# Folake Olowofoyeku
**Folákẹ́ Olówófoyekù** (born 1983) is a Nigerian actress, musician, and audio engineer, best known for playing the title character Abishola Adebambo on the CBS sitcom *Bob Hearts Abishola* from the show's debut in September 2019 until its finale on May 6, 2024. Her performance made her the first Nigerian to portray a Nigerian character on U.S. prime-time television.[1](https://folake.com/biography) She also voiced the character Amara in Disney's *Mufasa: The Lion King* (2024) and records music under the stage name Folake.[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [2](https://folake.com/music)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Lagos, Nigeria; youngest of 20 children[3](https://africanmoviedb.com/person/folake-olowofoyeku-the) |
| Signature role | Abishola Adebambo on *Bob Hearts Abishola* (CBS, 2019–2024), about 95 episodes[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [4](https://mooveedb.com/actor/folake-olowofoyeku/514390) |
| Recognition | NAACP Image Award nomination, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, 2021; ReelHeART Best Actress for *When They Could Fly*; CinéFashion Best Actress in a Short Film for *Central & Broadway*[1](https://folake.com/biography) |
| Film work | Voice of Amara in *Mufasa: The Lion King* (2024); roles in *Death Race 2050* (2017), *Female Fight Squad* (2016), and *Armed* (2018)[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [2](https://folake.com/music) |
| Music | Performs as Folake (earlier The.Fọlákẹ́!), an Afro-rock fusion of folk, soul, and rock; self-produced 2012 release *The.Fọlákẹ́!*[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [2](https://folake.com/music) |
| Education | B.A. in theater, City College of New York; diploma in audio engineering, Institute of Audio Research[5](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/folake-olowofoyeku-star-americas-first-sitcom-nigerian-family) |
| Chieftaincy | Named Yèyé Oba and Yèyé Atáyése by the king of Ilesa, Nigeria, in 2024[1](https://folake.com/biography) |
## Early life and education
Olowofoyeku was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku, a Nigerian politician and lawyer, and Chief Felicia Olowofoyeku. She grew up on Victoria Island, an affluent business district of Lagos, and also spent time in the United Kingdom.[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [3](https://africanmoviedb.com/person/folake-olowofoyeku-the) She is the youngest of 20 children according to one biographical profile, though in a 2024 interview she described the family as "all 18 of us"; both accounts agree she was the youngest.[3](https://africanmoviedb.com/person/folake-olowofoyeku-the) • [6](https://www.pulse.ng/story/bob-hearts-abishola-folake-olowofoyeku-to-launch-new-music-genre-afrojoy-2024072701425866722)
Her father, who had studied economics and law and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, expected his children to pursue law, and a performing career was unacceptable to him.[6](https://www.pulse.ng/story/bob-hearts-abishola-folake-olowofoyeku-to-launch-new-music-genre-afrojoy-2024072701425866722) She wrote poetry and rap songs as a creative outlet, took piano lessons, and taught herself bass guitar after convincing the bassist at a church behind her home to instruct her. By age 15 she was visiting radio stations and auditioning for modeling roles.[1](https://folake.com/biography)
At 18 she moved to New York in 2001, initially intending a summer visit, and enrolled at the [City College of New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/city-college-of-new-york) to study economics with plans for law school. She switched to a theater major after finding that the college focused on musical theater, and earned her B.A. with honors in theater.[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [5](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/folake-olowofoyeku-star-americas-first-sitcom-nigerian-family) While at CCNY she joined the school's [NCAA Division III](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncaa-division-iii) basketball team, the CCNY Beavers, despite no prior experience, and by her second year was averaging triple-doubles in assists, scoring, and rebounds.[1](https://folake.com/biography) She later earned a diploma in audio engineering from the Institute of Audio Research in New York.[5](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/folake-olowofoyeku-star-americas-first-sitcom-nigerian-family)
## Acting career
Her acting career began in the early 2000s with an appearance in the Classical Theatre of Harlem's production of *Trojan Women*. She made her television debut in a 2005 episode of *Law & Order*, followed by guest roles on *30 Rock*, *Sex and the City*, *Westworld*, *Modern Family*, *Colony*, *Transparent*, and *How to Get Away with Murder*. Her film credits include *When They Could Fly* (2006), *Female Fight Squad* (2016), *Death Race 2050* (2017), and *Armed* (2018).[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-519358/filmographie/) In 2013 she appeared playing bass guitar in two [David Bowie](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-bowie) music videos, "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" and "The Next Day". She has also done voice work for video games, including the *Star Wars VR Series* and *World of Warcraft*.[1](https://folake.com/biography)
