The list of Igbo people includes notable individuals who have full or significant ancestry traced back to the Igbo people of South-East and South-South geopolitical regions of Nigeria.
This page also contains names of people who traced their African heritage through DNA testing to the Igbo ethnic group.
Beauty pageant winners and models
Miss Nigeria & Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
- Debbie Collins, Miss World 2016 Nigeria representative
- Unoaku Anyadike, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2015, Miss World 2015 Nigeria representative
- Iheoma Nnadi, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2014, Miss World 2014 Nigeria representative
- Ezinne Akudo, Miss Nigeria 2013
- Sylvia Nduka, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2011, Miss World 2011 Nigeria representative
- Fiona Amuzie-Iredu, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2010, Miss World 2010 Nigeria representative
- Glory Umunna, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2009, Miss World 2009 Nigeria representative
- Adaeze Igwe, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2008, Miss World 2008 Nigeria representative, wife of former Nigerian football team captain Joseph Yobo
- Munachi Nwankwo, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2007, Miss World 2007 Nigeria representative
- Chinenye Ochuba, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2002, Miss World 2002 Top 10 finalist, African Continental Queen of Beauty
- Sabina Umeh, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1990
- Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1988, Miss Africa 1988, Miss Intercontinental 1989, Nigeria ambassador to Spain 2012âÂÂ15, wife of the late Biafran President Odumegwu Ojukwu
- Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu, Miss Africa 1987, 2nd Nigerian to represent Nigeria in Miss Universe 1987 after a 23-year absence of the country in the pageant
- Chidimma Adetshina, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2007. She represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico and finished as the first runner-up. She was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania as the highest ranked African Contestant of 2024. Her placement is Nigeria's highest at any Miss Universe pageant.
Mister Nigeria
Runway models and magazine covers
- Ngo Okafor, arguably the internet's most downloaded black male model.
- Oluchi Onweagba, winner of Face of Africa 1998; she has starred in shows for Gucci, Carolina Herrera, John Galliano, Missoni, Tommy Hilfiger, Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Christian Dior, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Jeremy Scott, Helmut Lang, Fendi, Mary Timms, Anna Sui, Givenchy, Kenzo, Giorgio Armani, Céline, Nina Ricci, and Diane Von Furstenberg
More pageant winners
Music producers
Actors and actresses
Foreign
- Annie Ilonzeh, starred in General Hospital, Charlie's Angels, Arrow, Drop Dead Diva, Empire, All Eyez on Me, 'Til Death Do Us Part, '
- Antonia Okonma, starred as Darlene Cake in the ITV series Bad Girls
- Ashley Madekwe, film credits include Bambi in the ITV2 series Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Ashley Davenport on the ABC drama series Revenge and the witch Tituba in the WGN America series Salem
- Carmen Ejogo, hosted the Saturday Disney morning show. Film credits include Love's Labour's Lost (2000), What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001), Away We Go (2009), Sparkle (2012), Alex Cross (2012), ' (2014), It Comes at Night (2017), ' (2017). She Picquery in the Fantastic Beasts film series, Coretta Scott King in two films: Boycott (2001) and Selma (2014)
- Caroline Chikezie, Her movie roles include Sasha Williams in As If, Elaine Hardy in Footballers' Wives, Queen Tamlin in The Shannara Chronicles, the Cyberwoman in Torchwood, Nasuada in Eragon
- Charles Venn, known for his roles as Ray Dixon in EastEnders, Jacob Masters in Casualty, Curtis Alexander in Dream Team, Tremaine Gidigbi in Footballers' Wives
- Chike Nwoffiah, actor, theater director and filmmaker. Listed as one of the "Top Ten Most Influential African Americans" in the San Francisco Bay Area, he has served on several regional and national grant review panels including: the National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Sacramento Arts Commission, San Francisco Arts Commission, Arts Council Silicon Valley, Walter and Elise Haas Fund and the Center for Cultural Innovation
- Chiké Okonkwo, starred as PC Clark in New Tricks and DC Callum Gada in Paradox. He currently stars as Lee Truitt, the love interest of the title character on the BET series Being Mary Jane
- Chiwetel Ejiofor, Award-winning and two-time Golden Globe Award-nominated actor, Brother of CNN newscaster Zain Asher
- Cyril Nri, actor, writer and director who starred as Superintendent "Adam Okaro" in the police TV series The Bill
- Enuka Okuma, starred in Rookie Blue, Madison, ', Hillside
- Ifeanyi Chijindu
- Megalyn Echikunwoke, starred as Tara Price in ', Isabelle Tyler in The 4400 and as Mari McCabe / Vixen in the Arrowverse. Partner of comedian and actor Chris Rock
- Nonso Anozie, starred as Tank in RocknRolla, Sergeant Dap in Ender's Game, Abraham Kenyatta in Zoo, Captain of the Guards in Cinderella and Xaro Xhoan Daxos in the HBO television series Game of Thrones
- Phina Oruche, actress, radio presenter and former model who starred as Liberty Baker in ITV's Footballers' Wives, for which she won a Screen Nations Award for Favourite TV Star
- Tracy Ifeachor, known for roles in Blooded, Billionaire Ransom, Casualty, Doctor Who, Strike Back, Jo, Crossbones, Hawaii Five-0, Ina Paha, The Originals, Quantico
- Uzo Aduba, starred as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black, winner of an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2015, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series in 2014 and 2015. She is one of only two actors to win an Emmy Award in both the comedy and drama categories for the same role.
