Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Veteran Nigerian actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has celebrated fellow Nollywood veteran Joke Silva as she marks her 65th birthday on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Silva, one of Nigeria’s most respected actresses and theatre practitioners, was born on September 29, 1961, in Lagos. Her 65th birthday comes at a significant moment in her personal and professional life, following the death of her husband and fellow acting legend, Olu Jacobs, earlier this month.
RMD’s birthday tribute adds to the messages of goodwill being directed towards Silva as colleagues, admirers and members of Nigeria’s entertainment industry recognise her decades of contribution to theatre, television and film.
Joke Silva Turns 65
Joke Silva has built a career spanning several decades and multiple areas of the Nigerian creative industry.
She is known not only as an actress but also as a director, producer, businesswoman and theatre practitioner. Her career has included work across stage productions, television and Nigerian and international films.
Silva received formal training at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London and studied English and Literary Studies at the University of Lagos. Her professional career developed during a period when Nigerian theatre and television were important foundations for the country’s emerging modern entertainment industry.
Over the years, she became recognised for performances in both English-language and Yoruba productions, while also taking on responsibilities behind the camera and in theatre development.
Her career includes appearances in productions such as The Secret Laughter of Women, Amazing Grace, White Waters and 30 Days.
She has also received major industry recognition, including Africa Movie Academy Awards and the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic.
Punch reported during Silva’s 64th birthday in 2025 that she had received widespread birthday messages from fans and colleagues. The publication also noted her previous recognition, including her 2006 Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and her appointment as a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime goodwill ambassador in 2012.
RMD and Joke Silva’s Long Professional Relationship
RMD and Silva have shared a professional relationship that stretches back decades.
The two actors have appeared together in stage productions and screen projects, making their association part of the history of Nigeria’s modern entertainment industry.
In 2021, when RMD turned 60, Silva publicly reflected on their longstanding relationship, recalling several productions in which they had worked together. Her recollections included stage and film projects dating back to the 1990s.
Punch reported that Silva described RMD as a consummate actor and a close friend while celebrating his 60th birthday.
The pair are also scheduled to reunite professionally in the stage production A Husband’s Wife. The Nollywood Reporter reported earlier in September 2026 that the production would feature Silva and RMD as a married couple and would be produced jointly by RMD Productions Limited and Lufodo Productions Limited.
Their continued professional collaboration highlights the longevity of both actors in an industry that has undergone substantial changes since the early years of their careers.
A Career Beyond Acting
While Silva is widely known for her acting, her contribution to Nigerian entertainment extends beyond performances on screen.
She has worked as a director and producer and has participated in theatre development and mentorship. Her career has therefore combined performance with efforts to strengthen the wider creative sector.
Her work has also included international productions. One of her notable early international film roles came in The Secret Laughter of Women, in which she appeared alongside Colin Firth and Nia Long.
Silva subsequently continued to establish herself as one of the prominent female figures in Nigerian theatre and film.
Her national recognition came in 2014 when she was conferred with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, one of Nigeria’s national honours.
Her career has also been recognised through awards and nominations within the African film industry.
Silva’s 65th Birthday Comes After Olu Jacobs’ Death
Silva’s 65th birthday comes only weeks after the death of Olu Jacobs, her husband and longtime creative partner.
Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His death prompted tributes from actors, filmmakers, government officials and audiences across Nigeria and beyond.
RMD was among those who paid tribute to Jacobs following his death. In a tribute reported in September, the actor reflected on Jacobs’ influence on Nigerian theatre and film and expressed sympathy to Silva and the Jacobs family.
The timing of Silva’s birthday therefore places the celebration against a period of mourning for one of the most prominent figures in her personal and professional life.
Silva and Jacobs were widely recognised as one of Nigeria’s best-known creative partnerships. Their careers intersected through theatre and film, while their marriage also became closely associated with Nigeria’s performing arts community.
A New Stage in a Long Career
At 65, Silva’s career represents more than three decades of visibility across Nigeria’s entertainment landscape.
Her work has extended from stage performance to television and cinema, while her activities as a producer, director and mentor have contributed to the development of other creative professionals.
Her birthday also comes as Nigeria’s entertainment industry continues to expand across international markets.
The growth of streaming platforms, African film festivals and international distribution has created new opportunities for Nigerian productions and performers. Actors from earlier generations such as Silva and RMD remain part of the bridge between the country’s established theatre tradition and its contemporary global entertainment industry.
The upcoming A Husband’s Wife production further demonstrates that veteran performers continue to participate in new creative projects rather than being confined to their earlier work.
RMD’s Tribute Adds to Birthday Messages
RMD’s decision to celebrate Silva at 65 reflects a relationship that has developed over decades of shared work in Nigerian entertainment.
Their professional history includes acting alongside each other in theatre and film, while both have remained active figures within the Nigerian creative sector.
RMD previously celebrated Silva when she turned 60 in 2021. At the time, he described her birthday as a milestone and praised her while wishing her good health and happiness. His message was among several tributes from colleagues marking her 60th birthday.
Five years later, Silva has reached another major milestone.
Her 65th birthday provides an opportunity to reflect on a career that has encompassed acting, directing, production, theatre and mentorship.
Why Joke Silva’s Career Matters
Silva’s career illustrates the evolution of Nigeria’s entertainment industry from a largely theatre- and television-driven sector into a globally recognised film and creative economy.
Her longevity has allowed her to work across different generations of Nigerian performers and productions.
For audiences familiar with Nollywood today, her career also provides a link to an earlier generation of actors who helped establish professional standards in Nigerian theatre, television and cinema.
Her recognition through national honours, industry awards and international appointments further reflects the breadth of her contribution.
The significance of her 65th birthday therefore extends beyond a personal milestone. It is also a moment for the Nigerian creative industry to acknowledge a career that has lasted through major changes in the country’s cultural and entertainment landscape.
What Happens Next
Joke Silva’s 65th birthday comes as she prepares for another professional collaboration with RMD in A Husband’s Wife, the stage production announced earlier this month.
The production is expected to bring the two veteran actors together once again, this time portraying a married couple.
At the same time, Silva continues to be recognised as one of the established figures of Nigerian theatre and film.
Her birthday celebration follows a difficult period marked by the loss of Olu Jacobs, but it also marks another chapter in a career that has remained closely connected to Nigeria’s performing arts.
As colleagues and audiences celebrate her 65 years, Silva’s legacy continues to encompass not only the characters she has portrayed but also her wider contribution to Nigerian theatre, cinema and the development of younger creative professionals.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers — reporting on Joke Silva’s 64th birthday and career achievements.
- Punch Newspapers — report on the longstanding professional relationship between Joke Silva and RMD.
- The Nollywood Reporter — report on Silva and RMD’s upcoming stage production A Husband’s Wife.
- Pulse Nigeria — report on the Africa Magic documentary honouring late actor Olu Jacobs and featuring Joke Silva and RMD.
- Nigerian News Leader — background on Joke Silva’s 65th birthday and career.
