The Joey Akan Experience

Tope Olowoniyan: I Am Not Another Supporting Actress

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000

In this deep-dive episode of The Joey Akan Experience, Nollywood actress, producer, and entrepreneur Tope Olowoniyan sits down for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable career in Nigerian film.She breaks down the fundamental difference between music and movies — why one person can control a song while filmmaking remains a community project at the mercy of countless moving parts. Tope shares how she now chooses projects with extreme intentionality (who’s directing, producing, and acting alongside her), the constant dance between commercial viability and pure artistry, and why so many promising films never see the light of day.

The conversation goes even deeper into the craft itself: the radical self-abandonment required for powerful performances, how real-life experiences fuel emotional authenticity, the physical and mental toll of living inside characters (and the rituals she uses to “detox” afterward), and the challenges of marketability in an industry that often prioritizes social media numbers over talent.

From her transformative role in King of Boys to the emotional intensity of projects like Between Silence and Truth, Tope reflects on growth, purpose, the lack of long-term systems in Nollywood, and why creatives must dream beyond the next Netflix deal or quick YouTube cash-out.

This is one of those rare industry conversations that feels both practical and philosophical — equal parts career advice, creative manifesto, and honest industry diagnosis.

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Cynthia Ogunsemilore: Nigerian Boxing Tried to End My Olympic Dream

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Cynthia Ogunsemilore takes us beyond the boxing ring to reveal what it truly takes to build a career, fight for an Olympic dream, and navigate the broken systems within Nigerian boxing. Semilore walks us through her journey to discovering boxing, the fights that shaped her career, competing at the highest level, and the realities of surviving as a female boxer in Nigeria.

From qualifying for the Olympics, to a management contract she later realized trapped her, and grueling fight to free herself. Despite the pressure of competition, politics and limitations surrounding the sport -- Cynthia remains steadfast in fighting for her career and the Olympic dream she refuses to give up on.

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Omowunmi Dada: I'm a Terrible Actor in Real Life

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Nollywood has no shortage of talent. What it lacks is the infrastructure to hold onto it. Joey Akan sits down with award-winning actress Omowunmi Dada for a conversation about identity, purpose, fame and the realities of building a life in Nigerian entertainment.

Omowunmi reflects on her journey as an actress, the values that have shaped who she is, the emotional demands of inhabiting different characters, and why she sees acting as more than a career. She opens up about fame, money, finding yourself, and the importance of telling African stories — especially stories about African women. She talks about what the industry's broken distribution and training pipelines cost the people trying to build in it, why she started teaching, and what she thinks the next generation needs that she never had.

The conversation also explores Nollywood’s evolving industry, the challenges around distribution and training, and what it takes to build stronger pathways for African talent. Omowunmi shares how her work has extended beyond the screen, including her experience teaching and passing knowledge to the next generation.

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Stan Nwosu: Is the Queen of Sheba in Ogun State?

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:28:41 +0000

What if one of the most famous stories from ancient history has a connection to Nigeria?

In Episode 5 of The Joey Akan Experience, Joey Akan sits down with archaeologist Stan Nwosu to explore the stories, discoveries and questions surrounding Africa’s past — including the intriguing possibility of a connection between the Queen of Sheba and Osun State.

From archaeology and ancient civilizations to the histories we inherited and the ones still waiting to be uncovered, Stan offers a different way of looking at what we think we know about our past.

Watch the full conversation and tell us what you think.

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Opeyemi Famakin: Nigerians Don't Know Their Food

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Joey Akan sits down with food critic and cultural commentator Opeyemi Famakin for a conversation that goes far beyond restaurants and reviews.

From his early days in journalism to becoming one of Nigeria’s most influential food voices, Opeyemi reflects on the journey that transformed his career and reshaped how Nigerians think about food. He explains why many Nigerians have a limited understanding of their own culinary heritage, how poverty influences food choices, and why documenting regional cuisines has become more important than ever.

Opeyemi also shares stories from his travels across Nigeria and 16 countries, exploring the diversity of local dishes, the cultural differences that define Nigerian food, and the overlooked traditions that deserve greater recognition. He opens up about the realities of being a food critic, the impact of social media on local businesses, and why criticism, when done right, can preserve culture as much as it shapes public taste.