- Kelechi Eke is the founder of The African Film Festival (TAFF) and the creator of movie streaming service, Rootflix. On 19 August 2023, he received the United States President Lifetime Achievement Award for his humanitarian services.
Traced heritage
- Blair Underwood, American television and film actor nominated for a 2009 Golden Globe Award for his role on In Treatment
- Danny Glover
- Forest Whitaker, American actor, producer, and director who won an Academy Award for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland
- Paul Robeson (1898âÂÂ1976), multi-lingual American actor, athlete, Basso cantante concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, fellow traveler, Spingarn Medal winner, and Stalin Peace Prize laureate
Nollywood
- Afro Candy
- Amaechi Muonagor, actor and producer. Igodo, Without Goodbye, Most Wanted Kidnappers, Jack and Jill, Village Rascal, Evil World, Ugonma, Spirits
- Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Lifetime Achievement award winner at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards
- Chacha Eke, starred in The End is Near, Commander in Chief, Clap of Thunder, Two Hearts
- Chelsea Eze
- Chidi Mokeme, actor and ex host of the Gulder Ultimate Search Reality-show
- Chika Ike, winner of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Award for Most Disciplined Actress
- Chinedu "Aki" Ikedieze, He is best known for his character "Aki", playing alongside Osita Iheme in their breakthrough movie Aki na Ukwa, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
- Chioma Chukwuka, actress and movie producer, winner of the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role, winner of the Afro Hollywood award for Best actress in a lead role
- Cynthia Shalom, actress and producer, winner of Next Movie Star reality show season 11
- Chioma Okoye
- Chioma Toplis
- Chizzy Alichi, winner City People Entertainment Awards Best New Actress Of The Year (English), winner Nigeria Achievers Award Next Rated Actress Of The Year
- Clem Ohameze, starred in Ije: The Journey
- Destiny Etiko
- Ebele Okaro, Best Supporting Actress 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
- Ebube Nwagbo, starred in Arrested by Love, Eyes of the Nun, Before My Eyes, Against My Blood, Royal Palace, Not Yours!, Ojuju calabar
- Ejike Asiegbu, former President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.
- Emeka Ike
- Enyinna Nwigwe, best known for The Wedding Party, Black November, Black Gold
- Francis Agu (1965âÂÂ2007), actor. Best known for his role on the long-running Nigerian television series Checkmate
- Frederick Leonard
- Genevieve Nnaji, winner Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for Best Movie West Africa, Nigeria Entertainment Awards for Best Actress Tv Series and Best Actress in Supporting Role, Nollywood Movies Awards for Viewers Choice- Female, Ghana Movie Awards for Best Actress-Africa Collaboration, NAFCA for Best Actress Leading Role, Best of Nollywood Awards for Best Kiss, Zulu African Film Academy Awards for Best Actress, City People Entertainment Awards for Best Actress. Member of the Order of the Federal Republic
- Hanks Anuku, often stars as a villain in many Nollywood films. Brother of Miss Nigeria 1986 Late Rita Anuku
- Ijeoma Grace Agu
- Jim Iyke, one of the stars of the movie Last Flight to Abuja
- John Okafor, acted in more than 200 movies including Mr.Ibu (2004), Mr.Ibu in London (2004), Police Recruit (2003), 9 Wives (2005), Ibu in Prison (2006) and Keziah (2007).
