Meet The Faculty 4: Joke Silva

Joke has had a successful career as an actress on stage, film, television and radio primarily in Nigeria with stints in England (BBC, British Film Institute, Royal Court Theatre Sloan sq) and the South of France. An actor of International repute, she was in Canada in 2008 where she participated in the African Theatre Ensemble (ATE) Black History month production “Have you seen Zandile” written by Gcina Mhlophe. “The discovery for Canadian audiences, though, is well-known Nigerian film actor Joke Silva, who plays three roles, including mother and grandmother. Investing each role with finely etched physical and emotional detail, she’s almost unrecognizable from one to the next. The show is worth seeing for Silva’s work alone” John Kaplan of Now Magazine Toronto. Joke has written and directed to critical acclaim: Digging for Gold, Jonah, The Drummer Boy and Footprints. She is an alumnus of Holy Child College, Obalende, Weber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, University of Lagos Akoka and Fate Foundation, Ijora. A member of the National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), Conference of Motion Pictures Practitioners (CMPP), and Film Makers Cooperatives, Association of Licensed Distributors and Actors Guild of Nigeria. 


She is a recipient of several awards, including the EMOTAN Award by AIT and the SOLIDRA Award, the Best Actress in 2006 at the AMMA Awards, Best Actress in Supporting Role AMMA in 2008. Joke is the managing director of LUFODO GROUP which consists of: Lufodo productions: produces drama content for video, TV, celluloid, radio, stage, mobile phones, web video, etc, Lufodo consult: using acting skills to enhance corporate skills, L.A.P.A: Lufodo academy of performing arts and Lufodo Distribution: distributors of media and entertainment content. A household name in Nigeria, Joke was one of those chosen to represent the entertainment industry and meet Queen Elizabeth II at the ambassador’s residence in Abuja when she came in 2003.Joke also did a stint as a member of the think tank for the Blair commission. She’s a grief counselor for AART of Life Foundation and also a board member of Ray of Hope Foundation. She was the President, panel of judges KORA Awards 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She’s also a member of the governing council and a fellow of the Institute of Humanitarian Services and Social Development. In January, 2006 she was nominated by the Minister of Information as one of the members to serve on the film village committee a committee which formulates policy on how to practically set up film villages in different parts of the country. Her acting credits include: “Secret Laughter of Women” with Nia Long and Colin Firth (’97 Film), Mirror in the Sun (’84 TV) Second Chance (’84 TV) Jero’s Metamorphosis (’81 Stage) Owuro Lojo (’93 Video), Mind Bending (’92 TV), Sisters (2002 Stage), The King Must Dance Naked (’93 Stage), Tight Rope (2000 – 2002 TV), Violated (video) Twins of the Rainforest (’98 Film), The Kingmaker (2002 Video), A Husband’s Wife (2003 Stage), Brave Heart (2003 Film), Shylock (2004 Stage) A Past Came Calling (2004 Stage), The Vagina Monologues 2006 & 2007, White Waters (2007 video), DG the patriots (T.V series 2007- ) “Have you seen Zandile” (Canada 2008) Mummy J (Principal MTN Project Fame 2008) Iku Ewa (Ibadan 2009) Centre Stage (Abuja 2009).