Uzee Usman Biography, Net Worth, Age, Career & Facts

Uzee Usman is a Nigerian actor and film producer known for bridging Nollywood and Kannywood. Explore his biography, net worth, movies, education, and personal life.

Uzee Usman Adeyemi is a Nigerian actor, film producer, TV host, and entrepreneur who has built a distinctive career by bridging the gap between Nollywood (Nigeria’s English and Yoruba-language film industry) and Kannywood (its Hausa-language counterpart).

He is known for starring roles in films such as Voiceless, Mustapha, Oga Abuja, Kunle Afolayan’s Netflix epic Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, and Funke Akindele’s record-breaking blockbuster A Tribe Called Judah (2023), which grossed over ₦1 billion in Nigerian cinemas. His ability to operate across linguistic and cultural boundaries within the Nigerian film industry has earned him the nickname “The Bridger.”

Quick Facts About Uzee Usman Adeyemi

Field	Value
Full Name	Uzee Usman Adeyemi
Date of Birth	11 November 1986
Age	39 years old (as of 2026)
Place of Birth	Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria
State of Origin	Kwara State
Nationality	Nigerian
Ethnicity	Yoruba (father) and Fulani (mother)
Religion	Islam
Marital Status	Unmarried (as of last public statements)
Education	BSc Political Science, University of Abuja; BA English Language, University of Jos; Special Effects training (South Africa); Honorary Doctorate, Iheris University, Togo
Occupation	Actor, film producer, TV host, entrepreneur
Net Worth	Estimated $350,000–$450,000 (2026)
Years Active	2003 – present
Known For	Bridging Nollywood and Kannywood; A Tribe Called Judah; Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre; Voiceless; Oga Abuja

Early Life and Education

Uzee Usman Adeyemi was born on 11 November 1986 in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria. He is of mixed Yoruba and Fulani heritage — his father, Mr. Usman Adeyemi, is a Yoruba man from Kwara State, while his mother is Fulani from Zaria in Kaduna State. He was raised in Kaduna and has stated publicly that he has never visited his father’s hometown in Kwara State.

In an interview with The Punch, Uzee described his background: “I am half-Yoruba and half-Hausa. My mum is Fulani from Zaria (Kaduna State), and my dad is from Kwara State. We (children) were all born and brought up in the north.”

He completed his primary and secondary education in Kaduna before pursuing higher education. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Abuja and a second degree in English Language from the University of Jos. He later travelled to South Africa to study Special Effects for film production. In 2021, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Media and Communications Studies from Iheris University in Togo.

Career

Early Career as a Make-Up Artist (2003–2012)

Uzee Usman entered the Nigerian film industry in 2003, not as an actor, but as a make-up artist. He quickly distinguished himself in the craft and won the Best Make-Up Artist award at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2008 for his work on the film London Boy. His years in the make-up department gave him an intimate understanding of film production from behind the camera, which would later inform his work as a producer and actor.

Transition to Producing and Acting (2013–2018)

In 2013, Uzee transitioned into filmmaking, producing his first major projects. His early work deliberately blended Nollywood and Kannywood talent — an unusual approach at the time, given the cultural and linguistic divide between the two industries.

His film Oga Abuja won Best Hausa Movie of the Year at the 2013 City People Entertainment Awards. The following year, Maja won Best Film of the Year (Kannywood) at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards and received a nomination for Best Picture at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Maja featured a mix of Nollywood actors (including Jim Iyke and Nkem Owoh) alongside Kannywood stars, establishing Uzee’s reputation as a cross-cultural filmmaker.

During this period, he also met filmmaker Rogers Ofime and pitched the concept for Taurarin Zamani, a celebrity talk show focused on prominent figures from Northern Nigeria. The show became one of the biggest talk shows in the region, with Uzee serving as host. After its success, Ofime encouraged him to pursue on-screen acting, leading to his lead role in Voiceless.

He won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2016 National Heritage Awards and the Peace Achievers International Award for excellence in community development.

Mainstream Nollywood Breakthrough (2019–Present)

Uzee’s acting career gained significant mainstream momentum with films such as Mustapha (2019) and The Milkmaid. His production company, Uzee Concept, has produced over 30 films across both Nollywood and Kannywood.

His role as Adamu Judah in Funke Akindele’s A Tribe Called Judah (2023) brought him to his widest audience yet. The film, which tells the story of a single mother with five sons from five different Nigerian ethnic groups, became the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time, surpassing ₦1 billion in box office revenue. Uzee’s portrayal of one of the Judah brothers was praised for its authenticity and depth.

In the same period, he appeared as Kuranga in Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, a Netflix epic blending fantasy, African mythology, and adventure. The role marked the first time Uzee spoke Yoruba in a film, showcasing his linguistic range beyond Hausa and English.

He told The Punch: “I featured in the movie series — Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — by Kunle Afolayan, and people will see me speaking Yoruba for the first time in a movie.”

In May 2023, TAJBank announced Uzee Usman as their brand ambassador. He also serves as a brand ambassador for Avada Couture. In 2024, YNaija listed him among the 100 most influential Nollywood actors of the year, and he was named among the 100 Most Notable African Peace Icons for 2023 and 2024. In 2025, he was recognised as one of Africa Travel & Tourism’s 100 Most Impactful People.

