Shade Omoniyi (born Folashade Omoniyi; 16 April 1971), better known by her sobriquet Lepa Shandy , is a Nigerian Yoruba movie actress who was described by the Nigerian media as "a veteran and one of the pioneers of the Yoruba movie industry" Omoniyi's sobriquet Lepa Shandy was a character she played in a movie with the same title.

Early life and education

Omoniyi is a native of

Osogbo Osogbo (also known as ''Oṣogbo'', and seldomly as ''Oshogbo'') is a city in Nigeria. It became the capital city of Osun State in 1991. Osogbo city seats the Headquarters of both Osogbo Local Government Area (situated at Oke-Baale Area of th ...

Osun State Osun (; ), is a state in southwestern Nigeria; bounded to the east by Ekiti and Ondo states for 84 km and for 78 km respectively, to the north by Kwara State for 73 km, to the south by Ogun State for 84 km and to the wes ...

but was raised 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 ...

where she attended Ire Akari Primary School and obtained her First School Leaving Certificate from, then proceeded to Isolo Comprehensive High School where she obtained her

West African Senior School Certificate Examination 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 A ...

form. Omoniyi then applied to the

University of Lagos The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a Public university, public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria, which was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the education in Nigeria#First generation universities, first generation universities in ...

and was admitted to study Data Processing.

Career

Omoniyi debuted into the Nigerian entertainment industry in 1995. At first, she was a model due to her slim features then later on became a make-up artist for actors before debuting her acting career in the Nigerian

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 ...

movie industry in 1996 where she played short roles in English speaking movies. She debuted with the movie titled ''Breaking Point'' before switching to the Nigerian Yoruba movie industry where she landed her

breakthrough role A breakthrough role, also known as a breakout role, is a term in the theatre, film and television industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of crit ...

as the

title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...

in ''Lepa Shandy'', a Yoruba movie produced by Bayowa which became a blockbuster and formed the foundation for Omoniyi's acting career.

Recognition

Omoniyi celebrated her 45th birthday on 16 April 2016 and also premiered her new movie titled '''Eri Ife Leyi on the same day and at the same venue where she celebrated her birthday. Omoniyi's birthday and movie premiere was attended by her colleagues and also by Former First Lady of Lagos State, Abimbola Fashola.

Personal life

Omoniyi is married and has two children.

Selected filmography

*''

Gidi Blues ''Gidi Blues'' popularly known as ''Lagos Love Story'' is a 2016 Nigerian romantic film produced and directed by Nigerian film makers Femi Odugbemi and Hauwa Allahbura. The movie stars Gideon Okeke, Hauwa Allahbura, Lepacious Bose, Daniel Ll ...

(2016) as Liquor Seller'' *''Eri Ife Leyi (2016)'' *''Nkan Agbara (2008)'' *''Akámó (2007)'' *''Iru Kileyi (2007)'' *''Iyawo Elenu Razor (2006)'' *''Ògo ìdílé (2004)'' *''Oyato (2003)'' *''Perosoko (2003) as Mosunmola'' *''Tim ba Taiye Wa (2003)'' *''Kosorogun (2002)'' *''Lepa Shandy'' ''(1999)'' *''Breaking Point (1996)''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Shandy, Lepa Living people 1971 births 21st-century Nigerian actresses Yoruba actresses Actresses in Yoruba cinema University of Lagos alumni People from Osun State Nigerian female models Actresses from Osun State