- Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born Akeem Abdul Olajuwon on January 21, 1963) is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Olajuwon played center for the Houston Rockets, whom he led to back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995, and the Toronto Raptors. Olajuwon travelled from his home country of Nigeria to play collegiately for the University of Houston.
- Emeka Okafor
Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi Okafor, abbreviated as Emeka Okafor (born September 28, 1982, in Houston, Texas), is an American professional basketball player playing at power forward and center for the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association. Prior to the NBA, Okafor attended Houston's Bellaire High School, and the University of Connecticut.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 's outstanding play on the court thrust him into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1995. After 20 seasons, Kareem is the only player in NBA History to win the MVP award six times and is the NBA's all-time regular season scoring leader. As president of Kareem Productions, he now spends time on his second passion, film making.
- Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu is a writer of fantasy and speculative fiction. Born to two Igbo (Nigerian) parents and having traveled to Nigeria several times, Okorafor-Mbachu writes a type of fantasy that takes from both her Nigerian culture and her American culture. She is the author of The Shadow Speaker (Hyperion Books for Children, Jump at the Sun) and Zahrah the Windseeker (Houghton Mifflin). Her short stories have been published in anthologies and magazines, …
- KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker (born August 20, 1965), known as KRS-One, is an American hip hop MC of Jamaican and Nigerian descent from South Bronx. Over his career he has been known by several pseudonyms, including "Kris Parker," "The Blastmaster," and "The Teacha." KRS-One is a significant figure in the hip hop community, …
- Olaudah Equiano
Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745 - 31 March 1797), also known as Gustavus Vassa, was one of the most prominent people of African heritage involved in the British debate for the abolition of the slave trade. He wrote an autobiography that depicted the horrors of slavery and helped influence British lawmakers to abolish the slave trade in 1807. In addition to being a slave as a young man, he was also a slaver, seaman, merchant, and explorer in South America, …
- Amobi Okoye
Amobi Okoye (born June 10, 1987 in Anambra State, Nigeria) is an American football player for the Houston Texans. He played defensive tackle at the University of Louisville from 2003 to 2006. The Houston Texans drafted Okoye as the 10th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
- Obba Babatunde
Obba Babatundé is an American actor of both stage and screen. He is known for an Emmy-nominated performance in the television movie "Miss Evers' Boys", a NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the TV movie "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge", and a Tony Award-nominated role for his Broadway performance in the original cast of "Dreamgirls". His TV roles have often portrayed authority figures, …
- Andre Iguodala
Andre Tyler Iguodala (born January 28, 1984, in Springfield, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA. He was sometimes nicknamed "Iggy", and "The Other A.I." because his initials are identical to former 76ers teammate Allen Iverson's.
- Oguchi Onyewu
Oguchialu Chilioke "Oguchi" Onyewu or "Gooch" (born May 13, 1982 in Washington, D.C.) is an American soccer player who plays in defense for Standard Liège and the United States. Onyewu's parents moved to the United States from Nigeria to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. Onyewu has two brothers, Uche and Nonye, and two sisters, Chi-Chi and Ogechi. Growing up in Silver Spring and later Olney, Maryland, …
- Megalyn Echikunwoke
Megalyn Ann Echikunwoke (born May 28, 1983 in Spokane, Washington) is an American actress. She is known for playing Nicole Palmer in the first season of "24" and Isabelle Tyler in "The 4400". The daughter of a Nigerian father and a Native American mother, Megalyn was born in Spokane, Washington on May 28, 1983. After the death of her father, her mother raised Megalyn and her three brothers on a Navajo Indian reservation in Chinle, Arizona.
- Ugo Ihemelu
Ugochukwu (Ugo) Ihemelu (born April 3, 1983 in Enugu, Nigeria) is a Nigerian-American soccer defender, who is currently with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Ugo attended Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. Ihemelu played college soccer at Southern Methodist University, and was named All-Missouri Valley Conference his junior and senior seasons. The Los Angeles Galaxy drafted him with the fifth overall pick of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft.
