Chief Clarion Chukwurah (born Clara Nneka Oluwatoyin Folashade Chukwurah; 24 July 1964) is a Nigerian actress and humanitarian.

Early life and education

Chukwurah was born as the only daughter in a family of four on 24 July 1964. She is from Anambra State. She attended nursery and primary school in Lagos before pursuing secondary education at Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha. She later studied acting and speech at the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University.

Career

She began her career in acting in 1980 but became popular when she featured in the soap opera '' Mirror in the Sun''. She was the first Nigerian to win the Best Actress category at the 1982 FESPACO film festival in

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. It covers an area of 274,223 km2 (105,87 ...

. She was recognised as a

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

peace ambassador for her charity work across Africa.

Personal life

Chukwura is the mother of

music video director A music video director is the head, overseer or facilitator of music video production. The director conceives of videos' artistic and dramatic aspects while instructing the musical act, technical crew, actors, models, and dancers. They may or ...

Clarence Peters, whom she had with Juju musician Sir Shina Peters. In 2016, Chukwura married Anthony Boyd, her third husband, and converted to her new husband's

Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian denomination that is an outgrowth of the Bible Student movement founded by Charles Taze Russell in the nineteenth century. The denomination is nontrinitarian, millenarian, and restorationist. Russell co-fou ...

faith. She has previously been married twice, to Tunde Abiola ( MKO Abiola's younger brother) and Femi Odeneye.

Television

*''Bello's Way'' (1984) *'' Mirror in the Sun'' (1984) *''Ripples'' (1989) *'' Super Story'' (2001) *''Delilah'' (2016) as Sylvia Ambrose

Filmography

*''Farewell to Babylon'' (1979) *''Money Power'' (1984) *''Fiery Force'' (1986) *''Yemoja'' * '' Glamour Girls 2'' (1994) as Vera *''Remarkable night'' *''Caught in the act'' *''Lagidigba'' (2000) as Olori Parakoyi *''Valentino'' (2002) as Josy *'' Abuja Connection'' (2003) as Jennifer *'' Egg of Life'' (2003) as Priestess *''Emergency Wedding'' (2003) as Stella *''Danger Signal'' (2004) as Mrs. U.K. Morgan *''Days of Bondage'' (2005) as Issabela *''Ladies World'' (2005) as Angela *''Nothing for Nothing'' (2005) as Mama Nnukwu *''Abuja Top Ladies'' (2006) as Grace Benson *''In the Closet'' (2006) as Faye *''Desperate Women'' (2006) as Emilia *''Dry Scorpion'' (2007) as Agatha *''Chest to Chest'' (2008) as Agatha *''Darkest Day'' (2009) as Edna *''High Blood Pressure'' (2010) *''

Apaye ''Apaye'' (English: ''A Mother's Love'') is a 2014 Nigerian biographical drama film directed by Desmond Elliot and starring Clarion Chukwura, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Belinda Effah, and Mbong Amata. It premièred at the Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Isl ...

'' (2014) as Yepayeye *''Igbotic love'' (2014) *''Forbidden choice'' (2014) as Angela *''Efunsetan Aniwura'' (2020) *''

Amina Amina (or Aminah) is the loose transcription of two different Arabic female given names: * ʾĀmina (Arabic: آمنة, also anglicized as ''Aaminah'' or ''Amna'') meaning "safe one, protected" * ʾAmīna (Arabic: أمينة, also anglicized as ''Am ...

'' (2021) as Zumbura *''Drastic Measures'' (2021) as Evelyn ' *''Beautiful People'' (2022)' *''Covenant'' (2022) as Jane' *''Ozioma'' (2022) as Monica *''Nneoma'' (2022) as Nneoma *''Osariemen'' (2023)

Recognition

* The traditional title of Ada Eji Eje Mba I of Onitsha, Anambra State *Legends of Nollywood award at the Nollywood at 20 Celebration *1982 Best Actress of the Year at All Africa Film Festival, Ougadagodou,

(won) *1997 Afro-Hollywood Best Actress Award for ''Glamour Girls'' (won) *2001 THEMA Best supporting actress (yoruba) award (won) *2001 Lebatino Film Festival, Mexico award for best actress (won) *2001 THEMA Best supporting actress (won) *2004 Reel Award for Best Actress (won) *2014

Africa Movie Academy Awards The Africa Movie Academy Awards is an annual entertainment award ceremony presented to recognize excellence among African and non-African professionals, who have contributed to the African film industry. The award was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osig ...

for Best Actress in a Leading Role *2015 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards - Lifetime Achievement Award *2019 Gathering of Africa's Best Awards (GAB Awards) - Special Recognition Award in the Arts

References

Nigerian Jehovah's Witnesses Nigerian film actresses 1964 births Living people Best Actress Africa Movie Academy Award winners Actresses from Lagos Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Actresses in Yoruba cinema 20th-century Nigerian actresses 21st-century Nigerian actresses Nigerian television actresses Converts to Jehovah's Witnesses Igbo actresses People from Anambra State {{Nigeria-film-actor-stub