Clarion Chukwura (born 24 July 1964; Age: 59 years old) is a Nigerian veteran actress, producer, philanthropist, social development activist, founder, and president of C.C. Helpline Initiative. She is known for movies such as Glamour Girls (1994), Egg of Life (2003), and Apaye (2014). In her private life and more to her fame, Clarion is the mother of Clarence Peters and Shina Peters‘ ex-lover.
Clarion has mixed talent, resilience, passion for acting, and dedication to be able to survive the competitive world of Nollywood as an actress for about 4 decades. She boasts of appearing in over 150 movies and has equally shown diversity in her role approach. While at it, she has attracted numerous awards, including the Afro-Hollywood Best Actress Award (1997) and Best Actress of the Year at the All Africa Film Festival, Ougadagodou, Burkina Faso (1984).
Summary of Clarion Chukwura’s Biography
- Full name: Clara Nneka Folashade Oluwatoyin
- Famous As: Clarion Chukwura
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: 24 July 1964
- Clarion Chukwura’s Age: 59 years old
- Ethnicity: Igbo
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Married
- Clarion Chukwura’s Husband: Anthony Boyd (m.2016- present); Femi Oduneye (m.2004-2016); Tunde Abiola (m.- 2003)
- Her: Clarence Abiodun Peters, Brian Abiola
- Chukwura’s Parents: John and Christiana Chukwura
- Clarion Chukwura’s Height in Inches: Estimated at 5 feet 6.9 inches
- Her Height in Centimetres: Estimated at 170cm
- The Actress’ Weight: 140- 150 Pounds (Estimation)
- Clarion Chukwura’s Net worth: Estimated at $1-2 Million
- Famous for: Acting, Philanthropy, producing, social development activism, founder and president of C.C. Helpline Initiative.
- Clarion Chukwura’s Instagram: @clarionchukwurah
- Facebook: Clarion Chukwura
- Education: Lady Lark nursery school, All Saints primary school, Lagos. Queen of our Rosary College(QRC), Onitsha. Obafemi Awolowo University (O.A.U) Ile-Ife, Osun State. L.I.F.E. theological seminary Ikorodu
Clarion Chukwura’s Age and Ethnicity
Clara Nneka Folashade Oluwatoyin “Clarion” Chukwura was born on 24 July 1964 at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital(LUTH) and is currently 59 years old.
Clarion is of Igbo ethnicity and hails from Onitsha, Anambra State in the eastern part of Nigeria. Despite this, there are concerns when it comes to her ties with the Yoruba people of western Nigeria, especially because she appears in some Yoruba films and was also given Yoruba names at birth.
Her being part of the Yoruba community is due to the reason that she was born in Lagos State. By the virtue of this, she speaks the language fluently.
While there are chances that she may have some family members that may be of the Yoruba ethnicity, she was previously married to 2 different Yoruba men. She also has a son whose father is from Ogun State.
Who are Clarion Chukwura’s Parents and Siblings?
The actress’ parents are John Chukwura (father) and Christiana Chukwura (mother).
Her father, Mr. John Chukwura worked as the personnel manager at Sunflag – a Nigerian Textile mill as well as an accountant before his death in 1975 when the actress was 11.
On the other hand, her mother was a businesswoman and a business contractor. She led a private life and died in the early 2000s.
Looking more into the actress’ family, she has 4 brothers who keep more private lives.
Her Education
Growing up in the megacity, the fashionable actress attended Lady Lark nursery school, the same school attended by another Nollywood actress, Liz Benson. Furthermore, she went to All Saints primary school in Yaba, Lagos state.
She later relocated to Onitsha with her siblings to live with an uncle following the death of her father. There, she attended Queen of Our Rosary College (QRC).
In 1981, she gained admission into the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (O.A.U) Ile-Ife, Osun State. She later graduated from the department of Dramatic Arts with a second-class upper degree.
At the age of 33 in 1997, Chukwura took a course at Leeds University, Workshire Playhouse.
In 2020, the actress graduated with a second-class upper-level certificate in Christian Ministry from L.I.F.E. Theological Seminary Ikorodu.
Clarion Chukwura’s Acting Career Spans Over 3 Decades
She Began Acting at Age 15 and Made Her TV Debut at When She Was 18 Years Old
In 1979 when Clarion Chukwura was 15, she started her journey as an actress with stage performances. Her earliest works include playing a semi-professional role in Prof. Bode Sowande’s Farewell to Babylon at the University of Ibadan.
She also featured in a local role in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and in the Passion of Christ. In the plays, her roles as Lady Macbeth and Mary Magdalene at QRC exposed her to the bigger scenes.
Having set a path for herself and with the contributions of her mother, Bayo Oduleye who was at the time a lecturer at the University of Ibadan; and Yomi Shohunde, Clarion started her TV career in 1982 at 18.
