Who Is Kemi Adetiba? Biography and Net Worth of the Nollywood Director

Kemi Adetiba (born on January 8, 1980; Age: 44 years old) is a famous Nigerian movie director, filmmaker, and music video director, best known for her works on the 2016 comedy-drama The Wedding Party. Her net worth is estimated at $3 million.

If you’ve watched films like The Wedding Party and King of Boys, you must be familiar with the filming techniques of Kemi Adetiba. She is one of the finest film directors Nollywood can boast of. She stands as one of the top best in the world. For her rewards, Kemi has not only received awards, but she is proudly one of the richest directors in Nigeria, with her net worth estimated at $3 million.

Kemi Adetiba’s Biography Summary

  • Full name: Kemi Adetiba
  • Nickname: Kemi
  • Gender: Female
  • Date of birth: January 8, 1980
  • Kemi Adetiba’s Age: 44 years old
  • Ethnicity: Yoruba
  • Nationality: Nigerian
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight
  • Religion: Christianity
  • Marital Status: Married
  • Kemi Adetiba’s Husband: Oscar Heman-Ackah
  • Kemi Adetiba’s Parents: Dele and Mayen Adetiba
  • Siblings: Remi and Bamidele Adetiba
  • Kemi Adetiba’s Net worth: $3 million
  • Famous for: Wedding Party, King of Boys,
  • Kemi Adetiba’s Instagram: @kemiadetiba
  • Twitter: @kemiadetiba

How Old is Kemi Adetiba?

Kemi Adetiba is currently 44 years old. She was born on January 8, 1980, to the wealthy family of Dele and Mayen Adetiba. Kemi hails from Ekiti State as her father originates from there. However, her mother hails from the Efik tribe in the present-day Akwa-Ibom State.

Her parents are well-to-do in the corporate world – her father is an icon in advertising and broadcasting. At the same time, her mother is the very first female civil engineer to be elected to the Executive committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. Kemi is not an only child, but she is her parents’ only girl.

She has two brothers, Remi and Bamidele Adetiba, who are also doing great in their various fields. Remi is a movie director like her and a photographer, but he is based in New York, although they’ve both worked together in producing a couple of Nigerian films. Kemi’s other brother Bamidele Adetiba Jnr is a fitness professional, sports fan, athlete, and business entrepreneur.

Kemi attended Atlantic Hall High School and the University of Lagos with a law degree, and after a one-year mandatory NYSC, she was called to Bar at Nigeria Law School. She also attended the New York Academy, where she improved her skills behind the camera.

Kemi Began her Career as a Radio Presenter

Kemi joined the entertainment industry at her younger age when she was featured in two Television commercials for the detergent brand OMO as a child. As she grew older, she began to blow her own trumpet, working in various departments of the industry, and today, she is known as one of Nigeria’s top film and music directors.

Kemi is one of the many Nigerian celebrities who dumped their profession to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She could be likened to Funke Akindele, Kanayo O Kanayo, who swapped their career paths to follow their passion.

Kemi left the law firm to join her father in the media space. She started as an on-air presenter at Rhythm 93.7 FM, Victoria Island, Lagos. She was popular for anchoring interesting programs like Soul’d Out and Sunday at the Seaside show.

While making waves across Lagos for the shows she hosts, Kemi also began anonymously posting personal remixes on applications like Soundcloud and Spotify under the username and tag ‘hule.’ It was not long after she began transitioning from radio presentation to tv. She began to produce and present shows on Mnet, which includes.

A notable TV show she was known to host was ‘Temptation Nigeria,’ which she presented alongside Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa, then known as ‘Wildchild.’ Kemi’s rise to the limelight was with the popular reality TV competition Maltina Dance All, which she anchored for three consecutive seasons from 2009 to 2012.

When her passion for filmmaking took a better part of her, she left Nigeria for London to gain the training she needed to become a professional film director. This decision marked a huge turnaround for Kemi, who is now listed among the best film directors in Nigeria.

Kemi’s Career as a Director

Although not new in the business, Kemi Adetiba’s first official job in filmmaking was apparently with the short film Across A Bloodied Ocean. The 2008 film starring Osas Ighodaro and Dee Spencer was written, directed, and produced by Kemi herself. In 2009, the short drama went on to screen at L.A.’s Pan African Film Festival and the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta.

It was not long after she began to make a huge name for herself in the Nigerian entertainment industry. “Today Na Today” by Omawunmi and the Allstars song “Maga No Need Pay” were some of the popular Nigerian songs she directed between 2009 and 2010.

