Femi Adebayo (born 31 December 1976) is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, director, and lawyer. He is known for his work in Yoruba-language cinema and for directing commercially successful films such as King of Thieves (2022), Jagun Jagun (2023), and Seven Doors (2024).
In 2024, he won the Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jagun Jagun, also won the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards' Best Lead Actor for his performance in Seven Doors in 2025.
He has appeared in more than 500 films and has been active in the Nigerian film industry since the 1990s.
Early life and education Femi Adebayo was born on 31 December 1976 in Ilorin, Kwara State to Adebayo Salami and Alhaja Risikat Ejide. He attended C&S College before transferring to Oke Ode Grammar School, where he served as Head Boy and completed his secondary education in 1994. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) from the University of Ilorin in 2002 and attended the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. He later completed a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree at the University of Ibadan in 2008.
Career
Adebayo made his acting debut in the Yoruba-language film Owo Blow in the 1990s, which brought him early recognition. He subsequently became a prominent figure in Yoruba cinema, appearing in over 500 films, including Ile Alayo, Jelili, and Survival of Jelili.
Beyond acting, Adebayo expanded into film production and directing. In 2008, he founded J15 Media Network and the J15 School of Performing Arts, which has trained hundreds of aspiring actors and filmmakers for the Nigerian film industry.
In 2021, he established Euphoria360 Media, a production company responsible for several large-scale Yoruba-language productions, including King of Thieves (Agesinkole), Jagun Jagun, and Seven Doors.
King of Thieves (Agesinkole), released in 2022, was produced by Adebayo through Euphoria360 Media in collaboration with Anthill Studios. The film became one of the highest-grossing Yoruba-language films in Nigerian cinema history, earning over ₦320 million at the box office.
In 2023, Adebayo produced the Netflix Original epic Jagun Jagun, directed by Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani. The film ranked among Netflix’s top ten non-English films globally and received multiple nominations across major Nigerian award platforms, including the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, Africa Movie Academy Awards, and Best of Nollywood Awards.
His 2024 Netflix mini-series Seven Doors debuted at number one on Netflix Nigeria and remained in that position for several weeks. Adebayo’s performance earned him the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for Best Lead Actor.
Adebayo’s films are frequently noted for their emphasis on Yoruba culture, language, costume, and mythology, combining traditional themes with contemporary cinematic techniques.
From 2016 to 2019, Adebayo served as Special Adviser on Arts, Culture, and Tourism to the Governor of Kwara State. In this role, he worked on initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural tourism and promoting the creative economy in the state.
Adebayo has signed endorsement deals with several brands, including Samsung, Trophy, Trumpy, VG Pensions, Kpearl, and Modara. He has also participated in advertising campaigns for Coca-Cola and Peak, and previously served as a brand ambassador for StarTimes.
Personal life Adebayo married Omotayo Adebayo on 9 October 2016. Adebayo and his wife have one son. He also has three children from an earlier marriage.
Awards and honours YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef2009Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest Actor in a Supporting Role Apaadi2015City People Entertainment AwardsBest Movie Producer Of The Year (Yoruba) 2017Best Actor Of The Year (Yoruba)Best of Nollywood AwardsBest Actor in a Lead role –YorubaAfaila Ojo2018Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Indigenous Movie (Yoruba)Etiko OnigeduBest of Nollywood AwardsBest Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba2019Best Kiss in a MovieDiamond in the SkyBest Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba)The Return of Kesari2020Lucifer2022Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Actor in A ComedyProgressive Tailors Club2023Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Actor In A Drama, Movie Or TV SeriesKing of ThievesBest Overall MovieAfrica International Film FestivalGlobe Award HonoreeJagun Jagun20242024 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Indigenous Language Movie- West Africa Jagun JagunAfrica Movie Academy AwardsBest Actor in a Supporting RoleAbuja International Film FestivalOutstanding Male Actor2025Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Lead Actor Seven Doors
Filmography +YearFilmRole2025Labake Olododo2024Lisabi: The UprisingOlu OlodanSeven Doorsking AdedunjoyeBeast of Two WorldsAde Apa IgalaQueen LateefahLakatabuMuyiwaCrossroadsEgunkemiHouse of Ga'aOlukuoye2023IjogbonHead of AmotekuMikoloBababluJagun JagunOgundijiWorld FamousPastorDietyKomokomo2022MaleekaKunleKing of ThievesAdeshikoye/Adeoye2021cordeliaRasakiIle AlayoEteDejiLove CastleChief BalogunProgressive Tailors ClubAgbabiakaThe CokersDoctorCharge and BailWhole AdetutuCharlie Charlie2020The Miracle CentreSpecial JollofUnroyalRoyal SuitorMama DramaDotun2019JumbledYinkaSurvival of JeliliJeliliDiamonds in the SkyKayodeMokalikMr. Ogidan2018The IslandkolaThe Ghost and the ToutDayoHeaven on My MindSoji2017Sola Arikusa2014October 1Banji2013AyitaleAderopo2011JeliliJelili2009Apaadi1996Owo BlowWole Owolabi
References