Faithia Williams

Faithia Williams Balogun formerly Faith Williams (born 5 February 1969) is a Nigerian actress, filmmaker, producer and director.^[1][2]

Faithia Williams
Born	(1969-02-05) 5 February 1969 (age 56) Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria
Alma mater	Olabisi Onabanjo University Kwara State Polytechnic
Occupations	Actor filmmaker producer director
Years active	1978–present
Known for	Farayola Eku Eda Shola Arikusa President Kuti Victims
Spouse	Saheed Balogun ​ (divorced)​
Children	3
Awards	AMVCA Most Outstanding Indigenous Actress, Africa Movie Academy Award

Early life and education

Faithia Williams is Urhobo from Delta state in the south-south region of Nigeria.^[3] She was born in Ikeja the Lagos state capital on 5 February 1969. She was born into a polygamous family of nine.^[4] Faithia attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in Lagos State. She obtained her West African School Certificate in Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School. After that, she studied in the Kwara State Polytechnic for a diploma certificate.^[5][6] In 2016, Faithia got admission into Olabisi Onabanjo University to study Filming.^[7]

Career

Faithia became an actress by chance. Faithia's uncle, Alhaji Fatai Teniola, asked her to stand in for an actress that failed to show up in one of the productions of their movie.^[8] Williams played her first role in the film title "Ta lo pa chief".^[9] She has starred, produced, and directed several Nigerian films over the years. In 2008, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and her movie Iranse Aje won the best indigenous film of the year.^[10] In April 2014, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award, having emerged as best actress of the year along with Odunlade Adekola who emerged as best actor of the year.^[11] She also won the Best Indigenous Language award for the work done in the film "Iya Alalake" at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.^[12]

Personal life

Williams was formerly married to veteran Nollywood actor, Saheed Balogun,^[13][14] with whom she has two children, a son and a daughter. Faithia also has a son from an earlier relationship. It was during this period of marriage that she changed her name from Faith Williams to Faithia Balogun, being the name of her husband, and changed her religious beliefs also.

Awards

• Most Outstanding Indigenous Actress (2008)
• AMVCA Best Local Language Yoruba (2015)

Filmography

• Eku Eda (2006)^[15]
• Aje meta (2008) as Mojisola
• Aje metta 2 (2008) as Mojisola
• Farayola (2009) as Niniola
• Okunkun Biribiri (2010) as Olori Faderera
• Jelili (2011) as Omobola
• Emi Abata (2012) as Ronke
• Awawu (2015)^[16]
• Teni Teka (2015)^[15]
• Omo Ale (2015)
• Agbelebu Mi (2016)
• Basira Badia (2016)^[15]
• Adakeja (2016)^[15]
• Shola Arikusa (2017) as Shola Arikusa
• 10 Days In Sun City (2017)^[17] as Ms. Ajoke
• Victims (2017) as Mama Yeni
• My Woman (2018)^[15]
• Ehi's Bitters (2018) as Ehi's Mother
• Seven and a Half Dates (2018) as Mrs. Cole
• Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons (2018) as Iya Abdul
• To Love Again (2018) as Mama Bose
• Mokalik (Mechanic) 2019 - as Iya Mulika
• Dear Affy (2020) as Aunty Munumidun
• Oba Bi Olorun (2021) as Oritoke
• Esin (2021) as Raheemot
• Osun, the Goddess (2021)
• President Kuti (2021) as Kobewude
• Hatred (2021)
• Alagogo Ide (2021)
• Tree (2022)
• Ojukoro (2022) as Mummy Rinsola
• Aníkúlápó (2022) as Ojumo Queen
• Eri Ife (2022) as Mummy
• Mr Perfect (2022) as Jubril's Sister
• Jagun Jagun (2023) as Erinfunto
• A Tribe Called Judah (2023) as Mama Caro
• On the Edge (2024) as Tomisin's Mum
• Beast of Two Worlds (2024) as Oyenihun
• Owambe Thieves (2025)
• Labake Olododo (2025)

See also

• List of Yoruba people