Early Life

Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama was Born in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Somkele is the third of four children in the family of Andrew and Onyi Iyamah, both of Ika (Agbor) heritage. Her early exposure to drama came through her teacher, Mrs. Abe, while attending Grange School in Lagos, where she participated in dance and drama performances.

She later pursued a degree in Biochemistry at McMaster University in Canada. During her university years, she volunteered for charity events and modeled during holidays in Nigeria. Her early modeling work included campaigns for Virgin Nigeria, Harp, ETB, and Visafone Communications.

Career

Somkele’s professional acting career began when her first audition earned her a lead role. She gained recognition with her performance in the acclaimed TV series Gidi Up, followed by appearances in Amazon’s The Expanse and CBC’s Coroner. She earned major acclaim for her role in 93 Days, where she portrayed one of the doctors who survived the Ebola outbreak. The role brought her multiple awards, including the ELOY Award for Best Actress, an AMVCA Trailblazer Award, and nominations from AMAA and AFRIFF.

In 2020, she starred alongside Eric Roberts in A Soldier’s Story 2: Return from the Dead. Somkele also maintains a strong presence in the fashion and corporate world. She serves as the Regional Head of Andrea Iyamah, a fashion brand founded by her sister, Dumebi Iyamah. Her endorsement portfolio includes brands like Multichoice Nigeria and Access Bank.

She is married to Captain Aaron Idhalama and is a mother to a son who survived cancer.

Click Here for More Post