Nollywood veteran Joke Silva is celebrating her 65th birthday today, September 29, 2026, having been born in Lagos on this day in 1961. Affectionately called Aunty Joke across the industry, Silva began her acting career on stage before moving into film in the early 1990s, going on to build one of the most respected bodies of work in Nigerian cinema over more than three decades.
Beyond acting, Silva has spent years training the next generation of performers through the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, which she co-founded with her husband, veteran actor Olu Jacobs. She has also been recognised nationally for her contribution to the arts, having been honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2014.
As tributes come in from colleagues and fans across the industry today, Silva remains one of the most respected names in Nollywood, both for her decades on screen and for the work she has put into building up the industry’s newer talent.