- Olu Oguibe
Olu Oguibe is a Nigerian-American artist and public intellectual. He is Associate Professor of Art and African-American studies and Associate Director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, as well as a senior fellow of the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at the New School, New York and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. He is also an art historian, art curator, …
- Ovie Mughelli
Ovie Phillip Mughelli (born June 10, 1980 in Charleston, South Carolina) is an American football fullback for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. He signed a 6-year, $18 million contract with a $5 million signing bonus on March 2, 2007 with the Falcons. The contract was the largest given to a fullback in NFL history.
- Gbenga Akinnagbe
Gbenga Akinnagbe (born on December 12, 1978) is an African American actor, currently guest-starring on the HBO original series "The Wire" as Chris Partlow.
- Nnamdi Asomugha
Nnamdi Asomugha (N-NAM-Dee Asoh-Muh-Wah) (born July 6, 1981 in Lafayette, Louisiana) whose name means "My Father Lives" (although various sources erroneously state that it means "Jesus Lives") is an American football player who currently plays cornerback for the Oakland Raiders. He is an American-born Nigerian. He attended and played at Narbonne High School in Los Angeles, California and continued at the University of California, …
- John Ogbu
John Uzo Ogbu was an American anthropologist and professor known for his theories on observed phenomena involving race and intelligence, especially how race and ethnic differences played out in educational and economic achievement. He suggested that being a "caste-like minority" affects motivation and achievement, depressing IQ scores. He also stated that some students did poorly because high achievement was considered "acting white" among their peers.
- Samkon Gado
Samkon Kaltho Gado (born November 13, 1982 in Kufai, Nigeria) is a professional American football player for the Houston Texans of the NFL.
- Devin Aromashodu
Devin Aromashodu (born May 23, 1984 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida of Nigerian descent) is an American football wide receiver who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL Draft but was waived and is now signed to the Indianapolis Colts. While growing up in Miami, he played football at Miami Springs High School. Aromashodu played college football for the Auburn Tigers
- Yaya Dacosta
Yaya DaCosta is an actress and fashion model from Harlem, New York. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of "America's Next Top Model". She is of African-American, Irish, Brazilian and Native American descent.
- Aloysius Anagonye
Aloysius Anagonye (born February 10 1981, in Southfield, Michigan) is a Nigerian American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. A graduate of Michigan State University in 2003, Anagonye has also played for the Sutor Basket Montegranaro in Italy (2005-2006). Although he was born in the United States, Anagonye played with the Nigeria national basketball team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
- Perek Belleh
Perek Belleh (born January 2, 1982) is a Nigerian-American soccer player, who was last with the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.ding a tremendous 12 goal 12 assist season in 2003. After graduating, Belleh was drafted 10th overall by the Rochester Raging Rhinos in the 2004 A-League college draft. However, shortly into the season the Rhinos released him; nevertheless, Belleh managed to acquire a contract a level up with the Revolution, …
- Chamberlain Oguchi
Chamberlain Oguchi (born April 28, 1986 in Houston, Texas) is a Nigerian American college basketball player. A 6'5", 190 pound shooting guard at the University of Oregon, he is also a member of the Nigeria national basketball team. His nickname by friends and family is Champ. Is also known for his ever changing hairstyle, which has gone from cornrows to now a ponytail. Oguchi has been forced into a diminished role for the 2006-07 basketball season, …
- Ebi Ere
Ebi Ere (born August 3, 1981 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of Australia NBL. He previously played for the Sydney Kings, also of the NBL. Ebi played college basketball at Barton County Community College from 2000 to 2002. He transferred to the University of Oklahoma before the 2002 season.
- Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Muhammed-Kabeer Olarewaju Gbaja-Biamila (born September 24, 1977 in Los Angeles, California) is an American Football defensive end of Nigerian descent who currently plays for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL.
- Ade Jimoh
Ade Jimoh (born April 18, 1980 in Canoga Park, California) is an American football player who currently plays cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the NFL. Ade Jimoh is of Nigerian descent.
- Ime Udoka
Ime Udoka (pronounced EE-may you-DOE-kuh) (born August 9, 1977 in Portland, Oregon) is an American professional basketball player of partial Nigerian descent. He is currently a free agent. Udoka, a small forward, attended Portland's Jefferson High School and Portland State University where he starred for the Vikings. He started his professional basketball career by playing in the NBDL with the Charleston Lowgators.
- Ade Coker
Ade Coker (born Lagos, Nigeria) is a retired Nigerian-American soccer forward. Coker began with English club West Ham United then moved to the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned five caps with the U.S. national team.