Career Timeline

Year	Milestone
2003	Entered the Nigerian film industry as a make-up artist
2008	Won Best Make-Up Artist at the Africa Movie Academy Awards for London Boy
2013	Produced Oga Abuja; won Best Hausa Movie of the Year at City People Awards
2014	Produced Maja; won Best Film of the Year (Kannywood) at City People Awards
2016	Won Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the National Heritage Awards
2019	Starred in Mustapha; established himself as a leading cross-over actor
2021	Awarded Honorary Doctorate in Media & Communications from Iheris University, Togo
2023	Starred as Adamu Judah in A Tribe Called Judah (highest-grossing Nollywood film ever)
2023	Played Kuranga in Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre on Netflix
2023	Announced as TAJBank brand ambassador
2024	Listed among YNaija’s 100 Most Influential Nollywood Actors
2024	Named among the 100 Most Notable African Peace Icons
2025	Recognised among Africa Travel & Tourism’s 100 Most Impactful People

Personal Life

Uzee Usman is a practising Muslim, raised in a Muslim household in Kaduna. As of his most recent public statements, he is unmarried. In a December 2018 interview with ThisDay, he said: “Not ready for marriage for now. In fact, right now, I’m too busy to think about relationships or marriage.”

Confusion arose among fans after wedding photographs from the 2021 TV series Farin Jini — in which he married actress Miwa Olorunfemi on screen — went viral, with many mistaking the scene for a real wedding. Uzee clarified that the images were from a film production.

He keeps his romantic life private and has not publicly disclosed details about any relationship. He is the CEO of Uzee Concept, his production and entertainment company.

His multicultural background — Yoruba father, Fulani mother, raised in the Hausa-speaking north — has shaped both his personal identity and professional brand. He has described himself as a cultural bridge within Nigerian entertainment, operating comfortably across ethnic and linguistic lines that typically divide the country’s film industries.

Net Worth and Assets

Uzee Usman’s net worth is estimated between $350,000 and $450,000 as of 2026. His income is derived from multiple sources: acting fees from Nollywood and Kannywood productions, film production through Uzee Concept, his TV hosting work on Taurarin Zamani, and brand ambassadorship deals with TAJBank and Avada Couture.

His appearances in major box office hits such as A Tribe Called Judah (which grossed over ₦1 billion) and the Netflix-distributed Anikulapo series have significantly raised his market value within the industry. He is regarded as one of the highest-paid cross-over actors operating in both Nollywood and Kannywood.

Awards and Recognition

• Best Make-Up Artist — 2008 — Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for London Boy
• Best Hausa Movie of the Year — 2013 — City People Entertainment Awards for Oga Abuja
• Best Film of the Year (Kannywood) — 2014 — City People Entertainment Awards for Maja
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year — 2016 — National Heritage Awards
• Peace Achievers International Award — for excellence in community development
• United Nations Peace Achievers Award
• Honorary Doctorate in Media & Communications Studies — 2021 — Iheris University, Togo
• 100 Most Influential Nollywood Actors — 2024 — YNaija
• 100 Most Notable African Peace Icons — 2023 & 2024
• 100 Most Impactful People in Africa Travel & Tourism — 2025

Interesting Facts About Uzee Usman

1. He started in the film industry as a make-up artist in 2003 and won a major award (AMAA) in that role before ever appearing on screen as an actor.
2. He is half-Yoruba and half-Fulani but grew up entirely in Northern Nigeria and has said he has never visited his father’s hometown in Kwara State.
3. His first time speaking Yoruba on screen was in Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre — despite being ethnically Yoruba.
4. He hosted Taurarin Zamani, one of the biggest celebrity talk shows in Northern Nigeria, before transitioning to acting.
5. Wedding photos from his role in the TV series Farin Jini went viral, with fans mistaking them for a real wedding.
6. He has produced over 30 films across both Nollywood and Kannywood industries.
7. He studied Special Effects in South Africa, an unusual training path for Nigerian actors and producers.
8. A Tribe Called Judah, in which he played Adamu Judah, became the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time.

Quotations by Uzee Usman

“I am half-Yoruba and half-Hausa. My mum is Fulani from Zaria (Kaduna State), and my dad is from Kwara State. We (children) were all born and brought up in the north. I have never been to my hometown, Kwara State.” — Uzee Usman, in an interview with The Punch, 2024

“I knew I didn’t want to stick to the north and so I chose to be the link between Nollywood and Kannywood.” — Uzee Usman, in an interview with The Guardian Nigeria, 2022

“Not ready for marriage for now. In fact, right now, I’m too busy to think about relationships or marriage.” — Uzee Usman, in an interview with ThisDay, December 2018

Final Thoughts

Uzee Usman occupies a rare position in Nigerian cinema. In an industry often divided along ethnic, linguistic, and regional lines, he has built his entire brand on crossing those boundaries. His Yoruba-Fulani heritage, northern upbringing, and deliberate career choices have made him one of the few actors who can credibly lead a Hausa-language Kannywood production on one project and a Yoruba-language Netflix epic on the next.

His trajectory from make-up artist to award-winning actor and producer — with stops in South Africa for technical training and Togo for an honorary doctorate — reflects an unconventional but highly effective approach to career building in Nollywood. At 39 years old in 2026, he is entering what appears to be the peak phase of his career, with major credits in two of the biggest Nigerian films of the decade (A Tribe Called Judah and Anikulapo) and growing recognition from international bodies.

As Nigerian cinema continues to expand its global footprint through Netflix, Amazon Prime, and theatrical distribution, actors who can operate across the country’s cultural divides will become increasingly valuable. Uzee Usman has positioned himself precisely at that intersection, and his influence on the next generation of cross-cultural filmmakers in West Africa is already evident.