As one of Nigeria’s brightest stars, Adesua Etomi makes every outfit count. Nollywood, the nation’s thriving film community, is filled with well-dressed actresses, but Etomi leads a new generation of women who work locally but think globally. She is the rare leading lady who can move seamlessly between drama and comedy: Etomi trained in the theater, performing classics like The Crucible, before making the jump to the big screen with her breakthrough role in 2014’s Knocking on Heavens Door, which centered on an abusive relationship between a seemingly perfect couple.
Etomi’s dramatic work won her raves, but U.S. audiences know her best as Nollywood’s rom-com queen. Her uproariously funny global smash, The Wedding Party, satirized the tradition of fantasy nuptials down to the smallest detail and quickly became the nation’s highest grossing film of all time.
Though she stands at the center of the world’s second-largest film market (only India produces more), you don’t need to have be a cinéaste to keep up with her. On Instagram where she boasts over 2 million followers, Etomi’s presence looms large. She’s free to update fans about her latest projects, encourage them to vote in their local elections, and share a few sweetheart selfies with husband, musician Banky W., and she makes the most of her platform, especially where style is concerned.
Etomi is apt to share a picture of herself in ornate gowns from Lagos-based labels like Purple and Matopeda, or switch gears with a sharp Mai Atafo suit. She always makes a point to showcase the best in African design, keeping her outfits as varied as the roles she takes on.
