Showmax spotlights Lota Chukwu: From Jenifa’s Diary to the big stage

For many young Nigerian movie lovers, their first on-screen experience of Lota Chukwu was her role as Kiki, a naive young lady from a wealthy family and friend to the lead actor, Jenifa, in Funke Akindele-Bello’s 2015 comedy series Jenifa’s Diary.

Since the series thrust her into the national limelight seven years ago, Lota’s acting career has been a wild ride, featuring in more than 10 movies and three drama series. She has become one of the most promising acts in Nollywood.

Contrary to popular belief, however, Jenifa’s Diary wasn’t Lota Chukwu’s Nollywood debut. When Nollywood director Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen launched the Nollywood Project 101 to raise a new generation of actors, it birthed the 2013 TV series Studio 113, which debuted on local stations in Benin. Studio 113 was Lota Chukwu’s debut, but Jenifa’s Diary shot her to stardom.

Her first solo lead was in the 2016 movie Fine Girl. From that point, she has worked on several films and personal projects, including partnering with her management company, Zebra Stripes Networks, to create short YouTube films, which she calls LC series. The series has featured seasoned actors like Efa Iwara, Wole Ojo, and more.

Aside from her projects, the movie star has appeared in Nigerian movies like The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Falling, The Arbitration, Ajoche, Enakhe, Dognapped, This Lady Called Life, When Life Happens, The Mystic River, and more. She also starred in the hit Nigerian series Ajoche.

Her short film, David Short Film, was officially selected by several respected film festivals, including Sweden Film Awards, Paris Film Festival, Lift-off Global Network, London Shorts, Istanbul Film Awards, Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival, and AFRIFF 2021. The film won the IFA Istanbul Film Awards 2021.

She ventured into stage plays in 2021 with an all-female cast musical titled Speaking Out which sought to address issues affecting the girl child. Earlier in 2022, Lota revealed that she had been commissioned to work on a documentary film for the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). 

From Jenifa’s Diary to being a director, producer, and creative writer, Lota Chukwu has expanded her skills, and she’s on her way to etching her name among Nollywood’s biggest stars. She is more than deserving of a spot on the Women of Showmax list.