Jimmy Akingbola sits across from the hosts of One54 Africa, a platform dedicated to "bringing Africa around the whole globe," as a primary example of how resilience and authentic storytelling can bridge cultural divides. During this deep-dive interview, the award-winning actor is celebrated by One54 Africa as a testament to the power of identity, having transformed from a working-class kid in East London into a global icon. Akingbola reveals that his full name, Jimmy Bameleba Akingbola, acts as a Nigerian affirmation; the names translate to "return home with me" and "bring wealth from abroad," a destiny he feels he has manifested through his international success. This reclamation of identity was a conscious choice; though he was fostered by a white family and briefly used their surname to fit in, he chose to return to "Akingbola" at age 10 after realizing the profound sense of power inherent in his heritage.
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One54 Africa - Jimmy Akingbola on Bel-Air, Will Smith
The artistic drive within the Akingbola bloodline is undeniable, stretching from his Grammy-winning brother, Schollah, back to his grandmother, who was a rare female egun (masquerade) performer in Nigeria. Despite his father’s traditional hopes for a career in medicine or law, Jimmy discovered that the stage was his "football pitch" at age 16, a realization that allowed him to map out a career spanning theater, television, and eventually Hollywood. His path to the United States was motivated in part by a "glass ceiling" for Black actors in the UK, where a lack of representation on networks like the BBC often forces elite talent to seek the careers their abilities deserve across the Atlantic. He rejects the idea of a rivalry between British and American Black actors, instead calling for a "Hollywood round table" to address unconscious biases and foster collaboration across the entire African diaspora.
Akingbola’s reimagining of the character Jeffrey on the series Bel-Air serves as his most significant cultural "full circle moment". He famously walked into the audition wearing a three-piece suit, a bold creative choice intended to move the character away from the traditional "butler" trope and toward a sophisticated "house manager" or "male Olivia Pope". This professional triumph was set against a backdrop of immense personal tragedy; just as he was preparing for the role, he lost four family members—his biological parents, his foster father, and his middle brother—in a very short span. He describes the call confirming his casting as a spiritual release, viewing the role not just as a job, but as a platform to represent the "fish out of water" experience shared by many in the foster and adoption communities.
As he looks to the future, Akingbola is focused on owning intellectual property and dismantling the "monolith" of the Nigerian experience through projects like his upcoming BET documentary, Mission Motherland. This journey back to Nigeria allowed him to reconnect with his father’s side of the family and walk down "Akingbola Street," effectively healing the fragmented pieces of his history. Whether he is being discussed as a candidate for the first Black James Bond or developing his own spin-offs, his mission remains clear: to lead with love and authenticity while proving that the "wealth" of African storytelling is a global currency.
