Akin Omotoso (born 1974) is a Nigerian film director, writer, and
actor. Both his father Kole Omotoso and his sister Yewande Omotoso are
also writers.Omotoso was born in Nigeria where he grew up in Ile Ife,
Osun State. His family emigrated to South Africa in 1992 after his
father, Kole Omotoso, took an academic appointment with the University
of the Western Cape. This prompted Akin Omotoso to study at the same
university, obtaining a diploma in speech and drama. His mother died
in 2003.Omotoso ventured into entertainment while at the university.
His acting debut was in Sunjata by Mark Fleishman. This also earned
him a Fleur du Cap Award for Most Promising Student in 1995. He used
the money from acting in the play to direct his first short films, The
Kiss of Milk, The Nightwalkers and The Caretaker. By 1999, he wrote
his first full-length film, entitled God is African. The film was
released in 2003. He started a production company along with Robbie
Thorpe and Kgomotso Matsunyane called T.O.M pictures in 2003.Omotoso
directed the television series Jacob's Cross on Africa Magic, M-Net
and SABC between 2007 and 2013. In 2010, he began working on Tell Me
Sweet Something; speaking about the script with Pulse Nigeria, he
stated that Theodore Witchers′ Love Jones (1997) was the influence
behind the film. Omotoso also noted that he received a grant from the
African Women's Development Fund. The film earned him a best director
award at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in Lagos State.
actor. Both his father Kole Omotoso and his sister Yewande Omotoso are
also writers.Omotoso was born in Nigeria where he grew up in Ile Ife,
Osun State. His family emigrated to South Africa in 1992 after his
father, Kole Omotoso, took an academic appointment with the University
of the Western Cape. This prompted Akin Omotoso to study at the same
university, obtaining a diploma in speech and drama. His mother died
in 2003.Omotoso ventured into entertainment while at the university.
His acting debut was in Sunjata by Mark Fleishman. This also earned
him a Fleur du Cap Award for Most Promising Student in 1995. He used
the money from acting in the play to direct his first short films, The
Kiss of Milk, The Nightwalkers and The Caretaker. By 1999, he wrote
his first full-length film, entitled God is African. The film was
released in 2003. He started a production company along with Robbie
Thorpe and Kgomotso Matsunyane called T.O.M pictures in 2003.Omotoso
directed the television series Jacob's Cross on Africa Magic, M-Net
and SABC between 2007 and 2013. In 2010, he began working on Tell Me
Sweet Something; speaking about the script with Pulse Nigeria, he
stated that Theodore Witchers′ Love Jones (1997) was the influence
behind the film. Omotoso also noted that he received a grant from the
African Women's Development Fund. The film earned him a best director
award at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in Lagos State.
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