**Bob Hearts Abishola.** In 2019 she made her television lead debut as Abishola, a Nigerian immigrant nurse in Detroit who becomes the romantic interest of Bob Wheeler, played by [Billy Gardell](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-gardell), in the [Chuck Lorre](https://www.edgepedia.org/chuck-lorre) sitcom. It was the first American sitcom to feature a Nigerian family.[8](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/bob-hearts-abishola-billy-gardell-folake-olowofoyeku/) • [3](https://africanmoviedb.com/person/folake-olowofoyeku-the) The show's creators, Eddie Gorodetsky and Chuck Lorre, encouraged her contributions to shaping the character, and she has said it was important to her that Abishola not be a caricature but be real and relatable to [Nigerians](https://www.edgepedia.org/nigerians), other immigrants, and Americans.[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [9](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/?view=56838) The role earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021.[1](https://folake.com/biography) The series ran five seasons, ending on May 6, 2024.[1](https://folake.com/biography)
In 2024 she voiced Amara in Disney's *Mufasa: The Lion King* and contributed vocals to the soundtrack track "Bye Bye," composed by [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://www.edgepedia.org/lin-manuel-miranda), performed alongside [Mads Mikkelsen](https://www.edgepedia.org/mads-mikkelsen) and Joanna Jones.[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [2](https://folake.com/music)
Throughout her career she has refused, despite pressure from agents and managers, to alter her name, accent, or features; her college performance as [Sally Bowles](https://www.edgepedia.org/sally-bowles) in *Cabaret* had drawn controversy over her race.[1](https://folake.com/biography)
## Music
Olowofoyeku writes and performs music under the name Folake, describing her style as Afro-rock, a fusion of folk, soul, and rock; her Spotify profile describes a blend of afro-beats, rock energy, and highlife-inspired riffs.[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [10](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3f2fvlroqFT8xgR1KIj7DJ) Her self-produced 2012 release *The.Fọlákẹ́!* fused electronic production with West African rhythms and poetic vocals. Her first music video, for the single "Ehen Ehen Okay Okay," was inspired by seeing the musical *Fela!* on Broadway.[1](https://folake.com/biography) • [2](https://folake.com/music)
She brought music into *Bob Hearts Abishola* itself, incorporating the Nigerian classic "Omode Mẹ́ta" by Plantation Boys and her own original song "Ìfẹ́ Yì Dún," written and produced with 2jo.[2](https://folake.com/music) In a 2024 interview she said music was her first love and that she considered herself a better musician than actress, planning to focus entirely on music after the sitcom ended.[6](https://www.pulse.ng/story/bob-hearts-abishola-folake-olowofoyeku-to-launch-new-music-genre-afrojoy-2024072701425866722)
## Advocacy and personal life
Olowofoyeku lives in Los Angeles, speaks fluent English and Yoruba, and describes a passion for [Afrofuturism](https://www.edgepedia.org/afrofuturism).[1](https://folake.com/biography) She works with charities promoting health, wellness, and sustainable practices, including the Endometriosis Foundation, drawing on her own experience with the disease from age 13 into adulthood, and [David Oyelowo](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-oyelowo)'s Gean Co Foundation, which serves girls in Eastern Nigeria.[1](https://folake.com/biography)
In 2024 the king of her ancestral home, Ilesa, Nigeria, conferred on her the traditional chieftaincy titles Yèyé Oba and Yèyé Atáyése, making her a titled chief like her parents before her.[1](https://folake.com/biography)
## References
1. [Biography, Folákẹ́ Olówófoyekù official site](https://folake.com/biography)
2. [Music, Folákẹ́ Olówófoyekù official site](https://folake.com/music)
3. [Folake Olowofoyeku, African Movie Database](https://africanmoviedb.com/person/folake-olowofoyeku-the)
4. [Folake Olowofoyeku, MooveeDB](https://mooveedb.com/actor/folake-olowofoyeku/514390)
5. [Meet Folake Olowofoyeku: Star of America's First Sitcom Featuring a Nigerian Family, Essence](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/folake-olowofoyeku-star-americas-first-sitcom-nigerian-family)
6. ['Bob Hearts Abishola' Fọlákẹ́ Olówófôyekù wants to launch new Nigerian music genre, Pulse Nigeria](https://www.pulse.ng/story/bob-hearts-abishola-folake-olowofoyeku-to-launch-new-music-genre-afrojoy-2024072701425866722)
7. [Filmographie Folake Olowofoyeku, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-519358/filmographie/)
8. ['Bob Hearts Abishola's Folake Olowofoyeku On Portraying The Story Of A Nigerian Immigrant, CBS Los Angeles](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/bob-hearts-abishola-billy-gardell-folake-olowofoyeku/)
9. [WATCH Magazine's 15th Anniversary Issue Features Covers with "Bob ♥ Abishola" Star Folake Olowofoyeku, Paramount Press Express](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/?view=56838)
10. [Folake, Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3f2fvlroqFT8xgR1KIj7DJ)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actors and actresses by country or nationality*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license