Okawa Shaznay
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Okawa Shaznay | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | Texas Southern University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2014 - present |
| Awards | Exquisite lady of the year award, 2016 |
Okawa Shaznay is a Nollywood actress from Cameroon and the first from her country to successfully break into Nollywood with her role in the blockbuster movie Iyore; starring alongside Rita Dominic and Joseph Benjamin.[1] Okawa Shaznay has also gained more prominence with her leading role in the 2016 hit TV series Delilah: The Mysterious Case of Delilah Ambrose.[2] She won the Exquisite Lady of the Year (ELOY) award for TV Actress of the year in 2016 for her role in Delilah.[3][4][5]
Okawa Shaznay was born in Cameroon. She began her secondary school education in Presbyterian Secondary School Mankon, Bamenda, Cameroon. Shaznay later moved to the United States, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting from Texas Southern University.
Career
Some of her notable work includes the 2016 film Refugees, in which she starred alongside Yvonne Nelson and Belinda Effah.[6] In 2019, she starred in In My Country directed by Frank Rajah Arase with Sam Dede and Bimbo Manuel. The film received international distribution on Netflix,[7] and she was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2018 Africa Movie Academy Awards for her performance.[8] She also starred in the 2021 Zuri 24 Media production Movement Japa alongside Gideon Okeke and Sambasa Nzeribe, which aired on Showmax and Africa Magic.[9] In 2025, she starred as the title character in the fantasy film Tarella, directed by Kayode Kasum and Lolo Eremie, alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo, Timini Egbuson, and Elvina Ibru. The film was released in Nigerian cinemas in February 2025.[10]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Cheaters 1& 2 | Clara | with Jackie Appiah & Adjetey Anang |
| 2014 | Sisters At War 1 & 2 | Ayah Ampah | with Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson, & Koffi Ajorlolo. |
| Cheaters Vacation | Tracy | with Yvonne Nelson, Eddie Watson | |
| The Prince of Barmah | Rita Nash | with Jackie Appiah, Koffi Ajorlolo & Kalsum Sinare. | |
| 2015 | Scars | Gaya Lawson | with Mike Ezuruonye, Clarion Chukwurah,& Lilian Esoro. |
| Iyore | Amenze/Onaiwu Esosa/Princess Ajoke/ | with Rita Dominic, Joseph Benjamin, Yemi Blaq, Paul Obazele, Bukky Wright.[11] on Netflix. | |
| 2016 | Refugees | Nahlela | with Belinda Effah, Yvonne Nelson. |
| Delilah: The Mysterious Case of Delilah Ambrose (TV series)-Season 1 & 2. | Delilah Ambrose | with Clarion Chukwurah, Michael Okon, Paul Obazele. | |
| 2017 | Crossed Path | Melody | with Ken Erics, Frank Artus & Emem Inwang on Irokotv. |
| Perfect Strangers | Anastasia Lawson | with Desmond Elliott, Segun Arinze, & Barbara Soky on Irokotv. | |
| Soul Tie | Grace | with Ramsey Nouah on Irokotv. | |
| Wounded | Wendy | with Desmond Elliott, Ini Edo, & Tony Umez, Padita Agu for Africa Magic Productions & on Showmax. | |
| Snatched | Grace | with Michael Godson & Linda Osifo for Africa Magic Productions & on Showmax. | |
| Behind the Face | Amanda | with Tony Umez & Michael Okon. | |
| Delilah: The Mysterious Case of Delilah Ambrose (TV series)-Season 3. | Delilah Ambrose | with Tony Umez, Segun Arinze, Michael Okon. | |
| 2018 | The Gamble | Vanessa Williams | with Eucharia Anunobi, Tony Umez & Chamberlain Okoro on Irokotv. |
| 2018 | Save My Heart | Ivory | with Seun Akindele for Africa Magic Productions. |
| 2019 | Unbroken Cord | with Ken Erics. | |
| Love & Lies | with Eddie Watson & Khing Bassey for Africa Magic Productions. | ||
| Customer Service | Stacy | with Etinosa & Khing Bassey for Africa Magic Productions. | |
| My Chances | Jemima | with Frederick Leonard & Zack Orji for Africa Magic Productions & on Showmax. | |
| In My Country | Adesua Odihi | with Sam Dede, Bimbo Manuel & Shan George on Netflix. | |
| 2020 | Lekki On Arrival | Vera | with IK Ogbonna on Ibakatv. |
| Concession | Sandra | with Uzor Arukwe & Lucy Ameh on Nevada bridge Tv. | |
| Grow Up or Nuts (Web series). | Kiki | with Efe Irele & Sophie Alakija on Youtube. | |
| 2021 | Almost Had You | Ireti | with Bolanle Ninalowo on IbakaTv |
| Movement-Japa | |||
| 2022 | Chance | Pamela | with Uche Ben, Mofe Duncan, Nazo Ekezie |
| 2023 | Mend My Heart | Rukky | with Lydia Achebe, Gift Godwin, Scarlet Gomez |
| 2024 | Veronica's Ordeal | with Roxy Antak, Paschaline Alex, Queen Akuma | |