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Daniel Kanayo Daniel (born 22 May 1986) is a Nigerian television and film actor, model, voice-over artiste and events compere. He is best known for his portrayal of ''Bossman'' in the movie ''
A Soldier's Story ''A Soldier's Story'' is a 1984 American mystery drama film directed and produced by Norman Jewison, adapted by Charles Fuller from his Pulitzer Prize-winning '' A Soldier's Play''. It is a murder mystery set in a segregated regiment of th ...
'', for which he won the 2016
Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards The ''Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards'' (AMVCA) are a set of accolades presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding achievement in television and film across Africa,, through an annual ceremony hosted in the Exhibition Center of the Eko ...
(AMVCA) and the
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 ...
(AMAA) awards for ''Best Actor'', as well as his roles in the period piece ''76'', which also starred
Ramsey Nouah Ramsey Nouah (born Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Jr.; 19 December 1970) is a Nigerian actor and director. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2010 for his performance in the movie '' The Figurine''. He made his direc ...
,
Chidi Mokeme Chidi Mokeme (born 17 March 1972) is a Nigerian actor and reality show host. He hails from Oba in Idemili South, Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. He was the host of ''Gulder Ultimate Search'' reality show. Early life ...
and
Rita Dominic Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic Nwaturuocha (born 12 July 1975) is a Nigerian actress. In 2012, Dominic won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Early life Rita Dominic is a multiple award-winning Nollywood actress, ...
and the light-hearted ''Mummy Dearest'' alongside veteran Nigerian actress
Liz Benson Elizabeth 'Liz' Benson (born 5 April 1966) is a veteran Nigerian actress, television personality and philanthropist. Early life and education Liz was born in Etinan, Akwa Ibom State in southern Nigeria. She attended Sylvania State College in ...
. He was one of two Nollywood actors inducted into the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science class of 2022.


Early life

Daniel Kanayo Daniel was born at the
University of Maiduguri The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) is a Federal higher institution located in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State in Northeast Nigeria. The university was created by the federal government of Nigeria in 1975, with the intention of its ...
Teaching Hospital,
Maiduguri Maiduguri ( ) is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria, on the continent of Africa. The city sits along the seasonal Ngadda River which disappears into the ''Firki'' swamps in the areas around Lake Chad. Maid ...
,
Borno State Borno is a States of Nigeria, state in the North East (Nigeria), North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is bordered by Yobe State, Yobe to the west, Gombe State, Gombe to the southwest, and Adamawa State, Adamawa to the south while its ea ...
, in Northeastern Nigeria on May 22,1986. While Daniel was a toddler, his family relocated to Lagos State in Southwest Nigeria and then to
Enugu State Enugu () verbally pronounced as "Enụgwụ" by the Igbo indigenes is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the so ...
in the southeast region of Nigeria, where he began his formal education. Daniel is of
Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a t ...
descent and is a native of Nenwe in Ani-Nri Local Government Area of Enugu State. He was brought up in a Christian home. His father, Chris Daniel was an engineer and his mother Kande Daniel is a Broadcast Journalist and former National President of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, and currently serves as the Special Adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Power on Media Matters. He is the first of four children, one of whom is Chris Daniel Jnr (Kris'D) a musician and performing artist. Daniel led the drama and debating club of his primary school, Command Children School. Almost always at the top of his class, he graduated into secondary school in 1996. He enrolled in Command Day Secondary School Enugu and later transferred to
Federal Government College Enugu The Federal Government College, Enugu (FGCE), locally known as Fedi, is a secondary or high school in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria. History The school was created by the Nigerian government in 1973 as one of the federally funded unity schools t ...
in 1999 to complete his senior secondary education. Daniel had desired to train as a pilot, having had three role model fighter pilots in his family: his foster grandfather, former Chief of Air Staff, (Late) Air Marshal Ibrahim Alfa and his three uncles – Squadron Leader John Chukwu, Air Vice-Marshal Chris Chukwu, and Shu'aibu Alfa (a civil pilot). Daniel's hopes were dashed when he was diagnosed with
myopia Myopia, also known as near-sightedness and short-sightedness, is an eye condition where light from distant objects focuses in front of, instead of on, the retina. As a result, distant objects appear blurry, while close objects appear normal. ...
(short sightedness) and was told it would be difficult to achieve his dream with poor eyesight. At this time his father moved to Port Harcourt, Rivers State in South-south Nigeria, while his mother moved to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, on separate national assignments. He then got admission into the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State in 2004 to study Applied Biochemistry. In November 2004, Daniel's life changed for good as he lost his father in a ghastly auto crash and being the first child, he had to grow up quickly. In 2005 his family relocated to Abuja after his father’s death in Port Harcourt while his studies continued in Nnamdi Azikiwe University where he also started his modelling career. He graduated from the university in 2009 and managed his uncle’s business ''Twinkles Catering Service'', the pioneer eatery in Gusau,
Zamfara State Zamfara (; ; Adlam script, Adlam: ) is a States of Nigeria, state in northwestern Nigeria. The capital of Zamfara state is Gusau and its current List of Governors of Zamfara State, governor is Dauda Lawal. Until 1996, the area was part of Soko ...
for four months.


