Idowu Philips (born 16 October 1942), popularly known as Iya Rainbow, is a Nigerian veteran actress. She was honoured with the Industry Merit Awards alongside
Richard Mofe-Damijo
Richard Evans Mofe-Damijo (born 6 July 1961), popularly known as RMD, is a foremost Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist. He was also a Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009. In 2005, he won the ...
at the 2024
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).
Early life and career
Idowu Philips was born on 16 October, 1942 at
Ijebu Ode
Ijebu-Ode is a town in Ogun State, South Western geopolitical zone in Nigeria, close to the A121 highway. The city is located 110 km by road Northeast of Lagos; it is within of the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern part of Ogun State and po ...
, a city in
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It is bordered to the south by Lagos State and the Bight of Benin, to the east by Ondo State, and to the north by Oyo and Osun states while its western border forms part of the national borde ...
, southwestern Nigeria.
She attended African Methodist School and Anglican Modern School for her primary and secondary education. Her stage name "Iya Rainbow" stems from "Osumare" (meaning "rainbow" in British English), the name of the theatre group of Sir
Hubert Ogunde
Chief Hubert Adedeji Ogunde D.Lit. (; 10 July 1916 – 4 April 1990) was a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician who founded the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria, the African Music Research Pa ...
, who died in 1990.
Idowu Philips worked as a healthcare assistant in general hospitals in Nigeria for several years and occasionally acted in theatre. Idowu ventured into full-time acting after the death of her husband - Augustine Ayanfemi Phillips (who worked closely with the late patriarch of Nigerian Film Industry Sir Herbert Ogunde.
[
She has featured in several ]Nigeria
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
n films, including ''Apaadi'', ''Eru'' and ''Aje ni iya mi'' among others). Idowu has five children.Airtel
Bharti Airtel Limited is an Indian multinational telecommunications company based in New Delhi. It operates in 18 countries across South Asia and Africa, as well as the Channel Islands. Currently, Airtel provides 5G, 4G and LTE Advanced ...
, a telecommunication company. Idowu Philip is also an ambassador for Yotomi Golden Estate, a low cost housing estate project, initiated by the late movie mogul Alade Aromire.
Filmography
* 1990 - ''Yemi My Love''
* 1994? - ''Abortion: A Yoruba Story''
* 1994? - ''Binuseri''
* 1994? - ''Ekundayo''
* 1994- ''Esan-nbo''
* 1994- ''Isedale (Tradition)''
* 1995- ''Adegbesan''
* 1995? - ''Agbelebu''
* 1995- ''At Last (Ni Igbeyin)''
* 1995- ''Ayo the Queen''
* 1995? - ''Boseyekori''
* 1995- ''Doctor''
* 1995- ''Dr Brown''
* 1995- ''Eni Bi Okan''
* 1995- ''Eran Iya (Scape Goat)''
* 1995? - ''Ewo-Lewo''
* 1995- ''Gogongo (Wind Pipe)''
* 1996- ''Agbekele''
* 1996- ''Anifowose''
* 1996- ''Binta My Daughter''
* 1996- ''Ofin (Law)''
* 1997- ''Adopted Child (Omo Agbato)''
* 1997- ''Awofele''
* 1997- ''Back to Africa''
* 1997- ''Broken Melody (Ipinya)''
* 1997- ''Double Marriage''
* 1997? - ''Fake Dollars''
* 1997- ''Ha! Obin Rin''
* 1998? - ''Ano (In-Law)''
* 1998? - ''The Blackmarket (Oja Okunrun)''
* 1998? - ''Emi-Kan ₦1000.00''
* 1998? - ''Eree Ife (Wages of Love)''
* 1998? - ''Ikilo''
* 1998? - ''Odidandan (It's Compulsory)''
* 1998- ''Oju Mewa''
* 1998? - ''Temidayo''
* 1998- '' The White Handkerchief''
* 2000- ''Lagidigba''
* 2002- ''Jesu Mushin''
* 2002- ''Irepodun - as Iya Kike''
* 2002- ''Eyin Ogongo''
* 2003- ''N150 Million''
* 2003- ''Ìfé òtító''
* 2003- ''Fila Daddy''
* 2003- ''Arewa okunrin''
* 2003- ''Omo oku òrun''
* 2003- ''Okun ife''
* 2004- ''Okun ife 2''
* 2004- ''Okan soso''
* 2004- ''Okan soso 2''
* 2004- ''Ògìdán''
* 2004- ''Ògìdán 2''
* 2005? - ''Okinnikange''
* 2006- ''Abeni''
* 2006- ''Odun baku - as Iya Ijo''
* 2006- ''Mewa n sele''
* 2006- ''Èebúdolá tèmi - as Abebi''
* 2006- ''Agbefo - as Mama Kolapo''
* 2006- '' The Narrow Path as Odejimi's Mother''
* 2006- ''Agbefo 2''
* 2007- ''Orita Ipinya''
* 2007- ''Olugbare''
* 2007- ''Olóri''
* 2007- ''Maku''
* 2007- ''Kootu olohun''
* 2007- ''Kilebi olorun''
* 2008- ''Taiwo Taiwo''
* 2008- ''Taiwo Taiwo 2''
* 2008- ''Itakun ola''
* 2008- ''Ìkúnlè kèsán''
* 2008- ''Ikilo agba''
* 2008- ''Igba ewa''
* 2008- ''Aje metta - as Mama Olakanmi''
* 2008- ''Aje metta 2''
* 2009- ''Ìpèsè''
* 2009- ''Ìdàmu eléwòn''
* 2009- ''Elewon - as Iya Yomi''
* 2009- ''Akoto olokada - as Iya Kunle''
* 2009- ''Akoto olokada 2''
* 2010- Edaa - as Mama Bolaji
* 2018- '' Oga Bolaji - as Mama Bolaji''
* 2019- '' Sugar Rush''
* 2021- Becoming Abi
* 2022- Madami - as Tolani's Mother
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Philips, Idowu
Living people
1942 births
Nigerian film actresses
Nigerian nurses
Yoruba actresses
Yoruba women nurses
Yoruba nurses
People from Ijebu Ode
20th-century Nigerian actresses
21st-century Nigerian actresses
Actresses in Yoruba cinema
Actresses from Ogun State
Nigerian Christians
Ogunde family
Nigerian healthcare managers