Ifeanyi Kalu

Ifeanyi Kalu is a Nigerian television and film actor, model and fashion designer.[1] He is best known for his role in the movie Lagos Cougars where he starred alongside Uche Jombo, Monalisa Chinda, Alexx Ekubo[2] and the Africa Independent Television (AIT) series Allison's Stand alongside Joselyn Dumas, Bimbo Manuel, and Victor Olaotun.[3][4]

Ifeanyi Kalu
Born	Ifeanyi Kalu 13 February 1988 Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria
Occupation	Actor, Model, fashion designer
Years active	2010 – present
Website	www.ifeanyikalu.com

Early life

Kalu was born in Surulere, a suburb in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria. Kalu is of Igbo heritage from Imo State in the eastern part of Nigeria.[1] He studied Computer science in the University.[5]

Career

Kalu began his career as a model, appearing in television and billboard commercials.[6] In 2011, he enrolled in the Royal Arts Academy to study acting.[5] His breakout screen role was in 2012, when he was cast in the role of Usen in the movie Kokomma produced by Uduak Isong Oguamanam and directed by Tom Robson. The movie received 3 nominations at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards.[7]

In 2014, his roles in the movies Lagos Cougars and Perfect Union earned him a City People Awards nomination for Most Promising Actor,[8] an award he was again nominated for in 2017.[9] In 2019 he received another nomination from City People Awards for Best Supporting Actor,[10] and in the same year, he was nominated for and won the Best Supporting Actor award at the United Kingdom based Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFAA), for his role in the movie Kuvana, where he starred alongside Wale Ojo, Sambasa Nzeribe and Ivie Okujaiye.[11][12]

In 2019, Kalu launched a "ready-to-wear" fashion line tagged Ifeanyi Kalu.[12]

Filmography

Selected Movie roles

Year	Title	Role	Director	Notes
2012	Kokomma	Usen	Tom Robson	Feature Film featuring Belinda Effah, Ekere Nkanga, Ini Ekpe
2013	Lagos Cougars	Jite	Desmond Elliot	Feature Film starring Uche Jombo, Monalisa Chinda, Alexx Ekubo, Shawn Faqua, Daniella Okeke, Ben Touitou
2014	Perfect Union	Eke Agbai	Uzodinma Okpechi	Feature Film starring Wole Ojo, Brycee Bassey, Joju Muse
2015	The Banker	Kunle	Ikechukwu Onyeka	Feature Film featuring Seun Akindele, Mbong Amata, Belinda Effah, Maureen Okpoko, Nsikan Isaac
2016	Double Bind	Nosa	Emmanuel Akaemeh	Feature Film starring Kiki Omeili, Ujams Cbriel, Mary Chukwu
2016	The Novelist	Joseph	Patience Oghre Imobhio	Feature Film featuring Rykardo Agbor, Bayray Mcnwizu, Kehinde Olorunyomi, Labelle Vitien, Frank Paladini
2017	You, Me, and the Guys	Koje Williams	Esther Abah	Feature Film featuring Lota Chukwu, Linda Ejiofor, Seun Akindele, Abayomi Alvin, Jude Orhorha
2017	3 is a Crowd	Bayo	Desmond Elliot	Feature Film starring Tana Adelana, Desmond Elliot, Lilian Esoro, Alexx Ekubo, Eddie Watson, Cgris Akwarandu, Hauwa Allahbura
2018	Drowning	Kay	Charles Brain Nnoshiri	Feature Film starring Mary Lazarus, Nazo Ekezie, Jide Kosoko, Jibola Dabo
2018	Almost a Virgin	Ricardo Phillips	Akin – Tijani Balogun	Feature Film starring Bimbo Ademoye, Emem Ufot, Chioma Okafor, Nonso Kalango, Gifty Powers
2018	Will You Marry Me	Uzor	Emmanuel Mang Eme	Feature Film featuring Ruth Kadiri, Wole Ojo, Stella Udeze, Peggy Ovire
2019	Lurikos	Michael	Edward Uka	Feature Film featuring Bolanle Ninalowo, Tamara Eteimo, Christian Paul
2019	Tea Room	Billy	Okey Ifeanyi	Feature Film starring Kenneth Okolie, Lota Chukwu, Calista Nwajide
2019	Kuvana	Mendas	Edward Uka	Feature Film featuring Wale Ojo, Sambasa Nzeribe, Ivie Okujaye, Stella Udeze
2019	Red Obsession	Temisan	Esosa Egbon	Feature Film starring Yvonne Jegede, Moyo Lawal, Georgina Ibeh, Wole Ojo

Television roles

Year	Title	Role	Director	Notes
2014	Allison’s Stand	Allison (Lead)	Peace Osigbe, Yemi Morafa(film boy)	TV Series
2016	Desperate Housegirls	Shawn (Lead)	Sunkanmi Adebayo, Akin – Tijani Balogun	TV Series on IrokoTV featuring Ini Edo, Belinda Effah, Deyemi Okanlawo, Bimbo Ademoye, Uzor Osimkpa, Uzor Arukwe
2017	Cougars	Dubem	Ikechukwu Onyeka, Akin – Tijani Balogun	TV Series with Nse Ikpe Etim, Joselyn Dumas, Empress Njamah, Ozzy Agu, Monalisa Chinda
2017	Head over Heels	Lead	Ejiro Onobrakpor	TV Series

Awards

Year	Event	Prize	Result
2013	Nollywood Movie Awards	Best rising star	Nominated
2014	City People Awards	Most promising actor	Nominated
2015	Zaris Fashion and Style Academy	Hall of Fame	Won
2017	Royal Arts Academy	Award of Excellence	Won
	City People Awards	Most promising actor	Nominated
2018	HYPP Festival of Talents	Recognition Award	Won
2019	City People Awards	Best supporting actor	Nominated
	ZAFAA Awards	Best supporting actor	Won[12]

References

1. "Ifeanyi Kalu has a Crush on Genevieve Nnaji". Thisday Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
2. "Omoni Oboli, Alex Ekubo, Julius Agwu, Desmond Eliot others attend Premiere of Lagos Cougars". TheNetNG Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
3. "Watch Joselyn Dumas, Victor Olaotan, others in season 2". PulseNG. Lagos, Nigeria. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
4. "Season Two of 'Allison's Stand' for Premiere On Sunday". Daily Independent via Allafricanews. Lagos, Nigeria. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
5. "Lessons Laernt from Acting". Punch Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
6. "Ifeanyi Kalu". Thisday Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
7. https://www.indiewire.com/2013/04/nigerian-dramedy-confusion-na-wa-tops-winners-at-the-9th-africa-movie-academy-awards-136164/
8. "Meet the Nominees for City People Awards". Pulse NG. Lagos, Nigeria. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
9. "City People Releases Nomination List For 2017 Movie Awards". City People Magazine. Lagos, Nigeria. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
10. "Nominations for City People Awards (English)". city people magazine. Lagos, Nigeria. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
11. "Zafaa 2019 Nominees". zafaa.org. Lagos, Nigeria. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
12. "Ifeanyi Kalu's Strides Across Facets". Thisday News. Lagos, Nigeria. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.