AKIN LEWIS: THE TRUE DEFINITION OF A VERSATILE THESPIAN
Bukola Lasisi
With a flourishing career that spans over 49 years, the word icon doesn’t begin to describe majestic, vibrant, and handsome actor Otunba (Dr.) Akintola Akin-Lewis Fta, Tdq. He is a marketing communications expert, producer, director, and one of the most talented actors in Nigeria. Akin Lewis became a star as early as 22 years old having played the lead role in a popular TV sitcom, Why Worry (The Adventures of S.K Adio the Barber), in 1980 on NTA Ibadan. It was a comedy series where he played the role of a 60-year-old man, and it was successful. He won the best actor in 1982 based on this series and came into the national limelight in 2005 Madam Dearest (Aya Mi Owon), a Nigerian movie that also has Bukky Ajayi, Sola Sobowale, Gabriel Afolayan, that was produced and directed by Tade Ogidan.
As a trained method actor, who embodies and internalizes any character given to him, Akin-Lewis has been privileged to interpret roles in English, Yoruba, and unbelievably, Bulgarian and French languages on stage, in films, and in TV series. He has participated in thousands of TV soaps and films and hundreds of stage plays including; Biko’s Inquest directed by Wole Soyinka, Dream on Monkey Mountains directed by Carrol Dawnes, The Night Before directed by Bode Sowande, Wedlock of the gods by Zulu Sofola, as well as Moliere directed by Sacho Stoyanov. He joined NTV Ibadan in 1977 where he further trained as actor, producer and director.
Akin Lewis was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, on 9th April 1957 to educated and civil service-working parents. Being the son of educated couples, education wasn’t an option for Akin Lewis. So, he was educated in Lagos to the high school level, after which he proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife (then the University of Ife) where he obtained a distinction under the tutelage of the renowned playwright and Nobel Laureate- Professor Wole Soyinka, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Dr. Sunbo Marinho, Chuck Mike and many others. Lewis went on to have his Masters, on scholarship, in Dramatic Arts at a University in Sofia, Bulgaria where he bagged 1st Class in theatre (Acting and Directing). It was in Bulgaria that he learnt to speak Bulgarian effortlessly. Akin also graduated with PGD in Marketing Communications from the University of Lagos, Akoka.
Otunba Akin Lewis was recently awarded honourary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) in Politics and Social Human Development by Sancti Pauli Lutheran Institute Marseille, France. He was equally recognised for his notable years of service in the theatre and film industry with the conferment of Fellow of Theatre Arts (FTA) by the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (NANTAP).
His love for acting started at the age of 12 by attending children’s auditions, and children’s drama programmes. His dad would usually arrange for him to participate in the auditions, and buy him comics and literature books among others, and of course, that gingered his interest in art. After secondary school, he declared his intention of becoming an actor to his father. His father disapproved and they had a fallout. However, when he realized that his son had become a star, he was left with no other choice but to support him.
Akin Lewis began his career in 1973 when immediately after secondary school at the age of 17, a friend of his (now deceased) introduced him to the Wole Soyinka’s theatre group led by novelist, playwright, radio, and TV filmmaker Professor Bode Sowande of the University of Ibadan. It was at the Soyinka theatre stage that he was first moulded with the supports of experts like; Dr. Zulu Sofola, and Bayo Odunneye (Uncle B).
Before Akin Lewis ventured into the movie industry, he had worked in the corporate industry for more than 20 years attaining the position of Senior Executive Director. He worked in several corporate institutions including NTA, where he produced Yoruba groups like; the Obatalas, Duro Ladipos, Ajimajasans, and many others, Globacom, and the then Owena Bank. He is currently the Director of Graig-Phillips College of Technology, a film Institute at Shonibare Estate, Maryland, Lagos.
Due to his expertise in interpreting any role perfectly well, Akin Lewis has been regarded as one of the best, favorite, and most sought-after actors in the industry. He regularly takes the role of a Father, King, Sugar Daddy, Politician, Ritualist, and many other roles.
The handsome actor, Akin Lewis is the scion of the house of Davies Abraham Lewis of Owu and later Olowogbowo in Lagos Island. He is a multi linguist and happily married to the love of his life, the couple is blessed with children.
Some of his blockbuster movies include Red Hot, Silver Lining, Madam Dearest, Were Alaso, Apere, Osomo, Apayan Eda, Egbinrin, Akun, Amiwo Kan Pere, Obayeje, Alantakun, King of Boys, etc.
Some of the TV soaps he featured in are TINSEL, Spider, The Benjamins, and Two Sides of a Coin.
His Classics include soaps like The Adventures of S.K Adio the Barber popularly known as Why Worry, Koko Close, Mind-Bending, etc
His talent and consistency have led him to win different awards in Nigeria and across the countries. Some of his awards and Nominations include
Best Overall Student at the University of Ife, 1979,
Best Actor Award, 1982,
Best Actor – The Audio-Visual Awards (TAVA), 2010,
Award of Excellence – Community Development Committee (CDC), 2017,
Yoruba Movie Personality of the Year (Male) – City People Movie Award for, 2018 and many others
Picture credits- @akin_lewis on IG