- Kanayo O. Kanayo
- Ken Erics
- Linda Ejiofor
- Lota Chukwu
- Mercy Johnson
- Michael Ezuruonye
- Mike Godson
- Monalisa Chinda
- Muna Obiekwe
- Ngozi Ezeonu
- Nuella Njubigbo
- Nkem Owoh
- Nonso Diobi
- Oby Kechere
- OC Ukeje
- Oge Okoye
- Onyeka Onwenu
- Osita "Paw paw" Iheme
- Patience Ozokwor
- Pete Edochie
- Prince Eke
- Queen Nwokoye
- Rachael Okonkwo
- Regina Daniels
- Rita Dominic
- Saint Obi
- Stella Damasus-Aboderin
- Stephanie Okereke, Best Actress â English and Best Actress of the year 2003, Reel Awards 2003 â also nominated twice for the Africa Movie Academy Award 2005 and 2009 for Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Sylvia Oluchy
- Tonto Dike
- Tony Umez
- Uche Jombo
- Uru Eke
- Yul Edochie
- Zack Orji
- Kelechi Eke
Comedians
TV/Radio hosts and journalists
Artists and illustrators
Authors
- Ada Udechukwu (born 1960)
- Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
- Akwaeke Emezi (born 1987)
- Africanus Horton (1835âÂÂ1883), also known as James Beale, he was a writer and folklorist from Sierra Leone
- Buchi Emecheta (1944âÂÂ2017)
- Catherine Obianuju Acholonu (1951âÂÂ2014)
- Chika Unigwe (born 1974)
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 1977), best known for Half of a Yellow Sun
- Chinua Achebe (1930âÂÂ2013), novelist, poet and critic, best known for his award-winning novel Things Fall Apart
- Chinweizu Ibekwe (born 1943)
- Chris Abani (born 1966), notable for his first novel, Masters of the Board, which was about a Neo-Nazi takeover of Nigeria
- Christopher Okigbo (1932âÂÂ1967)
- Chukwuemeka Ike (1931âÂÂ2020)
- Cyprian Ekwensi (1921âÂÂ2007)
- E. Nolue Emenanjo (born 1943)
- Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832âÂÂ1912), Liberian educator, clergyman and Pan-Africanist
- Elizabeth Isichei (born 1939), prominent historian
- Emma Ugolee (born 1975)
- F. Nnabuenyi Ugonna (1936âÂÂ1990)
- Flora Nwapa (1931âÂÂ1993)
- Ifeanyi Chijindu (born 1978)
- Ifeoma Onyefulu (born 1959)
- Ike Oguine
- Jeff Unaegbu (born 1979)
- Joy Chinwe Eyisi (born 1969), best known for her Common Errors in the Use of English
- Michael Echeruo (born 1937)
- Okey Ndibe (born 1960)
- Okwui Enwezor (1963âÂÂ2019)
- Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745âÂÂ1797), also known as Gustavus Vassa, was a writer and abolitionist
- Onuora Nzekwu (1928âÂÂ2017)
- Onyeka Nwelue (born 1988)
- Nkem Nwankwo (1936âÂÂ2001)
- Nnedi Okorafor (born 1974)
- Nnorom Azuonye (1967âÂÂ2024)
- Paschal Eze
- Uche Nduka (born 1963)
- Uchechi Kalu
- Uzodinma Iweala (born 1982)
- Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike (1931âÂÂ2020)
- William Napoleon Barleycorn (1884âÂÂ1925), Spanish Guinean Primitive Methodist missionary and author of the first Bube language primer. He was a member of a prominent Fernandino family.
- Zulu Sofola (1935âÂÂ1995), the first published female Nigerian playwright and dramatist and first female Professor of Theater Arts in Africa
- Nduka Otiono
- Emeka Nwabueze (born 23 September 1949)
Film makers, producers and directors
Singers and musicians
Gospel singers
Pre-2000s
2000s
Education
Historians
Philosophers
Heads of organizations and business executives
Economists
- Arunma Oteh, Vice President and Treasurer at World Bank
- Charles Chukwuma Soludo, economics professor and former Governor and chairman of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
- Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance Minister and Foreign Minister of Nigeria, notable for being the first woman to hold either of those positions. She is also a former World Bank managing director and a one-time Presidential candidate of the same institution, member Twitter board
- Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Vice President of the World Bank and Education Minister as well as a co-founder of Transparency International
- Okwu Joseph Nnanna, former deputy Governor of Economic Policy and deputy Governor of Financial System Stability at Central Bank of Nigeria
- Onyema Ugochukwu, economist, journalist, and politician
- Pat Utomi
- Pius Okigbo
- Priscilla Ekwere Eleje, first Nigerian female to have her signature appended on the naira and current Director of currency operations, Central Bank of Nigeria
Bloggers
Journalists
Judges
Political figures
Activists
Military rulers
Monarchs
Politicians
Military
Scientists & inventors
Sports
American football players
Canadian football players
Athletes
Basketball players
Boxers
Footballers
Rugby
Martial arts
Religion
References
External links