Faithia Williams

{{Short description|Nigerian actress, film producer and director (born 1969)}}

{{Infobox actress

| name = Faithia Williams

| image = Faithia Williams.png

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|2|5|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria

| alma_mater = {{plainlist|

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| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actor
filmmaker
producer
director

}}

| parents =

| relatives =

| spouse = {{marriage|Saheed Balogun|end=divorce}}

| children = 3

| website =

| imagesize =

| othername =

| yearsactive = 1978–present

| known for = {{plainlist|

Farayola
Eku Eda
Shola Arikusa
President Kuti
Victims

}}

| awards = AMVCA Most Outstanding Indigenous Actress, Africa Movie Academy Award

}}

Faithia Williams Balogun formerly Faith Williams (born 5 February 1969) is a Nigerian actress, filmmaker, producer and director.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/saheed-balogun-with-good-pay-i-ll-act-with-fathia/165544/ |title=Saheed Balogun: With Good Pay, I'll Act With Fathia, Articles - THISDAY LIVE |work=thisdaylive.com |access-date=24 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216225233/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/saheed-balogun-with-good-pay-i-ll-act-with-fathia/165544/ |archive-date=16 February 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.punchng.com/feature/moji-olaiya-on-her-broken-marriage-fathia-balogun-has-nothing-to-do-with-it/ |title=Fathia Balogun had nothing to do with my broken marriage – Moji Olaiya |work=The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper |access-date=24 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603184100/http://www.punchng.com/feature/moji-olaiya-on-her-broken-marriage-fathia-balogun-has-nothing-to-do-with-it/ |archive-date=3 June 2015 }}

Early life and education

Faithia Williams is Urhobo from Delta state in the south-south region of Nigeria.{{Cite web|url=https://nigerianinfopedia.com.ng/fathia-balogun/|title=Fathia Balogun Biography & Net Worth (2020)|last=Obialo|first=Maduawuchi|date=2019-09-25|website=Nigerian Infopedia|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218164219/https://nigerianinfopedia.com.ng/fathia-balogun/|url-status=dead}} She was born in Ikeja the Lagos state capital on 5 February 1969. She was born into a polygamous family of nine.{{Cite web|date=2016-04-11|title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Fathia Williams Balogun|url=https://youthvillageng.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-fathia-williams-balogun/|access-date=2021-04-02|website=Youth Village Nigeria|language=en-US}} Faithia attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in Lagos State. She obtained her West African School Certificate in Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School. After that, she studied in the Kwara State Polytechnic for a diploma certificate.{{cite web|url=https://thenet.ng/nollywood-star-actress-fathia-balogun-clocks-46/|title=Yoruba Nollywood star, Fathia Balogun clocks 46 - Nigerian Entertainment Today - Nigeria's Number 1 Entertainment Daily|work=Nigerian Entertainment Today - Nigeria's Number 1 Entertainment Daily|access-date=24 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://naijagists.com/fathia-baloguns-biography-profile/|title=Fathia Balogun's Biography & Profile - Nollywood, Nigeria, News, Celebrity, Gists, Gossips, Entertainment|work=naijagists.com|access-date=24 May 2015}} In 2016, Faithia got admission into Olabisi Onabanjo University to study Filming.{{Cite web|last=Reporter|date=2017-11-18|title=FATHIA BALOGUN STORMS CITY PEOPLE'S OFFICE|url=http://www.citypeopleonline.com/fathia-balogun-storms-city-peoples-office/|access-date=2021-04-02|website=City People Magazine|language=en-US}}

Career

Faithia became an actress by chance. Faithia's uncle, Alhaji Fatai Teniola, asked her to stand in for an actress that failed to show up in one of the productions of their movie.{{Cite web|title=My husband talks too much|url=https://www.modernghana.com/nollywood/306/my-husband-talks-too-much.html|access-date=2021-04-02|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}} Williams played her first role in the film title "Ta lo pa chief".{{Cite web|title=Fathia Balogun gets big million naira endorsement|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2012/04/20/fathia-balogun-gets-big-million-naira-endorsement/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Channels Television}} She has starred, produced, and directed several Nigerian films over the years. In 2008, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and her movie Iranse Aje won the best indigenous film of the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.ama-awards.com/awards/2008 |title=AMAA Nominees and Winners 2008 - Africa Movie Academy Awards |work=ama-awards.com |access-date=24 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214074149/http://ama-awards.com/awards/2008 |archive-date=14 February 2014 }} In April 2014, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award, having emerged as best actress of the year along with Odunlade Adekola who emerged as best actor of the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/fathia-balogun-odunlade-adekola-shine-yoruba-movie-academy-awards-2014/|title=Fathia Balogun, Odunlade Adekola shine @ Yoruba Movie Academy Awards 2014|work=Vanguard News|date=2 April 2014|access-date=24 May 2015}} She also won the Best Indigenous Language award for the work done in the film "Iya Alalake" at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.{{cite web|url=http://africamagic.dstv.com/2015/03/09/amvca-2015-iya-alalake-wins-best-indigenous-language-yoruba/|title=AMVCA 2015: Iya Alalake Wins Best Indigenous Language – Yoruba|work=dstv.com|access-date=24 May 2015}}

