My Dad That Is Yoruba Was Brought Up In The North Which Is Why All Of Us Were Like North” – Usman

Uzee Usman, the award-winning actor, film producer, television presenter and filmmaker known for producing and starring in films that appeal to audiences across northern and southern Nigeria, has revealed that despite his Yoruba heritage, he has never set foot in Kwara State. Speaking on the UnlimitedOne show, Usman explained why he is far more identified with his northern roots.

The host pressed him on why he appears to play down the Yoruba side of his identity. “Is that intentional?” she asked. “I think because even my dad that is Yoruba was born and brought up in the North. So he’s like out of state,” Usman said.

He continued: “I have never been to Kwara State before. Where my dad is from. So you can imagine.” When the host asked if the entire family was essentially northern, Usman confirmed it: “All of us were like north. Basically.”

Usman’s mother is Hausa from Zaria, and his father is Yoruba from Kwara State. His upbringing in Kaduna, his early auditions at the National Theatre in Lagos, and his eventual success across both northern and southern film industries all reflect a life lived across Nigeria’s cultural divide…See_More