Faithia Williams Balogun formerly Faith Williams (born 5 February 1969) is a Nigerian actress,

filmmaker Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...

, producer and director.

Early life and education

Faithia Williams is Urhobo from

Delta state Delta is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South (Nigeria), South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1 ...

in the south-south region of Nigeria. She was born in

Ikeja Ikeja is the List of capitals of states of Nigeria, capital city of Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313,196. Prior to the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja was a well planned, cl ...

the Lagos state capital on 5 February 1969. She was born into a polygamous family of nine. Faithia attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in

Lagos State Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...

. She obtained her

West African School Certificate The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a type of standardized test in West Africa. Students who pass the exam receive a certificate confirming their graduation from secondary education. It is administered by the West Af ...

in Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School. After that, she studied in the

Kwara State Polytechnic Kwara State Polytechnic is a Nigerian tertiary institution that was established in 1973 by the then Military Governor of Kwara State Col. David Bamigboye after the decision to establish a polytechnic in Kwara State was announced in 1971. It is l ...

for a diploma certificate. In 2016, Faithia got admission into

Olabisi Onabanjo University Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye is a state-owned university located in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria. The university was founded on 7 July 1982 as Ogun State University (OSU) and was renamed Olabisi Onabanjo University on 29 May 2001, i ...

to study Filming.

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. Williams played her first role in the film title "Ta lo pa chief". She has starred, produced, and directed several Nigerian films over the years. In 2008, she won the

Africa Movie Academy Award 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-Osi ...

for the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and her movie ''Iranse Aje'' won the best indigenous film of the year. In April 2014, she won the

, having emerged as best actress of the year along with

Odunlade Adekola Odunlade Jonathan Adekola (; born 31 December 1976) is a Nigerian actor, film-maker, film producer and film director. He gained popularity and was widely known for his lead role in Ishola Durojaye's 2003 movie, ''Asiri Gomina Wa'', and has act ...

who emerged as best actor of the year. 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.

Personal life

Williams was formerly married to veteran

Nollywood Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...

actor,

Saheed Balogun Saheed Balogun (sometimes ''spelled "Saidi")'' (born February 5, 1967) is a veteran Nigerian actor, film-maker, director, and producer of many movies which include the first 2 cast movie in Africa and first 3 cast movies in West Africa etc. ...

, 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 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 ...

Best Local Language Yoruba (2015)

Filmography

*''Eku Eda'' (2006) *''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) *''Teni Teka'' (2015) *''Omo Ale'' (2015) *''Agbelebu Mi'' (2016) *''Basira Badia'' (2016) *''Adakeja'' (2016) *'' Shola Arikusa (2017) as Shola Arikusa'' *'' 10 Days In Sun City (''2017) as Ms. Ajoke *''Victims'' (2017) as Mama Yeni *''My Woman'' (2018) *''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 ''Dear Affy'' is a 2020 Nigerian romantic comedy film written by Temitope Bolade,Diche Enunwa,Anthony Kehinde Joseph and Samuel Olatunji and directed by Samuel Olatunji. The film stars Toyin Abraham, Enyinna Nwigwe, Kehinde Bankole and Odunlad ...

'' (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 ''Aníkúlápó'' is a 2022 Nigerian epic fantasy film produced by Kunle Afolayan and distributed by Netflix. Released on 30 September 2022, it stars Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Sola Sobowale,Hakeem Kae-Kazim and Taiwo Hassan. The film was shot ...

'' (2022) as Ojumo Queen *Eri Ife (2022) as Mummy *Mr Perfect (2022) as Jubril's Sister *''

Jagun Jagun ''Jagun Jagun (The Warrior)'' is a 2023 Netflix original Yoruba film produced by Femi Adebayo Salami and Euphoria360 Media . It was directed by Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo Salami. The film stars Femi Adebayo, Adedimeji Lateef, Bimbo Ademo ...

'' (2023) as Erinfunto *'' A Tribe Called Judah'' (2023) as Mama Caro *''On the Edge (2024) as Tomisin's Mum'' *''

Beast of Two Worlds ''Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju)'' is a 2024 Nigerian thriller film produced by Eniola Ajao and directed by Adebayo Tijani and Odunlade Adekola. The film stars Eniola Ajao, Odunlade Adekola, Sola Sobowale, Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, Fathia Ba ...

(2024) as Oyenihun'' *'' Owambe Thieves'' (2025) *''

Labake Olododo Labake Olododo is a 2025 Nigerian epic film produced by Iyabo Ojo and directed by Biodun Stephen. The film was released in Nigerian cinemas on March 28, 2025. It stars Iyabo Ojo, Femi Adebayo, Faithia Williams, Kunle Afolayan, and Mr Macaroni ...

'' (2025)

References