Folake Olowofoyeku facts for kids

Folake Olowofoyeku (born October 26, 1983) is a talented Nigerian actress and musician. You might know her best from the TV show Bob Hearts Abishola on CBS, created by Chuck Lorre. In this show, she plays the main character, Abishola.

Early Life and Education

Folake Olowofoyeku was born in Nigeria. Her father, Babatunji Olowofoyeku, was a Nigerian politician, and her mother is Felicia Olowofoyeku. She is the youngest of 20 children! One of her older brothers is the famous musician and guitarist, Toby Foyeh.

Folake was named after a very important person, Folake Solanke, who was the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Folake has shared that names are very special in her Yoruba culture. Her first name means to use non-money gifts to show love, and her last name means a rich person uses a special title to complete their wealth.

She grew up in Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria. She also spent some time living in London.

For her schooling, Folake went to Igbinedion Education Centre, which was a boarding school. Later, she attended Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Ikeja, Lagos, and then Oxbridge Tutorial College.

In 2001, when she was 18, Folake moved to the United States to live with her sister. She first studied economics, thinking she might become a lawyer. But she later changed her mind and earned a degree in theater from City College of New York. While at City College, she also played college basketball!

Acting Career Highlights

After finishing college, Folake started her acting journey in New York City. She performed in plays that were not on Broadway, which is a great way for actors to begin.

She has appeared in many popular TV shows. These include 30 Rock, How to Get Away with Murder, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Modern Family, Westworld, and White Collar.

In 2017, Folake starred in the movie Death Race 2050. She played a character named Minerva Jefferson. This film was a follow-up to an older movie from 1975. It was filmed in Lima, Peru.

Also in 2017, she appeared in the TV series Transparent. She played a character named Lyfe, who was a love interest for one of the main characters.

Since September 2019, Folake Olowofoyeku has been a main star in the Chuck Lorre CBS sitcom, Bob Hearts Abishola. She acts alongside American comedian Billy Gardell. The show was created by Chuck Lorre and British-Nigerian comedian Gina Yashere. Gina also writes for the show and plays Abishola's best friend, Kemi. Bob Hearts Abishola is special because it's the first American sitcom to feature a Nigerian family. The show was renewed for its fifth and final season, which started in February 2024.

Music Journey

Besides acting, Folake Olowofoyeku is also a musician! She makes Afro-beat electronic music under the name The Folake. She is very talented and plays both the guitar and the piano. She has even worked as a sound engineer, which means she helps record and mix music. She has a special diploma in audio engineering.

In 2013, Folake appeared in two music videos for the legendary musician David Bowie. She played the bass guitar in his videos for "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" and "The Next Day". Both videos were directed by Floria Sigismondi. Other famous actors like Tilda Swinton, Gary Oldman, and Marion Cotillard also appeared in these videos. Folake shared that David Bowie and the director worked closely with the band to make sure they knew their parts perfectly for the videos.

Personal Life

Folake Olowofoyeku can speak two languages fluently: Yoruba and English. She lives in Los Angeles, California. She is a big fan of science fiction stories and loves the work of writer Octavia Butler. Her favorite book by Butler is Wild Seed, published in 1980.

Her nephew, Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku, was part of the Kugali team that created a Nigerian animated mini-series called Iwájú for Disney+. This exciting show was released in February 2024.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video Games

Music Videos

Theater Performances

• 2004: Trojan Women by Euripides at Classical Theatre of Harlem (April 2, 2004)
• 2009: Punk Roc/Love Song (Horse Trade Theater Group) at Kraine Theater (September 30 – October 3, 2009)

Discography

• 2012: The.Folake! (self-released)