- Chamillionaire
Hakeem Seriki (born November 28, 1979), better known by his stage name Chamillionaire (pronounced Ka-MIL-yin-air, a portmanteau of "chameleon" and "millionaire") is an American rapper and the CEO of Chamillitary Entertainment. He stated that his aim is to prove that the South can produce quality lyricists. He is also a hook writer and usually sings and harmonizes with himself (using double-tracked vocals) on his own hooks.
- Victor Adeyanju
Victor Adeyanju (born February 11, 1983 in Nigeria) is an American football defensive end who currently plays for the National Football League's St. Louis Rams. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, pick 113.
- Chidi Iwuoma
Chidi Iwuoma (born February 19, 1978 in Pasadena, California) is an American football cornerback, currently with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. He played for the Detroit Lions during the 2001 season, and began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2002 season. His jersey number is 29. Iwuoma primarily plays on special teams (kick-off and punt coverage) with the Steelers. For two seasons he served as the Special Teams Co-Captain.
- Abi Olajuwon
Alon Abisola Arisicate Ajoke Olajuwon, better known as Abi Olajuwon (born July 6 1988), is an Nigerian-American female college basketball player for the Oklahoma Sooners. Olajuwon is the daughter of former NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon was a 2006 McDonald's All-American, and was one of the most prized recruits of the 2006 graduating high school class.
- Babatunde Oshinowo
Babatunde Oluwasegun Temitope Oluwakorede Adisa Oshinowo, Jr. (Pronunciation: ba-ba-TOON-day OH-shi-no-who) (born January 14, 1983) is an American football player of Nigerian descent, of the Yoruba tribe. He is a defensive lineman for the National Football League Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Stanford and high school football at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, IL. On September 19, 2006 Cleveland signed Oshinowo from their practice squad.
- Sade Baderinwa
Sade Baderinwa (pronounced "Sha-day" in English) (born Folasade Olayinka Baderinwa in 1971) is currently an anchor at WABC-TV. She co-anchors the weekday 5 p.m. editions of "Eyewitness News" alongside Diana Williams. Her father is Nigerian and her mother is German. She graduated from the University of Maryland College Park. She joined WABC in 2003 after a stint in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, …
- Adewale Ogunleye
Adewale Ogunleye (August 9, 1977) is an American football defensive end for the Chicago Bears. Ogunleye was traded to the Bears from Miami in a trade that also involved wide receiver Marty Booker.
- Kenny Adeleke
Kenny Adeleke {born February 10, 1983 in Queens, New York) is a Nigerian American basketball player who plays in Israel for Hapoel Galil Elyon. Adeleke played basketball and tennis at Paul Robeson High School in Brooklyn, New York. During Adeleke's senior year at Paul Robeson High School (The 2000-2001 season), he was named P.S.A.L. Player of the Year by the New York Daily News while averaging 19 points per game and 13 rebounds per game.
- Ekene Ibekwe
Ekene Brian Ibekwe (born 19 July 1985 in Carson, California) is a basketball Power forward from the United States of Nigerian ancestry. Ibekwe, who also played for the Carson High School's Boys Basketball team, is currently a senior at the University of Maryland at College Park and was a member of the Nigeria national basketball team at the 2006 FIBA World Championships where Ibekwe was one of the team leaders in points (4th) and rebounds (1st).
- Obi Ndefo
Obi Ndefo is an American actor best known as Bodie Wells on the television drama "Dawson's Creek". He is a graduate of Yale University's drama school and has also appeared on such television series as "The West Wing", "The Jamie Foxx Show", "Stargate SG-1", "3rd Rock from the Sun", "Crossing Jordan," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager".
- Bo Oshoniyi
Adegboyega "Bo" Oshoniyi (born November 3 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American soccer goalkeeper who last played for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. Oshoniyi played college soccer at Southern Connecticut State University, where he helped lead the team to Division II championships in 1990 and 1992. He finished his career at the school with a record of 67 wins, 8 losses, and 7 ties.
- Akin Ayodele
Akin Ayodele (pronounced I-yo-DAY-lay) (born September 17, 1979 in Irving, Texas), is an American football linebacker who plays for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.