# Wale Ojo

Wale Ojo (Listen) is a British Nigerian actor. He started as a child actor in television. He subsequently continued acting roles in the UK and Nigeria. He came into prominence in 1995 for his role in The Hard Case. He won the award for Best Actor at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for this leading role in Phone Swap, and has been featured in several movies ever since.

## Early life and education

Ojo started acting professionally as a child. At the age of 8, he worked with Akin Lewis, who played a barber on the NTA Ibadan 1980s television series Why Worry. At age 12, he moved with his family to England, where he also attended university.
Ojo credits his career on influences from his mother, who was an actress and supportive of his career, Chief Wale Ogunyemi, Tunji Oyelana, playwright Wole Soyinka, and Zulu Sofola.

## New Nigeria Cinema

Ojo founded New Nigeria Cinema, whose aim is to improve the quality of Nigerian films. New Nigeria Cinema hosted a film viewing and lectures at the British Film Institute in London in 2010.

## Career performances
### TV programs

| Year | TV Program | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | Behaving Badly | Jim | Television mini-serial |
| 1998 – 2000 | Heartburn Hotel | Chidi Ekechi | Television serial |
| 2009 | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (TV series) | Kebone Legodimo | |
| 2012 - 2016 | Meet the Adebanjos | Mr. Bayo Adebanjo | British-Nigerian sitcom from 2012 to 2016. |
| 2014 | Tinsel (TV series) | Nosa | Long-running Nigerian soap opera |
| 2018 | Black Earth Rising | Dr. Emmanuel Musoni | BBC Two production |
| 2021 | Foundation | Professor Arren Sorn | Apple TV's sci fi series |
| 2022 | Blood Sisters | Inspector Joe | Netflix original series |

