Idowu Philips (born 16 October 1942), popularly known as Iya Rainbow, is a Nigerian veteran actress.
Early life and career
Idowu Philips was born on 16 October 1942 at
Ijebu Ode
Ijebu-Ode is a town in Ogun State, South Western geopolitical zone in Nigeria, close to the A121 highway. The city is located 110 km by road north-east of Lagos; it is within of the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern part of Ogun State and p ...
, a city in
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ogun State borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo State and Osun State to the north, Ondo State to the east, and the Republic of Benin to the ...
, southwestern Nigeria.
She attended African Methodist School and Anglican Modern School for her primary and secondary education. Her stage name "Iya Rainbow" stems from "Osumare" (meaning "rainbow" in British English), the name of the theatre group of Sir
Hubert Ogunde
Chief Hubert Adedeji Ogunde, D.Lit. (10 July 1916 – 4 April 1990) was a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician who founded the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria, the African Music Research Part ...
, who died in 1990.
Idowu Philips worked as a healthcare assistant in general hospitals in Nigeria for several years and occasionally acted in theatre. Idowu ventured into full-time acting after the death of her husband - Augustine Ayanfemi Phillips (who worked closely with the late patriarch of Nigerian Film Industry Sir Herbert Ogunde.
[
She has featured in several ]Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
n films, including ''Apaadi'', ''Eru'', and ''Aje ni iya mi'' among others). Idowu has five children.Airtel
Bharti Airtel Limited, commonly known as (d/b/a) Airtel, is an Indian multinational telecommunications services company based in New Delhi. It operates in 18 countries across South Asia and Africa, as well as the Channel Islands. Currently, ...
,a telecommunication company. Idowu Philip is also an ambassador for Yotomi Golden Estate, a low cost housing estate project, initiated by the late movie mogul Alade Aromire.
Filmography
* 1990 Yemi my Love
* 1997- ''Back to Africa''
* 2000- ''Lagidigba''
* 2002- ''Jesu Mushin''
* 2002- ''Irepodun''
* 2002- ''Eyin Ogongo''
* 2003- ''N150 Million''
* 2003- ''Ìfé òtító''
* 2003- ''Fila Daddy''
* 2003- ''Arewa okunrin''
* 2003- ''Omo oku òrun''
* 2003- ''Okun ife''
* 2004- ''Okun ife 2''
* 2004- ''Okan soso''
* 2004- ''Okan soso 2''
* 2004- ''Ògìdán''
* 2004- ''Ògìdán 2''
* 2006- ''Abeni''
* 2006- ''Odun baku''
* 2006- ''Mewa n sele''
* 2006- ''Èebúdolá tèmi''
* 2006- ''Agbefo''
* 2006- ''Agbefo 2''
* 2007- ''Orita Ipinya''
* 2007- ''Olugbare''
* 2007- ''Olóri''
* 2007- ''Maku''
* 2007- ''Kootu olohun''
* 2007- ''Kilebi olorun''
* 2008- ''Taiwo Taiwo''
* 2008- ''Taiwo Taiwo 2''
* 2008- ''Itakun ola''
* 2008- ''Ìkúnlè kèsán''
* 2008- ''Ikilo agba''
* 2008- ''Igba ewa''
* 2008- ''Aje metta''
* 2008- ''Aje metta 2''
* 2009- ''Ìpèsè''
* 2009- ''Ìdàmu eléwòn''
* 2009- ''Elewon''
* 2009- ''Akoto olokada''
* 2009- ''Akoto olokada 2''
* 2018- '' Oga Bolaji''
* 2019- '' Sugar Rush''
* 2021- Becoming Abi
Becoming Abi is a 2021 Nigerian sitcom series created by Bolu Essien and inspired by the true life events of Bolu Essien in the Nigerian advertising industry. The six-part drama sitcom series was released to Netflix on 28 October 2022 and it stars ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Philips, Idowu
Living people
1942 births
Nigerian film actresses
Nigerian nurses
Yoruba actresses
Yoruba women nurses
People from Ijebu Ode
20th-century Nigerian actresses
21st-century Nigerian actresses
Actresses in Yoruba cinema
Actresses from Ogun State
Nigerian Christians
Ogunde family
Nigerian healthcare managers