Fathia Balogun is a famous Nigerian actress. She started her illustrious acting career in the early 90s and has been a mainstay in Nollywood for three decades, featuring mostly in Yoruba movies. She is known for her roles in Iranse Aje and Iya Alalake.
She is also famous for being previously married to a fellow thespian, a situation that impacted her both positively and negatively.
So, who is Fathia Balogun, a woman who had to undergo the ignominy of a public divorce and worked twice as hard to get her career back on track?
Fathia Balogun biography
Fathia Balogun (nee Williams) was born in Ikeja, capital of Lagos State, on February 5, 1971. Although she was born in Lagos, Balogun originally hails from Delta State. Her family is a polygamous one of nine members.
Balogun attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School, both in Lagos State, for her primary and secondary school education, respectively. She obtained a diploma certificate at the Kwara State Polytechnic. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Lagos State University (LASU). She returned to the classroom in 2016 to pursue a degree in film at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
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Career
After graduating from Kwara Poly. Faithia Balogun worked as a general receptionist for Chips Bit & Bit on Toyin Street in Ikeja, Lagos, where she received a monthly salary of N5,000.
Early in the 1990s, however, was when she made a dramatic change in career choice. She was cast in a movie by her uncle, Alhaji Fatai Teniola, after the original actor failed to make it to the set. She made her movie debut in Ta lo pa Chief (Who killed Chief). Since then she has appeared in, produced, and directed numerous Nigerian movies.
Awards
Faithia Balogun’s film, Iranse Aje, won the best indigenous film of the year at the 2008 Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA). She also took home the gong for the Most Outstanding Indigenous Actress at the same awards.
In 2014, she was adjudged to be and declared the winner of the Best Actress of the Year award at the AMAA.
For her efforts in the movie Iya Alalake, she also took home the Best Indigenous Language gong at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Fathia Balogun movies
Faithia Balogun is one of the biggest stars in Nollywood as she has appeared in over 100 movies. Some of her movies include:
- Farayola (2009)
- Aje metta ( 2008)
- Aje metta 2 (2008)
- Awawu (2015)
- Teni Teka (2015)
- Omo Ale (2015)
- Agbelebu Mi (2016)
- Basira Badia (2016)
- Adakeja (2016)
- Eku Eda (2016)
- My Woman (2018)
- 10 Days In Sun City (2017)
- Victims (2017)
- Ehi’s Bitters (2018)
- Seven and a Half Dates (2018)
- Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons (2018)
- To Love Again (2018)
- Mokalik ( Mechanic) 2019
- Dear Affy (2020)
- Oba Bi Olorun (2021)
- Esin (2021)
- Osun, the Goddess (2021)
- President Kuti (2021)
Controversies
Regarding scandals in Nollywood, Faithia Balogun is undoubtedly not a saint. She allegedly got into a fight with another actress in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood over Rotimi Ajanaku, a politician from Ibadan, Oyo State, whom she claimed the other actress had stolen from her.
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She allegedly also had a sex-obsessed relationship with the director of Corporate Pictures. The top marketer’s marriage was supposedly wrecked by this action.
Balogun also took a swipe at her colleague, Iyabo Ojo. Recall that Ojo threw the first punch after she insulted her for snitching on her about her surgery in Turkey.
Fathia Balogun net worth
Faithia Balogun is, according to media reports, worth an estimated N80-N100 million. Her wealth is gotten not just from her acting gigs, but also her many businesses and endorsement deals.
Fathia Balogun age
Fathia Balogun was born on February 5, 1971. She will be 52 years old, as of February 2023.
Family
Fathia Balogun was formerly married to veteran Nollywood actor, Saheed Balogun, with whom she has two children: a son and a daughter.
She also has a son from an earlier relationship.
Fathia Balogun wedding
Fathia and Saheed Balogun got married on September 7, 2000. The wedding took place at the Ikorodu Marriage Registry in Lagos.
They divorced in 2014, and in November 2017, she reverted to her maiden name, Williams, after their divorce was finalised.
Fathia Balogun’s state of origin
Contrary to popular belief that she is a Yoruba woman from the South-Western part of Nigeria, Fathia Balogun is actually from the Ukwara Waterside in Delta State, South-South Nigeria.
Full name
Fathia Balogun is not the actress’ full name. The name Balogun was her ex-husband’s surname. Her real name is Fathia Akorede Adunni Williams and she is the daughter of Talayo Abeni Teniola (mother) and Mr Williams. Her siblings are Charles, Ken, Anderson, Stella, and Arike Josephine.
Fathia Balogun’s husband
The veteran actress is currently not married to anyone, following her divorce from her fellow actor, Saheed Balogun.
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