Idowu Philips
{{Short description|Nigerian actress}}
{{distinguish|Phillips Idowu}}
{{Infobox person
| name =Idowu Philips
| image =
| imagesize =
| alt =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|16 October 1942}}
| birth_place = Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria.
| othername =Iya Rainbow
| nationality = Nigerian
| citizenship = Nigerian
| occupation = Healthcare Assistant, film actress
| parents =
| relatives =
| yearsactive = 1965-present
|known for =
| website =
}}
Idowu Philips{{Pronunciation|Yo-Idowu Philips.ogg|help=no}} (born 16 October 1942), popularly known as Iya Rainbow, is a Nigerian veteran actress.{{cite web|url=http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/features2/item/4359-my-late-husband’s-friend-wanted-sex-–-iya-rainbow.html|title=My late husband's friend wanted sex-Iya Rainbow|work=The Nigerian Tribune|accessdate=20 January 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://allure.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/veteran-actress-iya-rainbow-celebrates-75th-birthday-50-years-acting-career/|title=Veteran actress, Iya Rainbow celebrates 75th birthday and 50 years acting career|publisher=The Vanguard|date=November 21, 2017|accessdate=December 29, 2017}}{{Cite web |title=Mama Rainbow adopts Lateef Adedimeji on 36th birthday |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/mama-rainbow-adopts-lateef-adedimeji-on-36th-birthday/amp/ |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=thenationonlineng.net |archive-date=2022-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226221504/https://thenationonlineng.net/mama-rainbow-adopts-lateef-adedimeji-on-36th-birthday/amp/ |url-status=live }} She was honoured with the Industry Merit Awards alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo at the 2024 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA).{{cite web | last=Onikoyi | first=Ayo | title=AMVCA 10: Africa Magic celebrates winners of 10th Edition Awards | website=Vanguard News | date=12 May 2024 | url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/05/amvca-10-africa-magic-celebrates-winners-of-10th-edition-awards/ | access-date=12 May 2024 | archive-date=12 May 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512085801/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/05/amvca-10-africa-magic-celebrates-winners-of-10th-edition-awards/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | last=Abulude | first=Samuel | title=AMVCA10: Africa Magic Celebrates 2024 Award Winners | website=Leadership News | date=11 May 2024 | url=https://leadership.ng/amvca10-africa-magic-celebrates-2024-award-winners/ | access-date=12 May 2024 | archive-date=12 May 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512011605/https://leadership.ng/amvca10-africa-magic-celebrates-2024-award-winners/ | url-status=live }}
Early life and career
Idowu Philips was born on 16 October, 1942 at Ijebu Ode, a city in Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria.{{cite web|url=http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/04/my-father-was-a-prophet-iya-rainbow/|title=My father was a prophet –Iya Rainbow|work=Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper|accessdate=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120122123/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/04/my-father-was-a-prophet-iya-rainbow/|archive-date=20 January 2015|url-status=usurped}}
She attended African Methodist School and Anglican Modern School for her primary and secondary education.{{Cite web|title=IDOWU PHILIPS ( IYA RAINBOW )|url=https://www.modernghana.com/nollywood/964/idowu-philips-iya-rainbow.html|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Modern Ghana|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117231852/https://www.modernghana.com/nollywood/964/idowu-philips-iya-rainbow.html|url-status=live}} Her stage name "Iya Rainbow" stems from "Osumare" (meaning "rainbow" in British English), the name of the theatre group of Sir Hubert Ogunde, who died in 1990.{{cite web|url=http://encomium.ng/veteran-actress-iya-rainbow-unveils-what-she-wants-to-leave-for-posterity/|title=Veteran actress IYA RAINBOW unveils what she wants to leave for posterity|work=Encomium Magazine|accessdate=20 January 2015|archive-date=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120121742/http://encomium.ng/veteran-actress-iya-rainbow-unveils-what-she-wants-to-leave-for-posterity/|url-status=live}}
Idowu Philips worked as a healthcare assistant in general hospitals in Nigeria for several years and occasionally acted in theatre. Idowu ventured into full-time acting after the death of her husband - Augustine Ayanfemi Phillips (who worked closely with the late patriarch of Nigerian Film Industry Sir Herbert Ogunde.
