Special Reports

The 10 Best Gabriel Afolayan Acting Performances, Ranked

The second season of Netflix’s Blood Sisters is out, and one of the most talked-about actors from the show is Gabriel Afolayan, who plays Femi Ademola. It’s no surprise as he is one of the most versatile actors in Nollywood.

Whether he’s in villain mode, playing a hopeless romantic, or fighting zombies in a Lagos slum, Gabriel Afolayan always understands the assignment. Here are his top ten acting performances across film and television.

Seasons:  2

Episodes: 8

Director: Several

Genre: Crime, Drama

Here, Gabriel Afolayan shines as Femi, the overlooked and insecure older brother who feels sidelined by his mother in the family’s affairs. Gabriel captures the “laid-back man pushed into wickedness by a toxic wife” trope. Alongside his calculating wife, Yinka (Kehinde Bankole), Femi literally plots to kill his brother for the CEO seat.

Watch Blood Sisters on Netflix.

Running time: 2h 26m

Director: Dimeji Ajibola

Genre: Drama

He plays Tavier Jabari, a hustling singer navigating the harsh realities of the Nigerian music industry along with a toxic romance. He delivered a powerful portrayal of a struggling artist navigating ambition and betrayal.

Hoodrush isn’t streaming anywhere at the moment.

Running time: 2h 25

Director: Trade Ogidan

Genre: Adventure, Comedy

He shines as Wale Esho, a young man who voluntarily gets himself locked up in a maximum-security prison just to find a hidden golden deity statue. In this movie, Gabriel gives an adventurous and thrilling performance.

Gold Statue is streaming on Netflix but is unavailable in Nigeria.

Running time: 1h 16m

Director: Damilola Orimogunje

Genre: Drama

Gabriel plays Afolabi, the traditional and clueless husband who doesn’t understand his wife’s severe postpartum depression. His performance makes you deeply frustrated with him, but you also realise he isn’t a monster. He’s just painfully ignorant and overwhelmed.

For Maria (Ebun Pataki) is streaming on Netflix but is unavailable in Nigeria.

Season: 1

Episodes: 6

Director: Clarence Peters

Genre: Drama

Gabriel plays Ade, a man caught up in the dark, survival-of-the-fittest underbelly of the streets. Gabriel shines here because of his ability to portray desperation and the extreme, chilling lengths people will go to when pushed to the wall. It’s dark and intense. He delivered.

Watch Inside Life on Netflix.

Running time: 2h 31m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Drama 

He plays Koyejo, Moremi’s loving boyfriend who stands by her during her fight against a predatory university professor. He plays a loyal, romantic Nigerian boyfriend who would do anything  for his babe.

Watch Citation on Netflix.

Seasons: 2

Episodes: 12

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Fantasy, Drama

We see Gabriel play the compassionate and level-headed partner to Arolake (Bimbo Ademoye) as they chase survival outside the drama of Oyo. Amidst all the mystical drama, warlords and scheming, his gentle character commands attention even though the whole drama isn’t about him.

Watch Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre on Netflix.

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