Early Life

Abiola Ayomide Adebayo, known professionally as Biola Adebayo or Biola Bayo, was born on 23 December 1981 in Mushin, Lagos State, Nigeria, into a polygamous family, with her father having seven children and her mother four. Growing up was difficult following her parents’ divorce, and she began selling food products and hawking goods on the streets of Lagos from as young as five years old to help make ends meet. She went on to earn a degree in History and International Relations from Lagos State University, later pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Lagos.

Career

Biola Adebayo began her acting career in 2002, attending auditions at the National Theatre and other venues around Lagos. Her first screen role came in 2003 through Wale Adenuga’s ‘Super Story’ production, ‘For The Love of You,’ before she went on to feature in her first Yoruba-language film, ‘Ojabo Kofo,’ the same year. She gained wider prominence in Yoruba cinema through her role in ‘Eyin Oka,’ a performance that earned her the enduring nickname “Biola Eyin-Oka.”

Over more than two decades, she has built a filmography including ‘Jade’s Cross,’ ‘Tori Owo,’ ‘Wetin Women Want,’ ‘Rugudu,’ ‘Jankariwo,’ ‘Atila,’ ‘Bayeseri,’ ‘Unseen Trap,’ ‘Ran Mi Lowo’ and ‘Oko Rere.’ In 2021, she won Face of Nollywood at the City People Awards, along with Best Supporting Actress at the DIYMA Awards. She co-hosted the second edition of the Blingz Awards in Ibadan alongside Woli Agba, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, joined fellow entertainers Eniola Badmus and Banky W in public health awareness campaigns. She also created and hosts her own podcast, ‘Talk with B.’

Personal Life

Biola Adebayo’s mother, Mrs Mojisola Nurat Adebayo, passed away on 11 February 2025 at the age of 68. The actress broke down publicly at her mother’s burial, and in February 2026, marked the one-year anniversary of the loss with an emotional post reflecting on her grief and the pressures of being both an orphan and a single mother, asking fans for patience and understanding regarding her limitations.

With a career spanning more than two decades and a personal story shaped by resilience, Biola Adebayo remains one of Yoruba Nollywood’s most recognisable and relatable figures.