In the glamorous, dramatic, and often chaotic world of Nollywood, where a single movie can feature foreseen plot twists in a comical way, the one thing more captivating than the on-screen action is the off-screen drama. And nothing, my friends, is more dramatic than a Nollywood celebrity marriage.
Time and time again, there’s this belief that actresses and actors can’t be married for long because of the high divorce and separation rate in the industry. Though there are blossoming marriages in the Nollywood industry but each time there’s a separation, we are reminded of the popular belief.
New Daily Prime has gathered a handful of Nollywood actresses and actors who have split or divorced from their marriage at one time or the other.
Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz
Remember when we all thought Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz were the perfect match, making waves in the Nollywood industry as a perfect duo? Their wedding was a spectacle of dazzling outfits, celebrity guests, and enough well-wishes to power a small village. We watched their reality show, feeling the love, and the laughs. Then, within a twinkle of an eye, it was over. JJC announced their split, and the internet went into a frenzy. It was a classic Nollywood plot: the beloved couple, the unexpected separation, and the public trying to figure out if it was all for a new movie promotion in 2022. The union was however blessed with a set of twins boys in 2018 before their split.
Tonto Dikeh and Olakunle Churchill
Then there’s the saga of Tonto Dikeh and Olakunle Churchill. Their relationship was so dramatic, it could have been a multi-season series. The marriage, the birth of their son and the messy public spats were a rollercoaster of emotions. We saw it all unfold on social media, with accusations flying faster than a wildfire. Their divorce was less of a quiet, somber affair and more of a full-blown blockbuster, complete with a sequel of tell-all interviews and online shade.
Mercy Aigbe and Lanre Gentry
Let’s not forget Mercy Aigbe and Lanre Gentry. Their story was a cautionary tale wrapped in a fashion show. We admired Mercy’s stunning outfits and seemingly perfect life, but underneath the glamour was a rocky relationship that eventually imploded. The public split in 2017 was so intense, it felt like a cliffhanger in a soap opera. The whole affair was a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best role a star can play is the one where they walk away. Their union produced two kids, Michelle and Juwon before the split
Ini Edo and Philip Ehiagbona
Their 2008 marriage was a fairy-tale event, but the happily ever after didn’t last. After five years, the couple went their separate ways. The details of their split were a hot topic, reminding everyone that a great on-screen romance doesn’t always translate to real life.
Doris Simeon and Daniel Ademinokan
This was a messy one. The actress and the director’s marriage ended with a lot of public drama, especially concerning their child. It’s a classic case of a love story turning into a public battle, proving that in Nollywood, some stories are better left unwritten.
Stella Damasus and Daniel Ademinokan
This is a complex story with multiple layers. Stella’s marriage to Daniel, who was previously married to fellow actress Doris Simeon, was a huge scandal in the industry. It sparked a lot of conversation about love, loyalty, and the drama that unfolds behind the scenes in Nollywood. Their eventual split added another chapter to an already dramatic story, reminding us that some Nollywood plots never truly end.
Kate Henshaw and Roderick Nuttall
The talented and ageless actress had a marriage that seemed to be out of the public eye until their divorce in 2011. The split was reportedly messy, with a lawsuit involved. It was a stark reminder that even the most private relationships can have public, dramatic endings.
Toyin Abraham and Adeniyi Johnson
Their 2013-2015 marriage was shorter than the average Nollywood cinema run. Toyin Abraham and Adeniyi Johnson turned their divorce into a very public back-and-forth that kept social media highly entertained. It was less of a quiet separation and more of a series of very thinly veiled Instagram posts, cryptic messages, and interviews where the “real story” was always slightly different. Toyin later revealed that her family had reservations and even had “divine guidance” warning against the union, but she, like a typical movie character, ignored all the red flags. It all ended with her moving on, finding happiness, and teaching everyone that sometimes, you have to let your past marriage become your future inspiration.
Saheed and Fathia Balogun
The Yoruba movie industry’s once-golden couple, Saheed Balogun and Fathia Balogun (now Fathia Williams), had a split that involved a dramatic legal battle over one crucial item: the surname. Their official divorce in 2015, after years of separation, was famously punctuated by Saheed’s insistence that Fathia drop his name. The whole saga was a fascinating public spectacle, showing that in Nollywood, you might lose the husband, but the fight for brand identity and a famous last name is real. Fathia, ever the star, eventually adopted her maiden name, proving a true queen doesn’t need a king’s last name for her own crown.
Chacha Eke and Austin Faani
The marriage of Chacha Eke to director Austin Faani was a high-profile union that had fans wishing for their everlasting love. Then came the announcements, a dramatic public outcry in 2020 that she was done, only for her to make a U-turn and blame the episode on a Bipolar Disorder diagnosis, defending her husband. The emotional rollercoaster continued until 2022, when she made a second, more definitive statement, declaring she had to “leave now alive or leave as a corpse.” Her journey highlights the heavy veil many celebrities must wear, showing that a picture-perfect family on social media is often just another well-acted role.
Bolanle Ninalowo and Bunmi
The incredibly fit and handsome Bolanle Ninalowo and his wife Bunmi had one of the most publicly celebrated reconciliations in Nollywood history, only to announce their final separation in 2023. Ninalowo was famously candid about his past infidelity and how he almost lost her, and they worked hard to rebuild their family. But alas, even a dramatic redemption arc can hit an “irreconcilable differences” wall.
He announced the sad news, acknowledging it was difficult but “necessary for a peaceful and loveable future.” It was a classic case of “They tried their best for the sequel, but the script just wasn’t working anymore.”
Yul Edochie and May Edochie
No Nollywood separation has caused as much recent outrage and social media frenzy as the dissolution of Yul Edochie’s first marriage to May Edochie (though the divorce details are still very much in the courts).
Yul, the son of the legendary Pete Edochie, shocked the nation by announcing his marriage to a second wife, actress Judy Austin, with whom he had a child, thereby practicing polygamy. This unscripted plot twist was a massive betrayal to May and their supporters. The public debate around his decision, his unapologetic stance, and May’s subsequent move to file for divorce has become a defining celebrity drama, proving that sometimes, the biggest shock is the one no one saw coming, especially in a real-life marriage.
In Nollywood, the on-screen drama is carefully scripted, but the off-screen drama? That’s the real entertainment. These actors and actresses have shown us that love in the spotlight is a lot like a Nollywood script: full of twists, turns, and a dramatic conclusion that keeps everyone guessing. We can only hope that their next chapter is a comedy with a happy ending. Or at least one with less social media shade.
