Yemi Solade Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Movies, Career and Achievements

Yemi Solade is a veteran Nigerian actor and trained theatre practitioner whose career stretches across stage, television and film.

He is back in the spotlight in September 2026 after revealing that he once participated in a staged church healing while he was still a student. Solade said he pretended to have a physical disability, received payment and later spent the money on drinks.

The unusual story has renewed interest in the actor, but it represents only a small part of a career that began in the 1970s. From FESTAC ’77 and professional theatre to major television productions and modern Nollywood films, Solade has remained active across several generations of Nigerian entertainment.

Quick Facts About Yemi Solade

Detail	Information
Full name	Olayemi Olufela Solade
Popular name	Yemi Solade
Date of birth	January 31, 1960
Age	66 years in 2026
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Profession	Actor and theatre practitioner
Education	Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University
Wife	Hannah Marsh
Children	Two
Active since	1970s
Known for	Thunderbolt, Super Story, Ijogbon, Elevator Baby and other productions

Who Is Yemi Solade?

Yemi Solade is one of the veteran Nigerian performers who moved comfortably between theatre, television and cinema.

Unlike actors whose careers began with the home-video boom, Solade had already developed professionally through theatre before Nollywood became a major commercial industry.

His career has included dramatic performances, television series, stage productions and feature films. He has also taken an active interest in the organisation and professional development of Nigerian theatre and movie practitioners.

Yemi Solade Age and Early Life

Yemi Solade was born on January 31, 1960, in Lagos and grew up in Surulere. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and Birch Freeman High School in the area.

His family background also reflects Nigeria’s cultural diversity. Solade has explained that his mother is from Oron in Akwa Ibom State, while his grandmother was from Creek Town in Cross River State. He has also spoken about his Yoruba and Brazilian ancestry.

Before becoming known as an actor, he developed a strong interest in entertainment through dancing.

He won the Lagos State dance championship three consecutive times and later represented Africa in international dance competitions.

How Yemi Solade Started Acting

Solade’s acting journey took a major turn during FESTAC ’77.

At the time, Nigeria was preparing for the Festival of Black Arts and Culture, a major international cultural event held in Lagos. Solade auditioned at the National Theatre and received a role in Langbodo, Nigeria’s official stage entry.

He played Efoiye, one of the hunters in the production. It became his first major acting experience and introduced him to theatre on an international stage.

That opportunity changed the direction of his life. Rather than treating performance as a passing interest, Solade pursued theatre as a profession.

Yemi Solade Education

Solade studied Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University.

His education later expanded beyond theatre. He pursued further studies in areas including public administration, sociology and anthropology, international relations and related disciplines.

His academic interests became an important part of his identity. In a 2023 interview, he described himself as someone who is constantly seeking knowledge and noted that his first degree was in Dramatic Arts.

After his studies, he also taught at institutions in northern Nigeria before continuing his professional theatre career.

From Theatre to Television

Solade’s early professional years included work with theatre organisations and teaching.

He became involved with the Kaduna Music and Drama Society before later returning to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he became artistic director of Professor Ola Rotimi’s theatre company.

His television career grew alongside his stage work.

He became closely associated with Wale Adenuga Productions and appeared in popular television productions including Papa Ajasco, Super Story, This Life and Odd World. His work on Super Story was particularly significant because the series became one of the most recognisable Nigerian television dramas of its era.

Yemi Solade Movies

Solade eventually became a familiar face in Nigerian cinema.

His filmography includes Thunderbolt: Magun, Madam Dearest, Pasito Deinde, Iriri Mi, BreadWinner, Voiceless Scream, The Widow, Elevator Baby, Oloture, Amin: Amen, The Trade, Ijogbon, In Bed with the Pedros, Ajosepo, Family Gbese and Move Like a Boss.

His roles have varied considerably. He has portrayed professionals, fathers, traditional figures, authority figures and other characters requiring a commanding screen presence.

One of his notable recent appearances came in Ijogbon, where he played Chief Owonifaari. He also appeared in The Trade and In Bed with the Pedros, showing that his career remained active well beyond his early television years.

Yemi Solade and Thunderbolt: Magun

One of the films that remains associated with Solade’s career is Thunderbolt: Magun, the acclaimed 2001 film directed by Tunde Kelani.

Solade played Dele Ibrahim in the production, which explored cultural beliefs, marriage and the social consequences surrounding the traditional concept of Magun.

The film belongs to the period when Nigerian filmmakers were producing stories that combined Yoruba cultural themes with broader social commentary.

Yemi Solade and TAMPAN

Solade’s contribution to the industry goes beyond acting.

He was instrumental in the formation of the Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria, commonly known as TAMPAN. He has repeatedly explained that he developed the idea after becoming concerned about the professional structure available to formally trained practitioners working in the Yoruba-language film space.

He became the association’s first interim national leader before Dele Odule later took over the presidency.

Regardless of the later leadership changes, Solade’s role in the organisation remains part of his wider contribution to the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Yemi Solade Wife and Children

Yemi Solade is married to Hannah Marsh.

The couple met while working on Wale Adenuga’s Super Story. Solade has described their relationship as one that developed from friendship and eventually led to marriage.

They have two children, a son and a daughter. Their children are identified publicly as Rola and Fela.

Solade has also spoken about the role his wife has played in maintaining their marriage, particularly through the demands of his long entertainment career.

Yemi Solade’s 2026 Staged Miracle Revelation

The latest story generating searches around Solade came from an interview published on September 8, 2026.

The veteran actor recalled that, while he was still a student and had not become famous, he was recruited to pretend to have a physical disability during a church service.

According to his account, the performance was presented as a healing miracle. He said he was paid for participating and later spent the money on alcohol. He declined to identify the people involved, saying they were still alive.

Solade’s disclosure has attracted attention because it provides an unusual glimpse into the less documented period of his life before he became an established actor.

It also shows how his early performance skills existed long before his name became associated with major Nigerian productions.

Yemi Solade’s Achievements and Influence

Solade’s most important achievement may be the longevity of his career.

He has worked across several generations of Nigerian entertainment, beginning with stage performance in the 1970s and continuing through the modern streaming era.

He has also influenced younger performers through teaching, theatre direction and professional involvement. Actor and comedian Afeez Oyetoro, for example, has publicly credited Solade with helping shape his early theatre experience.

His career therefore represents a link between Nigeria’s formal theatre tradition and the commercial film industry that followed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Yemi Solade?

Yemi Solade was born on January 31, 1960. He is 66 years old in 2026.

Who is Yemi Solade’s wife?

Yemi Solade’s wife is Hannah Marsh. They met while working on Super Story.

How many children does Yemi Solade have?

Yemi Solade and Hannah Marsh have two children, a son and a daughter.

Where did Yemi Solade study?

He studied Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.

What was Yemi Solade’s first major acting experience?

His first major acting experience came during FESTAC ’77, when he played Efoiye in Langbodo.

What movies is Yemi Solade known for?

He is known for productions including Thunderbolt: Magun, Voiceless Scream, Elevator Baby, Oloture, Ijogbon, The Trade and In Bed with the Pedros.

What happened with Yemi Solade and the staged miracle?

Solade said that, while he was a student, he was paid to pretend to have a disability during a staged church healing. He did not identify the people involved.

Conclusion

Yemi Solade’s latest revelation has brought renewed attention to an actor whose career began long before modern Nollywood took shape.

His journey runs from dancing and FESTAC ’77 to professional theatre, television classics, major Nigerian films and industry organisation. Along the way, he established himself as a performer with both formal training and decades of practical experience.