She has featured in several Nigerian films, including Apaadi, Eru and Aje ni iya mi among others).{{cite web|url=http://www.punchng.com/feature/life-times/suitors-ran-away-when-they-saw-my-children-iya-rainbow/|title=Suitors ran away when they saw my children –Iya Rainbow|work=The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper|accessdate=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120090640/http://www.punchng.com/feature/life-times/suitors-ran-away-when-they-saw-my-children-iya-rainbow/|archive-date=20 January 2015|url-status=dead}} Idowu has five children.{{cite web|url=http://naijagists.com/idowu-philips-iya-rainbow-mama-rainbow-biography-profile-life-history/|date=1 October 2012|website=NaijaGists|title=Idowu Phillips, Mama Rainbow, Biography, Profile and Life History|accessdate=11 February 2015|archive-date=26 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326004855/http://naijagists.com/idowu-philips-iya-rainbow-mama-rainbow-biography-profile-life-history/|url-status=live}}
Endorsement
Idowu Philips is a brand ambassador for Airtel, a telecommunication company.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-07|title=7 Things To Know About Iya Rainbow|url=https://thenet.ng/7-things-to-know-about-iya-rainbow/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Nigerian Entertainment Today|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117231854/https://thenet.ng/7-things-to-know-about-iya-rainbow/|url-status=live}} Idowu Philip is also an ambassador for Yotomi Golden Estate, a low cost housing estate project, initiated by the late movie mogul Alade Aromire.{{Cite web|title=Iya Rainbow exclusive: 'My late husband used to slap me' {{!}} Encomium Magazine|url=https://encomium.ng/iya-rainbow-exclusive-my-late-husband-used-to-slap-me/|access-date=2021-03-31|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117231852/https://encomium.ng/iya-rainbow-exclusive-my-late-husband-used-to-slap-me/|url-status=live}}
Filmography
- 1990 - Yemi My Love
- 1994? - Abortion: A Yoruba Story
- 1994? - Binuseri
- 1994? - Ekundayo
- 1994- Esan-nbo
- 1994- Isedale (Tradition)
- 1995- Adegbesan
- 1995? - Agbelebu
- 1995- At Last (Ni Igbeyin)
- 1995- Ayo the Queen
- 1995? - Boseyekori
- 1995- Doctor
- 1995- Dr Brown
- 1995- Eni Bi Okan
- 1995- Eran Iya (Scape Goat)
- 1995? - Ewo-Lewo
- 1995- Gogongo (Wind Pipe)
- 1996- Agbekele
- 1996- Anifowose
- 1996- Binta My Daughter
- 1996- Ofin (Law)
- 1997- Adopted Child (Omo Agbato)
- 1997- Awofele
- 1997- Back to Africa
- 1997- Broken Melody (Ipinya)
- 1997- Double Marriage
- 1997? - Fake Dollars
- 1997- Ha! Obin Rin
- 1998? - Ano (In-Law)
- 1998? - The Blackmarket (Oja Okunrun)
- 1998? - Emi-Kan ₦1000.00
- 1998? - Eree Ife (Wages of Love)
- 1998? - Ikilo
- 1998? - Odidandan (It's Compulsory)
- 1998- Oju Mewa
- 1998? - Temidayo
- 1998- The White Handkerchief
- 2000- Lagidigba
- 2002- Jesu Mushin
- 2002- Irepodun - as Iya Kike
- 2002- Eyin Ogongo
- 2003- N150 Million
- 2003- Ìfé òtító
- 2003- Fila Daddy
- 2003- Arewa okunrin
- 2003- Omo oku òrun
- 2003- Okun ife
- 2004- Okun ife 2
- 2004- Okan soso
- 2004- Okan soso 2
- 2004- Ògìdán
- 2004- Ògìdán 2
- 2005? - Okinnikange
- 2006- Abeni
- 2006- Odun baku - as Iya Ijo
- 2006- Mewa n sele
- 2006- Èebúdolá tèmi - as Abebi
- 2006- Agbefo - as Mama Kolapo
- 2006- The Narrow Path as Odejimi's Mother
- 2006- Agbefo 2
- 2007- Orita Ipinya
- 2007- Olugbare
- 2007- Olóri
- 2007- Maku
- 2007- Kootu olohun
- 2007- Kilebi olorun
- 2008- Taiwo Taiwo
- 2008- Taiwo Taiwo 2
- 2008- Itakun ola
- 2008- Ìkúnlè kèsán
- 2008- Ikilo agba
- 2008- Igba ewa
- 2008- Aje metta - as Mama Olakanmi
- 2008- Aje metta 2
- 2009- Ìpèsè
- 2009- Ìdàmu eléwòn
- 2009- Elewon - as Iya Yomi
- 2009- Akoto olokada - as Iya Kunle
- 2009- Akoto olokada 2
- 2010- Edaa - as Mama Bolaji
- 2018- Oga Bolaji - as Mama Bolaji
- 2019- Sugar Rush
- 2021- Becoming Abi
- 2022- Madami - as Tolani's Mother
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Philips, Idowu}}
Category:Nigerian film actresses
Category:People from Ijebu Ode
Category:20th-century Nigerian actresses
Category:21st-century Nigerian actresses
Category:Actresses in Yoruba cinema