Career

Daniel started his modelling career while in school, doing a couple of Television commercials for Zandas Cosmetics. In 2009 when he returned to Abuja from the university, he took part in a few runway shows including the ''Abuja Moroccan Fashion Show''. After one of the shows, Supermodel Steiner Eunice Opara, dragged a reluctant Daniel to a movie audition. The directors – Kabat Esosa Egbon and Tola Balogun were impressed by Daniel’s talent and gave him his very first acting job in the Television series ''All About Us''. He then got cast for a
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
(British Broadcasting Corporation) movie titled ''Sarah’s Choice'', directed by Mak Kusare in which he starred alongside
OC Ukeje Okechukwu Ukeje, known as OC Ukeje is Nigerian actor,Model (person), model and musician. He came into prominence after winning the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show. He has received several awards including Africa Movie Academy Awards, ...
, Seun Dada and Sylvia Oluchi. After the success of ''Sarah’s Choice'', Daniel took on the role of the antagonist in the ''Amstel Malta Box Office'' produced movie, ''The Child'', directed by Izu Ojukwu in which he starred alongside
Joke Silva Joke Silva () MFR is a veteran Nigerian actress, director, and businesswoman. In 1998, she had a major role, starring opposite Colin Firth and Nia Long in the British-Canadian film ''The Secret Laughter of Women''. In 2006, she won "Best Actre ...
,
Alex Usifo Alex Usifo (born 16 April 1953) is a veteran Nigerian actor. Career Usifo auditioned at different media houses including Radio Nigeria Lagos, Voice of Nigeria, NTA Ilorin etc. He made it to the top list, but was dropped because of ‘ Quota ...
, Bukky Ajayi and Wole Ojo. Afterwards he gained the lead role in the hit movie, ''Ladies' Men'', directed by Afam Okereke, also starring
Mercy Johnson Mercy Johnson Okojie (; born 28 August 1984) is a Nigerian actress, film director and producer. Early life Okojie was born as the fourth out of seven children of Daniel Johnson, a former naval officer, and his wife, Elizabeth. She was born in L ...
,
Funke Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele (born August 24, 1977) popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerians, Nigerian filmmaker, actress, director, producer, politician , and realtor.Funsho AkinwaleFunke Akindele gives first glimpse of her tw ...
, Queen Nwokoye, Ruth Kadiri, Alex Ekubo,
Chigozie Atuanya Zeal Chigozie Atuanya (born 13 September 1980) is a Nigerian actor, producer and entrepreneur. He is also the CEO of Skybridimpex roof and Uncle Lala’sTV. Early life Atuanya was born in Aba, Abia State, but hails from Agu-Ukwu Nri in Anambra S ...
. Daniel took a break from his newfound acting career in February 2010 to go for his National Youth Service, which is a mandatory requirement for Nigerian University graduates. He then worked with the
Independent National Electoral Commission Independent National Electoral Commission may refer to: *Independent National Electoral Commission (Burundi) *Independent National Electoral Commission (Democratic Republic of the Congo) *Independent National Electoral Commission (Guinea) The Inde ...
(INEC) in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory as part of his youth service. He returned to acting in 2011 at the end of his Youth Service program and starred in a plethora of movies including ''Under'' which was shot in Ghana, ''Ivie'', ''Same Difference'', ''Paint My Life'', ''Tempest'', ''Lions of 76'', ''Jujuwood'', ''Body of the King'', ''Book of Magic'', ''Matchmaker'', ''Spirit Girl'', ''Devil in Red'', ''Girl'', ''Mummy Dearest'', '' Bambitious'' and others. He has also starred in a number of Television Series such as ''My Treasure'', ''Spider'' and ''Car Hire''. Daniel was also part of the cast in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio drama series – ''Story Story'' and ''Neighbor My Neighbor''.


Awards and recognitions

In 2014, Daniel was nominated for the City People Awards, ''Best New Actor of the Year'' category, an award he went on to win. Daniel was also nominated for the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON), ''Revelation of the Year'' Category in 2014, which he won On 5 March 2016, Daniel won the Award for ''Best Actor in a (Drama)'' at the
Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards The ''Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards'' (AMVCA) are a set of accolades presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding achievement in television and film across Africa,, through an annual ceremony hosted in the Exhibition Center of the Eko ...
(AMVCA) 2016 edition, for his role in the Nigerian war thriller ''A Soldier's Story''. In the same year, Daniel also won the
12th Africa Movie Academy Awards The 2016 Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on Saturday 11 June 2016 at the Obi Wali International Conference Center in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The ceremony recognized and honored excellence among directors, actors, and writer ...
award for ''Best Actor in a Leading Role'' for the same movie. In June 2022, he and
Funke Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele (born August 24, 1977) popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerians, Nigerian filmmaker, actress, director, producer, politician , and realtor.Funsho AkinwaleFunke Akindele gives first glimpse of her tw ...
were the only Nollywood actors invited into the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science class of 2022.


Awards


Filmography


Movie roles


Television roles


References


External link

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Daniel, Daniel K Nigerian male film actors Nigerian male television actors 1986 births Living people People from Borno State Igbo male actors Igbo male models Federal Government College Enugu alumni Nigerian male models Nigerian television personalities Actors from Enugu State 21st-century Nigerian male actors Nnamdi Azikiwe University alumni