### Films

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | The Hard Case | The gambler | Short film |
| 1999 | Rage | Pin | Ojo's first feature film debut. He plays a schizophrenic gangster. |
| 2011 | Johnny English Reborn | President Chambal | |
| 2011 | The Guard | Doctor Oleyuwo | Irish buddy film starring Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle. |
| 2012 | Phone Swap | Akin | Also featured Nse Ikpe Etim, Joke Silva, Chika Okpala, Lydia Forson and Hafeez Oyetoro. This was Ojo's first feature film in Nigeria. |
| 2012 | Big Man | | |
| 2013 | Half of a Yellow Sun | Chief Okonji | Historical film featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle, Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje and John Boyega. |
| 2014 | A Letter from Adam | Adam | Romance starring Lydia Forson (who also wrote the screenplay), Naa Ashokor Mensah Doku, Akorfa Edjeani, Albert Jackson, Fred Kanebi, Jeff Kumordzie and Louie Lartey. |
| 2014 | Render to Caesar | Pade | Crime thriller also featuring Gbenga Akinnagbe, Omoni Oboli and Bimbo Manuel |
| 2014 | When Love Happens | Oladele Laguda | Romantic comedy featuring Weruche Opia as Moduroti (Mo) Bankole-Smith |
| 2015 | 8 Bars and a Clef | Felix Mensah | Film about a musically gifted recording artist dealing with dyslexia. |
| 2015 | Fifty | Kunle | Stars Iretiola Doyle, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Dakore Egbuson |
| 2016 | Ayamma: Music in the Forest | Prince Daraima | Directed by Chris Eneaji Eneng. Also starring Moses Armstrong, Theresa Edem, Smart Edikan |
| 2016 | Betrayal | Funbi | Written and directed by Darasen Richards. Also starring David Jones David and Theresa Edem. |
| 2016 | The CEO | Kola Alabi | |
| 2016 | Ojukokoro | Mad Dog Max | This crime film is also known as Ojukokoro: Greed and includes an ensemble cast. |
| 2016 | White Colour Black | Monsiour Dabo | Also starring Dudley O’Shaughnessy as the main character. |
| 2017 | Alter Ego | Timothy | Also starring Ayenuro Ademola, Rahila Ahmed, Abiola Atande |
| 2017 | Sand Castle | Ayade | Also starring Mary Uranta and Sylvia Edem. |
| 2018 | Disguise | Theophilus Vaughn | Also starring Toyin Abraham, Faith Adibe, Daniel K. Daniel, Afanye Daniel |
| 2018 | Lara and the Beat | Uncle Tunde | Also starring Chioma Chukwuka, Saidi Balogun, Shaffy Bello, Chinedu Ikedieze |
| 2018 | New Money | Chuka | Also stars Jemima Osunde, Kate Henshaw, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Dakore Akande, Osas Ighodaro and Falz d Bahd Guy. |
| 2018 | Voiceless Scream | Dr. Joel Azubike | Directed by Dotun Taylor and also stars Jide Kosoko and Adeniyi Johnson. |
| 2019 | Another Father's Day | Femi Daniel | Sequel to Happy Father's Day film. Directed by Bukola Ogunsola. Also stars Mercy Aigbe. |
| 2019 | Coming from Insanity | Mr. Martins | Crime drama with Gabriel Afolyan, Sani Danja, Dakore Akande, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Damilola Adegbite |
| 2019 | Don't Get Mad Get Even | Dr. Badejo | Ojo's feature film directorial debut. Features Toyin Abraham, Saheed Balogun and Nancy Isime. |
| 2019 | Jumbled | Mr Sagoe | Also stars Femi Adebayo, Eucharia Anunobi Ekwu, Lilian Esoro. |
| 2019 | Kasanova | Femi | Also starring Iretiola Doyle, Toyin Abraham, Ruby Akubueze and Yomi Alvin. |
| 2019 | Ordinary Fellows | Professor Jega | A film by Lorenzo Menakaya |
| 2019 | Walking with Shadows | Dad | Drama also starring Ozzy Agu, Funlola Aofiyebi, Ayoola Ayolola, Zainab Balogun, Riyo David and Ade Laoye. |
| 2020 | This Lady Called Life | Daddy | Stars Bisola Aiyeola, Samuel Asa'ah, and Lota Chukwu. |
| 2021 | Silent Murder | | Also stars Tina Mba, Wole Ojo, Saidi Balogun, Eniola Badmus, Charles Okocha, Bayray McNwizu. |
| 2022 | Bloodhound | Azusa | Also starring Ademola Adedoyin, Abayomi Alvin, Samuel Asa'ah. |
| 2022 | Songs of Ubong | Ubong | Also stars Rhoda Morakinyo. Directed by Owen Olowu. Inspired by the Songs of Solomon. |
| 2022 | A Place Called Forward | Husband | Also stars Fred Amata and Judith Audu. Written by Aboyowa Aby Mene. Directed by Umanu Ojochenemi Elijah. |
| 2022 | A Song From the Dark | Magnus Williams | Also stars Garcia Alicia Brown, Kane Surry, Vanessa Vanderpuye, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Dean Kilbey, Tom Patient, Lola Ogunyemi, Dimeji Ewuoso, Ryan Spong, Dylan McCormack, Octavia Gilmore, Yinka Awoni, Marshall Griffin, Alexander Scrivens, Amy Lally. Written and directed by Ogodinife Okpue. |
| 2023 | Love, Lust & Other Things | Chijindu Amadi | Also stars Osas Ighodaro and Ramsey Nouah. Directed by Kayode Kasum. |
| 2023 | Breath of Life | Timi Johnson | Also stars Genoveva Umeh, Chimezie Imo, Bimbo Manuel, Tina Mba, Demola Adedoyin, Sam Dede, Sambasa Nzeribe, and Melly Atari. First Amazon Prime commissioned Nigerian film. |
| 2024 | The Man Died | Wole Soyinka | Also stars Sam Dede, Norbert Young, Segilola Ogidan, Abraham Amkpa, Christiana Oshunniyi, Temmy Fosudo, and Ropo Ewenla. Directed by Awam Amkpa. |

### Theatre

| Year | Play | Theatre | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | The Sunset Limited | Capital Centre, Warwickshire, England | Black | Michael Gould performed as White |
| 2005 | Who Killed Mr Drum? | Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London | Henry Nxumalo | The plays title references the murder of an investigative reporter from South Africa's well-known magazine, Drum. |

### As Director

| Year | Title | Distributor | Notes |
| 2017 | Ghost of Tarkwa Bay | unknown | Nigeria's first movie about the art of surfing. Also features Ibrahim Odrago, May Owen, Armando Abraham, and Godspower. This short film marks Wale Ojo's directorial debut. |
| 2022 | This, Your Lagos | unknown | This documentary, starring William H. Ashbee, is 1 hour and 36 mins in length. |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Event | Prize | Work | Result |
| 2013 | Nollywood Movies Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Phone Swap | Nominated |
| 2012 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Actor in a Film | Phone Swap | Won |
| 2015 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actor in a Comedy | Meet the Adebanjos | Nominated |
| 2018 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Betrayal | Nominated |
| 2018 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actor in a Drama | Alter Ego | Nominated |
| 2022 | Africa Movie Academy Award | Best Supporting Actor | A Song From the Dark | Nominated |
| 2024 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Lead Actor | Breath of Life (2023 film) | Won |