Showmax Spotlights Nollywood Matriarch: Queen Joke Silva

Joke Silva started acting in the early 1990s. Starring in countless English and Yoruba movies, one of her earliest roles was in the 1990 English film, Mind Bending. She also starred in the 1998 British-Canadian film – The Secret Laughter of Women alongside Colin Firth and Nia Long.

With decades of service in the movie industry, she, along with her husband veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, founded the Lufodo Group. It is a media corporation that consists of film production, assets distribution, and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts. She is also the pioneer managing director of Malete Film Village, collaborating with Kwara State University.

In 2020, Joke Silva led the campaign against sick Nollywood actors soliciting funds to pay for ill actors’ medical bills. She was also instrumental in ensuring the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) inaugurated health insurance schemes for its members.

The life and works of Joke Silva tell the story of a well-read woman and icon who defied patriarchal norms at a time when it was uncommon and is getting the deserved accolades for her work. She has appeared in more than 100 films, even though she’s only taken on specific types of movies in recent times. Some of her most popular films include Violated, Phone Swap, White Waters, The Amazing Grace, 30 Days, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, and Subterfuge. She also featured in several stage plays, including Mad King of Ijudiya, Hear Word, The Wives, Heartbeat and The Musical, and more.

Joke, who attended Culture Center (now department of creative arts, UNILAG), gave exceptional performances while she was a student that announced her to the public. The renditions also allowed her to work at the National Television Authority (NTA). While working with NTA, she got a chance to work at the National Theatre before transitioning.

Combining her creative knowledge with her talents, Joke has excelled through time, winning the 2006 Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2nd Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for her role in Women’s Cot. She is also the recipient of an EMOTAN Award from African Independent Television (AIT) and the SOLIDRA Award for Visual Art, amongst many others.

In 2014, Joke Silva was conferred with a national honour as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Nigerian government.

There’s no better time to celebrate one of Nollywood’s matriarchs, whose life and work paves the way for gender equality and inclusion in Nigeria. The woman deserves accolades!