Celebrities of Nigerian heritage have made significant contributions to American culture in various fields, including film, television, and music. Many of these artists are Nigerian Americans, born to Nigerian immigrant parents.

Yvonne Orji

An actress and comedian best known for her role as Molly Carter on the HBO series Insecure. Orji was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and is a proud Nigerian American who frequently discusses her heritage in her stand-up comedy.

Gbenga Akinnagbe

An actor known for his roles in The Wire and The Deuce. Akinnagbe was born in Washington, D.C., to Nigerian parents; Yoruba by tribe.

Dayo Okeniyi

An actor who gained prominence with his role in The Hunger Games. Okeniyi was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the United States as a teenager.

Jovan Adepo

An actor featured in the films Fences and Overlord, as well as the HBO series Watchmen. His father is from the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria.

Megalyn Echikunwoke

An actress who appeared in the TV series 24 and CSI: Miami. Her father is Nigerian; Igbo tribe.

Tyler, the Creator (Tyler Okonma)

A Grammy Award-winning rapper and producer. His father is of Nigerian descent.

Ayọ Tometi

Ayọ Tometi also know as Opal Tometi is a human rights activist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. She was born in Arizona to Nigerian immigrants.

Uzo Aduba

An actress best known for her role as “Crazy Eyes” in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. Aduba was born to Nigerian immigrant parents in Boston, Massachusetts.

Tunde Adebimpe

A musician and actor, best known as the lead singer of the band TV on the Radio. His parents are Nigerian of Yoruba tribe.

Wale (Olubowale Victor Akintimehin)

A successful rapper; Wale was born to Nigerian immigrant parents of the Yoruba ethnic group, who moved to the U.S. from Austria in 1979.

Jidenna (Jidenna Mobisson)

A rapper and singer whose father is Nigerian.  Jidenna was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, to an American mother and a Nigerian Igbo father. Jidenna spent part of his childhood in Nigeria.

Hakeem Olajuwon

A basketball Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the U.S. for college. He is from the Yoruba tribe.

Kamaru Usman

A mixed martial artist and former UFC Welterweight Champion. He was born in Auchi, Nigeria, and came to the U.S. as a young child. Kamaru Usman is from the Edo people of Edo State

Kevin Olusola

A musician, beatboxer, and cellist for the a capella group Pentatonix. His father is a Nigerian-born psychiatrist, and his mother a Grenadian-born nurse.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A Nigerian author whose writing has explored themes of Nigerian and Black identity. She holds both American and Nigerian citizenship and is a MacArthur Fellow.