Afeez Oyetoro popularly known as Saka (born: 20 August 1963; Age: 60) is a highly acclaimed Nigerian actor, writer, comic, creative director, and art consultant who is famous for his comic roles in films and series such as Taxi Driver: Oko Ashewo (2015), Dear Affy (2020), and Inside Life (2022).
Afeez has set a great standard in the art of comedy in terms of acting in the Nigerian film industry. His roles are mostly of a clownish nature but his spot-on interpretations have won him nods from different angles. This has turned him into an acclaimed man in the industry. To make his work even more impressive, he is also a drama teacher. He is a lecturer who even became the Head of the Department (HOD) of Theater Arts at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education in Lagos. From his birth to his career, and personal life, here is all to know about Saka.
Summary of Afeez Oyetoro’s Bio
- Full Name: Afeez Oyetoro
- Nickname: Saka
- Gender: Male
- Date of birth: 20 August 1963
- Afeez Oyetoro’s Age: 60 years old
- Ethnicity: Yoruba
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Religion: Islam
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Marital Status: Married
- Afeez Oyetoro’s Wife: Olaide Oyetoro
- Children: 3 (Abdullahi Oyetoro, Munim Oyetoro; Rufiat Oyelowo
- Afeez Oyetoro’s Net worth: $500,000 (estimated)
- Famous for: Acting and featuring in MTN’s I Don Port commercial
- Education: Baptist Day Primary School; Koso Grammar, Iseyin; the University of Ile Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State), University of Ibadan
- Afeez Oyetoro’s Instagram: @simplysaka
- Twitter: @OyetoroHafiz
Afeez Oyetoro aka Saka is an Indigene of Oyo State
Afeez Oyetoro was born on August 20, 1963, in Adegbola Iseyin, Oyo State and he is currently 60 years old. He started his life without luxury and led a life in a ghetto before he left his village when he was nine to stay with his uncle in Iseyin, a town in Oyo state. With his cleric uncle, the entertainer was raised in a middle-class environment.
Saka’s family background has been kept out of the spotlight but he lost his mother at the age of 92 in 2019. The actor’s father was a farmer who died at 98. Afeez was born with lighter skin than many other people around him and the community he grew up in. This led to his variously being called albino (even though he’s not), yellow pawpaw, and Oyinbo Pepper among others.
Also, he was born with diastema (spaced-out teeth) and people gave him nicknames. Rather than feeling annoyed by the names that were given to him because of his complexion and diastema, Saka shoved it. He also recorded that his complexion has always been an advantage and also contributed to bringing good things his way.
He Studied Theater Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University
As a young boy, the comic actor attended Baptist Day Primary School as well as Koso Grammar School in Iseyin. While in secondary school, he played badminton and was good at it. In fact, he was encouraged by his parents to follow his sporting passion.
Nonetheless, he later picked an interest in drama. This prompted him to attend the University of Ile Ife which is currently known as Obafemi Awolowo University in Osun State.
At the prestigious University, he obtained a Bachelor’s in Dramatic Arts. Afeez then went to the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan where he obtained a Master’s degree.
The actor also obtained a Doctorate degree from that same institution.
Saka is an Accomplished Actor, Writer, and Director
Finding out he had a lot to offer in the acting world, Saka took the leap into the movie industry in the 90s.
He has been involved in both stage drama, TV series, and films. He started to get noticed in 1997 when he wrote and was featured in O le Ku. While it may not have given him instant fame, it set good precedence that contributed to his fame.
In 2004, he was featured in The Campus Queen which was directed by renowned filmmaker Tunde Kelani. His fame grew in 2008 with the role of Kasaii in Corporate Maid which features Mercy Johnson, Van Vicker, and Oge Okoye.
Afeez’s career further boomed in 2013 when he became the main character in MTN’s port commercial. It became one of the most popular commercials at the time and was also used beyond the confines of TV and radio stations. Indeed, its fame grew so much that the jingle was used in events for the sole of entertainment.
List of Afeez Oyetoro’s Movies
- Kofa (2022)
- Inside Life (2022)
- Rancor (2022)
- Feudal Crossroads (2021)
- Shadow Parties (2021)
- Lugard (2021)
- Alejandro (2021)
- Mimi (2021)
- Never Let Them Go (2021)
- The Miracle Center (2020)
- Dear Affy (2020)
- Small Chops (2020)
- Knock Out (2019)
- The Call (2019)
- 200 Million (2018)
- What Just Happened (2018)
- Just Before I Do (2018)
- The Bodyguard (2018)
- Wives on Strike: The Revolution (2017)
- London Fever (2017)
- Tatu (2017)
- Our Husband (2017)
- Price of Deceit (2017)
- Ojukojoro: Greed (2016)
- Hustle (2016)
- Ewon Laafin (2015)
- Oracles Online (2015)
- Taxi Driver: Oko Ashewo (2015)
- Omo University (2015)
- Head Gone (2014)
- A Wish (2012)
- Phone Swap (2012)
- Corporate Maid (2008)
- The Campus Queen (2004)
- Brass Bells (1999)
- O le Ku (1997)
He also Has a Thriving Career as a Lecturer
Saka has built himself by teaching others the art of drama through his lecturing job at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education in Lagos.
According to him, the teaching job has a positive effect on his acting career as he enhances his practical methodology. Also, being an actor helps in developing his teaching skills in Theater Arts.
With an excellent teaching career, he later found his way to become a Head of the Department of Theater Arts Department at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education in Lagos.
He has Scored Endorsement Deals with the Likes of MTN and Etisalat
Saka has landed endorsement deals with several brands which have paid him handsomely in the course of his career. Some of these deals have also led to controversies. When Saka was featured in the I Don Port commercial for MTN, the comic actor was accused of jumping from being an ambassador of a competitive brand, Etisalat (now 9mobile).
While the news continued to rally around, the actor came out to make it clear that he was never a brand ambassador of Etisalat. Instead, he worked for Centerspread as a model and the company’s client was Etisalat. Although his modeling may have been utilized by the communication company, he never had any direct dealing with the 0809ja network.
How Did Saka get his Famous Stage Name?
Afeez Oyetola got his famous stage name Saka from one of the early roles that he played in his career in a TV series titled House Apart. The series came to light in 2004 when he joined hands with a fellow actor and lecturer who happened to be his good pal named Gbenga Windapo to conceive and write the series.
They were able to find a production company for it and they each took roles as well. While Gebnga played a character named Sule, Afeez played a character named Saka. House Apart was aired in Nigeria and Ghana and proved to be a smash hit. All this solidified Afeez’s new and long-lasting identity as Saka.
Is Afeez Retired?
Afeez Oyetola has not retired from acting and does not have the intention to retire from the career. According to the Taxi Driver actor, there is no retirement age for an entertainer. However, he will retire from his lecturing job in due time.
Both careers have contributed to his fame in different ways. His being a lecturer has helped him in the practicality of theater arts. Also, being an actor has helped him to bring back the field of acting to class.
Who is Afeez Oyelowo’s Wife?
Saka got married to Laide Oyelowo in 2003 and they celebrated their 16th anniversary in 2019. The actor and his wife are parents to three children – two boys named Abdullahi Oyetoro and Munim Oyetoro; and a daughter named Rufiat Oyetoro.
Afeez’s wife is a graduate of mathematics. She was a teacher until she left her job to take care of her family even though she was earning high.
Laide maintains a low profile, but Afeez speaks highly of her and praises her for her sacrifices for their family.