On September 8, 2016, Kemi Adetiba had her first feature film as director with ‘The Wedding Party’ a romantic comedy-drama that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 8, 2016, and in Lagos on November 26, 2016. Reaching the world view by December 2016, the film became Nigeria’s highest-grossing film.

It featured Nollywood stars like Adesua Etomi, Banky Wellington, Richard Mofe Damijo, Beverly Naya, and Iretiola Doyle, among many others. The movie’s sequel, The Wedding Party 2, which was released the following year, was no less successful, although it was neither directed nor produced by Kemi.

The next biggest film directed by the diva is ‘King of Boys’ released in 2018. The crime political thriller film, which she also wrote, was rated her most famous work of art. It saw working yet again with Adesua Etomi, Osas Ighodaro, and Sola Sobowale, among other star actors like Jide Kosoko and Lanre Hassan.

Before the release of King of Boys in 2018, Kemi was known for hosting her own ‘King Woman,’ an interview-based series that centers on Nigeria’s most powerful women. The show had her interviewing the country’s most successful women like Chigul, TY Bello, Jumoke Adenowo, Adesua Onyenokwe, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Tara Durotoye, and even her mother, Mayen Adetiba.

List of Kemi Adetiba’s Movies

Kemi Adetiba’s Movie Directing credits include:

  • Across A Bloodied Ocean (2008)
  • The Wedding Party (2016)
  • King of Boys (2018)
  • King of Boys: The Return of the King (2021)
  • “To Kill a Monkey.”

Kemi Adetiba’s Videography include

  • King Women
  • “Last Bus-Stop” by Niyola
  • “Dance Go (Eau de Vie)” for Hennessy Artistry ’15
  • “Out A Magazine” by Lindsey Abudei
  • “My Darlin” by Tiwa Savage
  • “My Place” by Lynxxx
  • “Love to Love You” by Niyola
  • “Sitting on the Throne” by Olamide
  • “Anifowose” by Olamide
  • “Onye” by Waje
  • “Toh Bad” by Niyola
  • “Say” by Bez
  • “If I Die” by Da Grin
  • “Tease Me/Bad Guys” by Wizkid
  • “I Believe” by Ego
  • “Follow You Go” by Banky W.
  • “The Future” by TY Bello
  • Fall in Love” by Ego
  • “Lagos Party” by Banky W.
  • “More You” by Banky W.
  • “Today Na Today” by Omawumi
  • “Ekundayo” by TY Bello
  • The wedding party (2016)
  •  King of boys (2018)
  • The return of King of Boys (2021)

What Is Kemi Adetiba’s Net Worth?

At 44, Kemi Adetiba is one of the most accomplished filmmakers in Nigeria. Although a law graduate, this icon has gone on to earn for herself not just fame but a jaw-dropping net worth of about $3 million. Her current net worth places her among top Nigeria’s richest movie directors, including AY Comedian, Tunde Kelani, Kunle Afolayan, and Ramsey Nouah.

While Kemi’s career as a radio and TV presenter may have formed the foundation of her net worth, there is no doubt that her major current source of income is her directorial job, especially in movie productions. The Wedding Party elevated her to a higher rank when it grossed up to ₦453,000,000, becoming the highest-grossing Nigerian film. This record was, however, broken by its sequel.

Her biggest productions remain the King of Boys and its sequel series KOB: The Return of the King. The former grossed over ₦245 million while later currently airs on Netflix. This means a lot financially, as Netflix reportedly pays between $300 to $500 million for blockbuster series like hers.

How Much Does Kemi Adetiba Make Per Movie?  

Kemi is not generous with topics about her private life and finances. But depending on certification and experience, most film directors like her reportedly earn between $250,000 to $2 million per film project. She makes additional income as a scriptwriter and producer, as well as from music videos.

Kemi Adetiba’s Awards and Recognition

Kemi’s works speak much of her talent and prowess in visual productions. This has earned her several notable awards and recognition, including the following.

  • Best Female Video for the song “Ekundayo” by TY Bello at the Soundcity TV Music Video Awards.
  • Best Female Video for the song “Today na Today” by Omawumi at the 2010 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
  • Nominated for Best Music Video Director of the Year at The Headies 2014.
  • Won the City People Entertainment Award for Best Music Video Director Of The Year (2015)
  • On-Air-Personality of the Year award by The Future Nigeria Awards (nominated for five years)
  • The HNWOTY Award for Woman of the Year in Film and Television (2017)
  • 2021 African Entertainment Awards USA, for Best African Movie(King of Boys)

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