By Prosper Mene
Veteran Yoruba actress Grace Owoola, beloved for her iconic role as Iya Oshogbo in the classic film Eran Iya Oshogbo, has turned 96.
To celebrate the milestone, the screen legend staged a special birthday photoshoot lensed by photographer Oluwatosin Victoria, paying tribute to the role that made her a household name.
Owoola rose to fame in an era when Yoruba theatre and home videos defined Nigerian entertainment. For millennials and Gen X audiences who grew up on local television, her portrayal of Iya Oshogbo remains one of the most memorable performances in Yoruba film history.
The birthday portraits lean heavily into that heritage. In the lead images, Mama is styled in a hot-pink buba and iro, complemented by a towering emerald-green gele and layers of coral beads with a pendant. Seated barefoot on sand and surrounded by deep-red ti plant leaves, she poses beside a live black goat — a symbolic nod to Eran Iya Oshogbo, the film that cemented her legacy.
In another look, she appears in a sequined maroon lace outfit with a dark patterned ipele draped over her shoulder, smiling warmly for the camera.
The celebration has sparked an outpouring of love online, with fans sharing memories of watching her on screen and celebrating her longevity and contribution to Nigerian cinema.
At 96, Grace Owoola remains a revered figure in Nollywood and Yoruba theatre, with a body of work that continues to connect generations of audiences to a defining era of indigenous storytelling.