This is a thoughtful conversation about food, identity, storytelling, culture, and the responsibility of documenting one of Nigeria’s richest but least understood cultural assets.

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Oreoluwa Adedoyin: Why Africa Needs to Go Back to Ifá Worship

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Joey Akan sits down with Ifá and Èṣù priestess Oreoluwa in one of the most spiritually charged and historically rich conversations of the season.

From Bible competitions and prayer warrior to becoming one of Nigeria’s most unapologetic voices in Yoruba traditional religion, Oreoluwa takes us on her powerful journey of spiritual awakening. She opens up about growing up deeply Christian in a traditional Yoruba family, the church experiences that shattered her faith, and how a Facebook group during the 2020 lockdown led her into a life-changing rabbit hole.

Oreoluwa breaks down the deliberate mistranslation of Èṣù as Satan, the role of Christian missionaries in the transatlantic slave trade, the erased legacy of the Yoruba slave who invented the smallpox vaccine, and why White people are now flying to Nigeria to learn the very spiritual system Nigerians were taught to fear and abandon.

This is a bold conversation on African identity, ancestral power, decolonizing spirituality, and why Africa must return to Ifá worship to reclaim its medicine, power, and future.

This season is brought to you by Andray Finance. For finance solutions go to https://andrayfinance.com and tell them Joey sent you!

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Jim Iyke: The Evolution of A Nollywood Bad Boy

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Joey Akan sits down with Nollywood’s ultimate bad boy, Jim Iyke, for a raw and introspective dialogue about his journey from the streets into stardom, and the man he has become today.

Jim opens up about growing up Igbo with parents who orchestrated his future, the heavy price of purpose over love, the unrelenting pressure of relevance, and why entertainment is where demons live. From learning softness and sacrificing for Plan A, to navigating mental archives, and informal life lessons this episode is a masterclass in evolution and self-awareness.

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Layi Wasabi: The Business of Comedy in Africa

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:00:00 +0000

The Joey Akan Experience returns with a compelling first episode featuring one of Nigeria's most influential creators, Layi Wasabi.

Joey Akan sits down with Layi Wasabi for an honest and insightful conversation about his journey from law school to becoming a household name. Together, they explore the realities of building a career in content creation, navigating public attention, managing success, and understanding the business behind being a creator in today's digital economy.

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How Paul Onwuanibe Built a $1B Real Estate Empire

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:23:00 +0000

In this compelling episode of The Joey Akan Experience, Joey Akan engages in a rare, in-depth conversation with Paul Onwuanibe, the visionary British-Nigerian business magnate and Group CEO of Landmark Africa.

Paul shares the remarkable story of how he transformed marshland into one of the continent’s most iconic real estate and leisure empires — building Landmark Africa into a multi-billion-dollar “live, work, and play” destination across several African cities. From his early career at Regus, successfully selling a major serviced office business for over $20 million, to raising hundreds of millions in funding and pursuing a bold pan-African vision, this episode explores the mindset of a true empire builder. Listeners will gain powerful lessons on long-term thinking, calculated risk-taking, leadership at scale, legacy creation, and navigating the complexities of doing big business in Africa.

This is a masterclass for entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, investors, and anyone fascinated by African ambition and large-scale development.

#TJAXPODCAST
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How Kemen Built Africa’s Top Gym

Joey Akan/Úrú Collective — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:04:00 +0000

In this powerful debut episode of The Joey Akan Experience, host Joey Akan sits down with Ekemini Ekerette, popularly known as Kemen — fitness entrepreneur, master trainer, and founder of Pure Fitness Africa, one of the continent’s most successful and premium gym brands.

From his early days as a Big Brother Naija housemate to building a thriving fitness empire that includes state-of-the-art facilities and massive group training sessions, this conversation dives deep into the raw realities of entrepreneurship in Africa. Kemen opens up about the discipline, mental resilience, setbacks, failures, and unwavering commitment required to create a fitness brand that stands out in a highly competitive market.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, fitness enthusiast, or someone looking for real motivation to build something meaningful, this episode delivers honest and practical insights on mindset, leadership, perseverance, and creating lasting impact through wellness.Tune in for an inspiring, no-filter discussion on what it really takes to build one of Africa’s top gym experiences.