Personal life

Williams was formerly married to veteran Nollywood actor, Saheed Balogun,{{cite web|url=http://dailystar.com.ng/2013/12/16/saidi-balogun-replies-ex-wife-fathia-balogun-exposes-past-divorce/|title=Saidi Balogun replies ex-wife Fathia Balogun, exposes her past divorce|work=dailystar.com.ng|access-date=24 May 2015|archive-date=18 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218022725/http://dailystar.com.ng/2013/12/16/saidi-balogun-replies-ex-wife-fathia-balogun-exposes-past-divorce/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |date=2013-12-30 |title=Actress Fathia Balogun finally drops ex-hubby's surname |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/actress-fathia-balogun-finally-drops-ex-hubbys-surname/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}} with whom she has two children, a son and a daughter. Faithia also has a son from an earlier relationship. It was during this period of marriage that she changed her name from Faith Williams to Faithia Balogun, being the name of her husband, and changed her religious beliefs also.

Awards

Most Outstanding Indigenous Actress (2008)
AMVCA Best Local Language Yoruba (2015)

Filmography

Eku Eda (2006)
Aje meta (2008) as Mojisola
Aje metta 2 (2008) as Mojisola
Farayola (2009) as Niniola
Okunkun Biribiri (2010) as Olori Faderera
Jelili (2011) as Omobola
Emi Abata (2012) as Ronke
Awawu (2015){{cite web|title=Awawu: Watch Muyiwa Ademola, Fathia Balogun in new movie's trailer|url=http://pulse.ng/movies/awawu-watch-muyiwa-ademola-fathia-balogun-in-new-movies-trailer-id3772702.html|website=Pulse Nigeria|date=19 May 2015|publisher=Gbenga Bada|access-date=19 May 2015}}
Teni Teka (2015){{Cite news|url=http://yorubamovies.com.ng/fathia-balogun-movies|title=Latest Fathia Balogun Movies & Filmograpghy|work=Yoruba Movies|access-date=2017-05-08|language=en-US|archive-date=5 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005030754/http://yorubamovies.com.ng/fathia-balogun-movies|url-status=dead}}
Omo Ale (2015)
Agbelebu Mi (2016)
Basira Badia (2016)
Adakeja (2016)
Shola Arikusa (2017) as Shola Arikusa
10 Days In Sun City (2017){{Cite web |title=Fathia Balogun |url=https://www.imdb.com/filmosearch?role=nm2099511&job_type=actress |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=IMDb |language=en}} as Ms. Ajoke
Victims (2017) as Mama Yeni
My Woman (2018)
Ehi's Bitters (2018) as Ehi's Mother
Seven and a Half Dates (2018) as Mrs. Cole
Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons (2018) as Iya Abdul
To Love Again (2018) as Mama Bose
Mokalik (Mechanic) 2019 - as Iya Mulika
Dear Affy (2020) as Aunty Munumidun
Oba Bi Olorun (2021) as Oritoke
Esin (2021) as Raheemot
Osun, the Goddess (2021)
President Kuti (2021) as Kobewude
Hatred (2021)
Alagogo Ide (2021)
Tree (2022)
Ojukoro (2022) as Mummy Rinsola
Aníkúlápó (2022) as Ojumo Queen
Eri Ife (2022) as Mummy
Mr Perfect (2022) as Jubril's Sister
Jagun Jagun (2023) as Erinfunto
A Tribe Called Judah (2023) as Mama Caro
On the Edge (2024) as Tomisin's Mum
Beast of Two Worlds (2024) as Oyenihun
Owambe Thieves (2025)
Labake Olododo (2025)