Veteran actress Joke Silva has turned 65, with RMD celebrating her four-decade career as she marks the milestone days after the death of her husband, Olu Jacobs.
Veteran Nigerian actress Joke Silva has turned 65, with colleagues and admirers celebrating a career that has spanned more than four decades across theatre, television and film. Silva, who was born on September 29, 1961, marked the milestone on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, becoming the subject of tributes from members of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Among those who celebrated her was veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, who described Silva as his younger sister and reflected on their friendship and professional relationship of more than 40 years. RMD shared his tribute on Instagram, acknowledging that Silva’s 65th birthday came at a difficult moment following the death of her husband and fellow acting legend, Olu Jacobs, who died on September 16 at the age of 84.
“Even as you mourn the love of your life, Uncle Jay, we are reminded of your life of grace, your dedication and your love of not just family, but your craft and your country,” RMD wrote. He also described Silva’s contribution to the creative industry and the lives she has influenced over the years as immeasurable, adding that it was a privilege to witness the woman she had become.
In another part of the birthday message, RMD referred to Silva affectionately as his “aburo”, a Yoruba term for a younger sibling, and wished her strength, peace, joy and many more years.
Four decades on stage and screen
Silva’s career has developed across several areas of the performing arts, making her one of the recognisable figures in Nigeria’s theatre and film industry. She studied English at the University of Lagos before attending the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where she trained in drama. Her professional career subsequently took her through stage productions, television and film.
Rather than being associated with one particular period of Nollywood, Silva has remained active across different generations of Nigerian filmmaking.
Her screen credits include The Secret Laughter of Women, White Waters, Phone Swap, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Chief Daddy, Citation, Blood Sisters and Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman. She also portrayed the older Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in the 2024 biographical film Funmilayo Ransome Kuti.
Her performance in White Waters earned her the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2008, adding to the recognition she has received during her career.
Beyond acting
Silva’s work has extended beyond performing before the camera. She co-founded Lufodo Productions with Olu Jacobs and has also worked in theatre, production, and creative education. Her career has therefore included both performing and creating structures through which other people could work in the arts.
Her longevity has also allowed her to work alongside different generations of Nigerian performers, from actors who emerged during the early development of modern Nollywood to younger stars working in today’s film and television industry.
That range is reflected in the characters she has played. QED’s review of her career identified roles including Nene in The Secret Laughter of Women, Grandma in White Waters, Kike Cole in Phone Swap, Augustina in The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Lady Kay Beecroft in Chief Daddy, Angela in Citation and Madam Bola in Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman.
Her portrayal of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in the 2024 film also let her play a historical Nigerian figure, with Kehinde Bankole portraying the activist’s younger self.
A birthday marked by grief
Silva’s latest milestone arrives only 13 days after the death of Olu Jacobs, with whom she shared both a marriage and a long professional partnership. Jacobs died on September 16 at the age of 84. News of his death was followed by tributes from colleagues across Nigeria’s entertainment industry, many of whom highlighted the couple’s place within the country’s performing arts history.
RMD’s birthday message consequently placed Silva’s celebration within the context of her recent loss without taking attention away from the career she has built independently. “65 nor be beans!” RMD wrote in the tribute, before describing Silva’s dedication to her family, craft and country.
His message also reflected the length of their relationship, having worked alongside Silva for more than four decades.
A lasting presence in Nigerian entertainment
Silva’s 65th birthday comes at a point when the Nigerian entertainment industry has changed considerably from the period when she began her professional career. She has worked through the growth of Nigerian television, the rise of home-video productions, the expansion of Nollywood’s cinema industry and the emergence of streaming platforms.
Across those changes, her career has continued to include theatre and screen work, while her involvement in production and creative development has given her roles beyond acting. Her contribution has also received formal recognition. In 2014, she was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR. She has additionally received several industry honours during her career.
At 65, Silva therefore arrives at another milestone with a body of work that stretches across multiple eras of Nigerian entertainment. While RMD’s tribute acknowledged the personal circumstances surrounding this year’s birthday, the occasion has also prompted renewed attention to Silva’s professional journey, from the stage to television and film, and to the influence she has had on Nigeria’s creative industry.
For an actress whose career has lasted more than four decades, the birthday represents another chapter in a professional life that has continued to evolve alongside Nigerian entertainment.