Uzee Usman Biography: A Tribe Called Judah, and Bridging Nollywood and Kannywood

Uzee Usman entered Nigeria’s film industry in 2003 not as an actor but as a makeup artist, a role in which he won an African Movie Academy Award before he ever appeared on screen himself.

Two decades later, he was playing Adamu Judah in A Tribe Called Judah, a film that grossed over ₦1 billion at the Nigerian box office and became one of the country’s highest-earning releases.

Uzee Usman Adeyemi is a Nigerian actor, film producer and television presenter known for deliberately fusing Nollywood, the mainly English and Yoruba-language film industry based in the south, with Kannywood, the Hausa-language film industry of northern Nigeria.

He is known for the films Voiceless, Oga Abuja, Anikulapo: Rise of the Scepter, and A Tribe Called Judah.

Profile

Early Life and Education

Usman was born and grew up in Kaduna, Kaduna State, completing his primary and secondary education there.

He has said his family’s roots are in Kwara State. He went on to earn two university degrees, one in English Language from the University of Jos and another in Political Science from the University of Abuja, before travelling to South Africa to study special effects and makeup artistry.

From Makeup Artist to Filmmaker

Usman began his entertainment career in 2003 as a makeup artist, a path he took on the advice of an industry veteran who told him it would be a faster route into the business than acting directly.

His skill in the role was recognised in 2008, when he won Best Makeup Artist at the African Movie Academy Awards for the film London Boy.

Reflecting on the resistance he faced when he later decided to move from makeup into producing and directing, he told The Guardian, “I kept the naysayers on their toes because I told myself I must succeed.”

Bridging Nollywood and Kannywood

Usman moved into film production in 2013, building his reputation on a deliberate strategy of casting actors from both Nollywood and Kannywood, and from Nigeria’s different ethnic and linguistic communities, in the same productions.

His film Oga Abuja, which combined Hausa and Igbo elements, won Best Hausa Movie of the Year at the 2013 City People Entertainment Awards.

He followed it with Maja, starring Nkem Owoh, which won Best Film of the Year (Kannywood) at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards and was nominated for Best Picture at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Describing his approach to Leadership newspaper, he said Kannywood storytelling remained close to his own roots, adding, “Kannywood was my first home; it felt close to my roots.”

A Tribe Called Judah and Anikulapo

Usman’s profile broadened significantly with two mainstream Nollywood roles in the 2020s.

In 2020, he starred in Voiceless, a Hausa-language thriller about the Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping, a performance that earned him a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama at the 2022 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).

In December 2023, he played Adamu Judah in Funke Akindele’s A Tribe Called Judah, which went on to gross more than ₦1 billion in Nigerian cinemas. He followed that role with a part as Kuranga in the Netflix production Anikulapo: Rise of the Scepter, released in 2024.

Brand Ambassadorships and Honors

Usman has become a frequent brand ambassador and honoree beyond the film industry.

He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Media and Communications Studies from Iheris University, Togo, in 2021, and was named brand ambassador for TAJBank in May 2023.

He has also served as an ambassador for Globacom, Dangote Seasoning, and Profiled World Homes, and has been recognised by the United Nations in connection with the Sustainable Development Goals.

In November 2025, he received the Actor of the Year and Entertainment Excellence Award at the 15th Peace Achievers International Awards, which recognised his contributions to promoting cultural unity through his work.

Filmography

Career Timeline

Sources

• Wikipedia — Uzee Usman
• Wikipedia — A Tribe Called Judah
• Wikipedia — Iman (film)
• The Guardian Nigeria — Uzee Usman: I Chose to Be Link Between Nollywood, Kannywood
• The Guardian Nigeria — Uzee: I Will Continue to Use My Platform, Voice to Impact Cultural Advocacy, Peace
• Daily Trust — Uzee: From Makeup Artist to Film Director
• Leadership — Uzee Usman: From Northern Roots to National Spotlight, Telling Stories That Matter
• Leadership — Uzee Usman Deepens Commitment to Peace, Culture
• Themoveee — From Playing Adamu in A Tribe Called Judah to Kuranga in Anikulapo Series

Last updated: September 24, 2026

Zeez

Zeez is the editor and founder of BioOrbit, where he researches and writes biographies of public figures from Nigeria and around the world. With 5 years of experience writing about news, entertainment, sports and politics, Zeez focuses on verified facts, clear sourcing and regular updates. Found an error? Report a correction.