of the most important Afrobeats artists, and for popularizing the genre globally.
The singer, songwriter and record producer’s father Adedeji Adeleke is from Osun State. However, OBO himself has proudly embraced his maternal Edo roots. His mother, the late Veronica Imade Adeleke, was an Edo woman through and through. She was a university lecturer before she passed on in 2003.
Ahmed Musa
32-year old Ahmed Musa plays as a forward and winger for the Nigeria national football team. He currently plays for Kano Pillars in the NPFL.
On 24 January 2019, Musa confirmed the news of the death of his mother on his Twitter page. She had previously been ill.
Mrs Sarah Musa was a pillar to the dashing forward while he was growing up in Jos. She followed the then-young Ahmed to most of the grassroots football competitions in Jos. All these happened following the demise of his father while he was a toddler and thus the bond between mother and son was so strong.
His mother Sarah Musa (née Moses) was a Christian from Edo State while his father hailed from Borno State.
Bimbo Akintola
Burna Boy
He was born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to a Rivers father and an Edo Mother. His mother Bose Ogulu worked as a language translator, and his father Samuel Ogulu managed a welding company. His maternal grandfather Benson Idonije once managed Fela Kuti.
In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Atlantic Records in the United States (and its parent company Warner Music Group internationally) to release his third studio album, Outside (2018). His mother later became his manager.