Becoming Ooni: How I Wore the Crown On Screen” — Adedolamu Awolowo Tells His Story
If you’re meeting Adedolamu Emmanuel Awolowo for the first time, three things will immediately stand out: his towering presence, charismatic energy, and captivating storytelling. But beyond his striking looks and charming personality lies a man deeply passionate about the Nigerian movie industry — both in front of and behind the camera.

The fast-rising actor and director has built his career quietly but steadily, earning his stripes with some of Nollywood’s finest. Recently, he grabbed major attention for his portrayal of the revered Ooni of Ife in an upcoming epic film chronicling the reign of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
In a candid conversation at the City People office in Gbagada, Lagos, the Ibadan-born talent shared his inspiring journey with Senior Editor, Wale Lawal, including the pressure of carrying the Awolowo name and what it meant to step into royal shoes on screen.

A STAR IN THE MAKING
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Adedolamu relocated to Lagos over four decades ago and attended Unique Children’s School and Unique Heights for his primary and secondary education. Later, he pursued Theatre Arts in university — but his passion for acting started much earlier.
“Even in primary school, I was in the drama club. I always knew I was born to act,” he recalls. Despite being encouraged to pursue a science career — even writing WAEC as a science student — his heart remained with the arts.
From drama clubs to street hustle, Adedolamu’s journey wasn’t a straight line. Coming from a broken home, he worked multiple jobs — including cooking for parties, shoemaking, and event ushering — just to fund his education. “An idle man is the devil’s workshop,” he says. “I had to keep pushing.”
WALKING IN ROYAL SHOES
Adedolamu’s big break came with a lead role as the Ooni of Ife in a yet-to-be-released movie directed by Yomi Amodu and produced by Tunde Adesoye. The film, shot in Ile-Ife, captures the achievements of the Ooni in recent years.
“I spent three weeks in Ile-Ife preparing and shooting. It was an intense, spiritual experience. Playing the Ooni is more than acting — it’s carrying a legacy,” he says. The cast included heavyweights like Peju Ogunmola, Taiwo Hassan, and Yinka Salau.
CRAFTING HIS OWN STYLE
Having trained under the late Yomi Ogunmola and later Muyiwa Ademola, Adedolamu has appeared in over 100 movies, including Owo Okuta, Abegbe, and most recently, “Ori Ade Fadaka” — a cinema release starring Bimbo Akintola, Antar Laniyan, and Jide Kosoko.
He recently directed two upcoming films for Africa Magic, titled Curiosity and Iwo Lo Pa. Shot in 4K and built on cinematic standards, they reflect his commitment to high-quality production.
“My set was intense,” he laughs. “We worked from 7 a.m