Clarion was in her first year at the University when she started her TV career.
Owo L’Aaga (Money Power) was Her Breakthrough Role
2 years after the notable actress started her TV career, she got the role of Yemi in the 1984 Ola Balogun’s film, Money Power.
The Yoruba film centers on corruption and bureaucracy and it is well interpreted in comedy, twists, and suspense, and with an entertaining climax.
Clarion’s role in the film contributed to its success and it also became a major milestone in her career. The film led to her becoming the first Nigerian to win the Pan-African FESPACO Film and Television Festival as Best Actress in Burkina Faso in 1985.
The Best of Clarion Chukwura Movies and TV series
1. Glamour Girls (1994)
Clarion Chukwura played the role of Vera in the 1994 movie, Glamour Girls. The film captures the difficulty that society may come with. Then falling into several means of gaining livelihood no matter the circumstances, the options of fraud and other mischief became the order of the day.
The movie as written by Kenneth Nnebue and directed by Chika Onukwufor remains one of Nigeria’s movies never to be forgotten.
For this and other reasons, a sequel of it and released in 2022. It was produced by Abimbola Craig and Charles Okpaleke and featured stars such as Sharon Ooja, Nse Ikpe Etim, Joselyn Dumas, Toke Makinwa, and Segilola Odun.
2. Efunsetan Aniwura (2020)
The 17th Century history-based Yoruba movie is on the advocacy for equal rights among all. It is centered on a woman’s embittered heart after losing her only child. As a vicious and powerful woman who dealt in slave trading and ammunition, she speared no one even her slaves after losing her child.
The movie was nominated for the American Black Film Festival under the Best International Narrative Feature Category.
Clarion Chukwura played the role of Efunsetan Aniwura alongside Alex Usifo Omiagbo (Aare Latoosa). It was a movie directed by Joshua Ojo and Funmi Holder.
4. Apaye (2014)
Playing the role of the lead character (elder Irene Yepayeye Uriah-Dieah), Clarion Chukwurah acts as a single mother of six children. She was abandoned by her husband and instead of wallowing in her difficulty and grief, she was determined to raise and educate her children.
Apaye got so many raves as one of the movies that really got a lot of attention. Asides from getting 10 nominations at 2014 Best of Nollywood Awards, Clarion Chukwura also won the best actress award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
List of Clarion Chukwura’s Movies
- Odd Love (2022)
- Merry Go Wrong (2022)
- A Mother’s Tale (2022)
- Black Wedding (2022)
- Beautiful People (2022)
- In Another Life (2022)
- Ozioma (2022)
- Rancor (2022)
- Plague of Tears (2022)
- Amina (2021)
- Drastic Measures (2021)
- Efunsetan Aniwura (2022)
- Hell’s Fury (2017)
- Tamed (2016)
- Scars (2015)
- Mother’s Club (2015)
- Forbidden Choice (2014)
- Caught in the Act
- Remarkable Night
- Yemoja
- Farewell to Babylon
- Igbotic Love (2014)
- Apaye (2014)
- Hustlers (2014)
- Equal right and Justice (2010)
- Darkest Days (2009)
- Chest to Chest (2008)
- Take me to Jesus (2008)
- Dry Scorpion(2007)
- Emotional Risk (2007)
- Save a Soul (2007)
- Secrets of the Night (2007)
- Abuja Top Ladies and Game (2006)
- Best of the Game (2006)
- Desperate women (2006)
- Greatest Weapon (2006)
- In the closet (2006)
- Silence of the Gods (2006)
- The world of Riches (2006)
- Another New Day (2005)
- Celebration of Death (2005)
- Days Of Bondage (2005)
- Gooodbye Another Day (2005)
- Laidies World (2005)
- My Sister My Child (2005)
- Nothing for Nothing (2005)
- Return of the Princess (2005)
- Test of Manhood (2005)
- Wild Dog (2005)
- Abuja Connection (2004)
- Cry Like Rivers (2004)
- Danger Signal (2004)
- Ogidan (2004)
- Sisters Enemy (2004)
- Abela Pupa (2003)
- Clean Up (2003)
- Egg of Life (2003)
- Emergency Wedding(2003)
- Hot Love (2003)
- Late Marriage (2003)
- Midnight Love (2003)
- My Faithful Friend (2003)
- O Koja Bee (2003)
- Sunmibare (2003)
- The Outsider (2003)
- The Price of Love (2003)
- True Love (2003)
- Valentino (2002)
- Lagidigba (2002)
- Oduduwa (2000)
- Glamour Girls (1995)
- True Confessions (1994)
- Fiery Force (1986)
- Money Power (1982)
- Farewell to Babylon (1979)
Clarion Chukwura’s TV Soap
- Covenant (2022)
- Delilah (2016)
- Stolen Treasure (2014)
- Super Story (2001)
- Ripples (1989)
- Bello’s Way (1984)
- Mirror of the Sun (1984)
Her Career Awards and Recognitions
- Eko International Film Festival winner for Best Actress Feature Film (2021)
- Gathering of Africa’s Best Awards (GAB Awards)- Special Recognition Awards in the Arts (2019)
- Nominated for Best Supporting Actress(movie/TV series) (Amina)
- Best Actress in Leading Role in the Africa Movie Academy Awards(2014)
- Reel Award for Best Actress (Won 2004)
- Africa Cinema Award (2003)
- THEMA Best Supporting Actress (Won 2001)
- Lebatino Film Festival, Mexico Award for Best Actress and gold (Won 2001)
- THEMA Best Supporting Actress Award (Yoruba) (Won 2001)
- Afro-Hollywood Best Actress Award for Glamour Girls (Won 1997)
- Best Actress of the Year at All Africa Film Festival, Ougadagodou, Burkina Faso (Won 1984).
