Raised in a disciplined academic and Christian home by a school principal father and a headmistress mother, Sola began studying Music at the prestigious University of Ibadan. However, a pivotal shift to Theatre Arts marked the beginning of her illustrious acting career.
Her career began with various appearances in popular TV dramas like Village Headmaster, Mirror In The Sun, and Osmosis. She later joined the Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group led by Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello). She learned the ropes of performance and began starring in the then Home Video Industry, which later morphed into Nollywood. Her first breakthrough was in the 1992 hit movie, Asewo To Re Mecca, alongside Toyin Adegbola. The movie became an instant home video hit and launched Sobowale into early stardom as she went on to feature and star in top Yoruba movies.
As her stardom grew, she didn’t just act but also ventured into production. Embracing the actor-producer model popular at the time, Sobowale produced and starred in her own films, Ayomide and Ohun Oko Somida. Her reputation in the Yoruba film industry opened doors to major productions such as Diamond Ring, where she starred alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo and Buki Ajayi. She soon cemented her place in the hearts of audiences nationwide with her unforgettable portrayal of Toyin Tomato in Wale Adenuga’s Super Story, a role that became iconic.
At the peak of her early fame, Sobowale took a long hiatus, relocating to the UK to support her family and explore alternative income streams. During that period, she trained and qualified as a care nurse—a profession her mother had always hoped she’d pursue. Despite stepping back from acting, she still took on select film roles, including Tade Ogidan’s Dangerous Twins and Family on Fire.
Her return to Nollywood was nothing short of triumphant. At the urging of her daughters, she auditioned for a role in The Wedding Party, and the rest, as they say, is history. Released in 2016, the romantic comedy became a box-office phenomenon. Sobowale’s larger-than-life portrayal of Tinuade Coker, the flamboyant mother of the bride, stole the show and reintroduced her brilliance to a new generation.
This ‘new generation’ included the The Wedding Party director, Kemi Adetiba, who cast Sobowale in the lead role of her full debut feature film, King of Boys (2018). As Eniola Salami, a powerful businesswoman with a dark past and political ambitions, Sobowale delivered a career-defining performance. Intense, layered, and unforgettable, it solidified her legacy and ushered in a thrilling new chapter. She reprised the role in the sequel series King of Boys: The Return of the King (2021), once again proving her ability to carry complex narratives with magnetic force.
From 2019 onward, Sola Sobowale continued to build an impressive resume of memorable roles. She reunited with Richard Mofe-Damijo in Gold Statue, another Tade Ogidan production, rekindling their on-screen chemistry. That same year, she joined the cast of Omoni Oboli’s Wives on Strike: The Revolution, bringing her signature depth to the ensemble. In 2022, blockbuster filmmaker Funke Akindele cast her in Battle on Buka Street, a film that would go on to become Nigeria’s highest-grossing box office hit. Her remarkable ability to convey raw emotion and layered strength drew the attention of top-tier directors, including Kunle Afolayan, who cast her in his 2022 Netflix epic Anikulapo. Her performance as Awurun earned critical acclaim and contributed to the film’s 16 award nominations, including a nod for Best Supporting Actress, further proof of her enduring brilliance on screen
Following standout appearances in Shanty Town, Ada Omo Daddy, and Double Dekoi in 2023, Sola Sobowale took on yet another major role this time as the lead in Postcards, a cross-cultural Nollywood-Bollywood Netflix series. Produced by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, the project featured a notable cast including Richard Mofe-Damijo, marking a heartfelt reunion between the two screen veterans since their days in Diamond Ring.
Despite her hiatus and career pivots, Sola Sobowale has built an enduring legacy. Her journey, marked by iconic roles, memorable comebacks, and an unshakable commitment to her craft, is an inspiring blueprint for longevity in Nollywood. She is not just an actress; she is a cultural force.
SCREENNOLLY invites you to A Streaming Weekend with the Icon and a Nollywood Woman King - Sola Sobowale.
King of Boys Netflix
Sobowale as the deceitful and notorious Eniola Badmus in Kemi Adetiba's 2018 crime thriller
The Wedding Party Prime VideoSola Sobowale alongside Alibaba and other notable cast stars in the 2016 romantic comedy blockbuster directed by Kemi Adetiba
Anikulapo NetflixSola Sobowale's brilliant portrayal of Awarun in Kunle Afolayan's epic feature earned her an AMVCA nomination for 'Best Supporting Actress'
Postcards Netflix Sobowale leads in a 2024 cross-cultural Nollywood-Bollywood Netflix series by Hamish Daryani - Ahuja.