She was also awarded the Traditional title of Ada Eji Eje Mba1, the traditional female warrior chief of Awka, Anambra state in 2006.
Has Clarion Chukwura Retired From Acting?
Clarion Chukwura has not retired from acting. In 2011, the actress went off the screens without much explanation such that from 2011 to 2013 she was not seen accepting or filming movies.
Essentially, it later came to public knowledge that she took a break from movie making to focus on taking her foundation internationally to locations such as Kenya and Los Angeles while also learning how the acting guild works completely from ours.
Despite her still being active as an actress, Clarion has expanded herself as the owner of a film production and consultancy company called Jade Productions Limited. She began the company in 2007 and serves as a project director as well as an executive producer.
In 2014, She announced a production suit under works with Jade Productions alongside Eagle Eye Production called The Legend of Ameh Oboni The Great of Igalaland
The internationally acclaimed actress produced Footsteps in 2015. It is a Television Documentary Series under the Clarion Chukwura Initiative to sensitize the youth on the dangers of fleeing from one’s country for a supposed better life abroad.
She is involved in Humanitarian Activities
Asides from acting and production, Clarion is widely invested in humanitarian activities. As a testament, the Clarion Chukwura Helpline Initiative Charity was formed in 1999. It is solely for youth leadership development strategies and orientation aimed at getting young people right from secondary schools.
The initiative is working alongside international agencies such as the British Council, USAID, and UN Information Centre. The organization’s presence is felt not only in Nigeria but also in countries like UK Canada, and Cameroun.
Since its inception, the Clarion Chukwura initiative has educated and sponsored about 200 women in vocational training as well as youth in career choice selection guidance.
Rewarding her humanitarian acts, Clarion was awarded the City of Houston Humanitarian Proclamation on Women Empowerment by the Mayor. She was also honored with the Danny Glover humanitarian award in New York as well as United Nations Special Peace Ambassador.
She belongs to the Rotary Club of Nairobi and was awarded the Kenyan humanitarian award in 2012
Clarion Chukwura Has Been Married 3 Times and Has a Child with Shina Peters
She Was Married to MKO Abiola’s Brother
Clarion was first married to Babatunde “Tunde” Abiola, MKO Abiola’s brother. The marriage led to Clarion adopting the name “Abiola” at a point in her career before later dropping it.
In December 2003, the marriage ended in divorce. The reason for the divorce is shadowy. Yet, there are claims that the actress claimed that the marriage was not good for her. Hence, her decision to end it after a son named Brian Abiola.
Away from the marriage, Abiola was an engineer. He was said to have died on May 24 2017 after his brother’s wife demolished his house while he was still receiving treatment in the hospital.
Her Second Marriage Lasted Only 2 Years
Shortly after her first marriage to Tunde Abiola ended, Clarion Chukwura got married to Femi Olarenwaju Oduneye who is also known as Femi Egyptian. They were married on 14 February 2006 in Anambra State.
The marriage lasted 2 years before it ended in 2006. However, they later reconciled in 2010 before they split again.
Clarion’s second husband died on 24 November 2017.
Clarion Chukwura’s Third Husband is an American
The actress got married for the third time to Anthony Boyd in 2016 in the United States in a quiet ceremony. Her husband hails from Savannah-Chatham County, Georgia.
Anthony keeps a low profile and only got reached the limelight as a result of his union with the daring and brilliant Nollywood star.
In a similar pattern, Clarion’s career life has been in the public but her marriage to Anthony has been kept under wraps. Nonetheless, there are rumors that the marriage may have crashed.
At the time of this writing, the actress has not given any insight into the claim about her third union.
She Dated Shina Peters Before in Her Teens
In her first year of university at OAU, Clarion was given a role to play in the Mirror in the Sun (1982). It was at this time she met with Oluwashina Akanbi Peters, known as Sir Shina Peters.
At the time, Clarion was about 17 and 18 years while the Afro-Juju sensation, Shina was 25.
Shortly after they started dating, Claron became pregnant with Clarence Peters. It is reported that she was pressured to abort the child but did not succumb.
Her life even became more difficult as her disappointed mother asked her to leave their home. Yet, she was able to find help from Prof. Wole Soyinka who was working as her then-Head of Department. He saw to it that she did not participate in strenuous physical activities in school.
Also, Chief Olu Aboderin, publisher of Punch Newspapers, helped her through the time.
Whatever the case, Sir Shina took a surprising turn when he had a traditional marriage with his wife, Sammie Ayoka Peters in 1982, when Clarion was still pregnant. The couple had their white wedding later on in 1995.
Meet Clarion Chukwura’s 3 Children from Different Relationships
Clarence Peters is Her First Child
Clarence Abiodun Peters is the first and love child of Clarion Chukwura and music Icon Shina Peters. He was born on 27 July 1983 and is from Ogun state and is most famous for being a filmmaker, music video director, and Cinematographer
Clarence is the CEO and founder of Capital dream Pictures and Capital Hill Records which labeled the likes of Illbliss, Chidinma, and Tha Suspect. He has also worked on several movies and musicians such as Everyday People (TV Series), Wizkid, Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Ice Prince, Mi, and many others.
As regards his education, he is a graduate of City Varsity in Cape town, South Africa where he studied Cinematography. He also finished Beehive primary school and Government College Ikorodu.
Brian Olabode Abiola is Clarion’s Child From Her First Marriage
Born on 17 February 1997, Brian Abiola is Clarion Chukwura’s son with Tunde Abiola from her first marriage. He is the nephew of MKO Abiola.
On his own, Brian is an artist known popularly as Vudu child and formerly as Skyer. In addition, he is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
He attended Bloomingdale primary school at Ikeja, then went on to Supreme Education Foundation in Magodo. In 2014, he moved to Cape Town, South Africa to study Animation at Cape Varsity where his brother, Clarence Peters graduated from. The actress’ last-child self-thought himself into production and sound engineering while in school.
Ladele Abiola-Chukwura is Her Only Daughter
After Clarion had Clarence and before she was married to Abiola, she became pregnant and had a child named Lalade Abiola. At seven weeks old, the only daughter of the actress died.
According to the Glamour Girls actress, Ladele’s death hit her hard. She also claimed to that it contributed to opening her eyes to many other things.
Chukwurah Bobby is Clarion’s Adopted Son
Although Chukwurah Olanrewaju ‘Bobby’ Robert is not her biological child but her nephew, many seem to think he is her son. He has lived with her through his growing years from the age of three.
Born on 9 February, Bobby as he is widely known is a Chef, Farmer, and businessman. He is also a graduate of the Lagos State University and finished from Camp David Academy.
Clarion Chukwura Salvation Journey
In 2019, took to social media to declare her newfound walk with God and declared herself born again. Known in the movie as one to take and interpret almost all roles that have come her way, It was surprising to find the fashionable and classy producer with makeup and carrying the aura of a born-again.
Shortly before her 56th birthday, Clarion Chukwura again shocked many when in 2020, she announced her graduation from the LIFE Theological Seminary in Lagos. Currently, she is serving actively in her home church, Foursquare Gospel Church contrary to her announcement in 2016 to join the Jehovah’s Witness church to which her husband Anthony Boyd belonged.
It was also rumored that the veteran is linked to or may have been a member of the church of Scientology. However, she cleared the air over the matter by explaining that the church of Scientology was only a body that supported her cause and work on the series, Footsteps. She was in talks with the church of Scientology because although it was shot in Hollywood, the Celebrity center and some of the crew used for the filming came directly from the church. Clarion Chukwura emphasized that the relationship was purely business.
The Actress Has Been Involved in Some Controversies
From dating rumors to talking about nudity, and also posting semi-nude pictures, Clarion has attracted quite a number of controversies.
In 2014, the actress in an interview responded to a question about possible nudity in roles. The actress commented that although she was 50 years old if she was given a role to act nude so far as the message and script were worth passing a message across to her audience, she would do it.
The comment brought drew attention but since she did not act in accordance, the remark slowly faded.
On her 57th birthday in 2021, Clarion shook many when she posted her images without covering her upper body with any cloth. While the act in itself became an instant controversy, she further raised another controversy when she declared that her state of undress was inspired by the holy spirit.
On the aspect of her love life, it was rumored that she had an affair with actor Wale Adebayo who is about 7-8 years older.
The rumor of the relationship started with an allegation that Clarion declared that she found love in the arms of the actor. Although the truth of the relationship continues to hang, it supposedly lasted a while.
The Nollywood stars acted in a movie in 1997 called Sango and in Amina in 2021.