Taiwo Ajai Lycett

Taiwo Ajai-Lycett , OON (born 3 February 1941) is a Nigerian actress, journalist, television presenter, and cosmetologist. Lycett is a feminist and was the first editor of Africa Woman magazine in the 1970s.

Biography Taiwo Ajai was born as the first of a set of twin girls on 3 February 1941 in Lagos, Western Region of Colonial Nigeria. Her father was of Awori heritage, being a member of the aristocratic Ashade royal dynasty of Ogba. She was educated at Mt. Carmel Convent School, Lagos, She also attended Hendon College of Technology, where she obtained a Higher National Diploma in Business Studies in 1969. While studying, she worked as a waitress

She moved to advertising and was in the personnel department of advertising firm, Young and Rubicam. On 3 February 2021, she celebrated her 80th birthday, when she received greetings from family and friends from distinguished locations.

Acting career Her acting debut was in December 1966 in Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel, a two-act comedy directed by William Gaskill at the Royal Court Theatre in London. In 1976, she played the lead role in Yemi Ajibade's Parcel Post at the Royal Court Theatre. Together with the actor Louis Mahoney and the writer Mike Phillips, she was a director with the Black Theatre Workshop in London.

She returned to Nigeria in 1971. She has featured in several notable Nigerian films, including Tinsel, the award-winning Nigerian soap opera. Ajai-Lycett also featured in other notable works such as the Nigerian movie Oloibiri. A 2016 action thriller film, Oloibiri was directed by Curtis Graham, produced by Rogers Ofime and starred, in addition to Ajai-Lycett, Olu Jacobs, and Richard Mofe Damijo. The film tells the story on how government agencies, along with oil companies, exploited the newly discovered oil in the historic town of Oloibiri.

Produced by: Rogers Ofime

Directed by: Curtis Graham

Journalism career In 1975, Ajai-Lycett was invited to join the staff of Africa Magazine, published by Raph Uwechue. Later, she became the pioneer editor of Africa Woman magazine, a women's magazine for Africans in the diaspora. As editor, she was a participant at the United Nations International Women's Year.

Awards and honours

On 1 October 2006, she received a national award of Officer of the Order of the Niger, decorated by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In February 2008, at an All-Star Gala held at Theatre Royal Stratford East on the 10th anniversary of Tiata Fahodzi, she was honoured as a leader of British-African theatre, alongside Dotun Adebayo and Yemi Ajibade.

She is a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA).

She was honoured with The Industry Merit Award at the 2022 Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards (AMVCA) on 14 May 2022. The awards event was held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.

Work Stage (selected) Year Show Role Notes 1966 The Lion and the Jewel Village girl debut play written by Wole Soyinka 1971 Murderous Angels Patrice Lumumba's wife Dublin Theatre Festival, 1971 1973 The Refusal OonaPlayroom Lunchtime Theatre 1973 Life Everlasting 1974 The National Health play directed by Peter Nichols 1974 The Black & White Minstrels PerformerHampstead Theatre Club 1972 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Performer Traverse Theatre plays: Buddy Caravaggio and Replique. 1976 Parcel Post Tola Folagunle 2014Hear Word!Play by Ifeoma Fafunwa

Selected filmography Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (Season 2, Episode 5 - Father's Clinic) as Sally Angels (1975) as Elaine Fitzgerald Crown Court (1976) as Adah Obi The Honourable (1992) Tinsel (TV series) Hostages (1996) Dazzling Mirage (2014) as Mrs. Fadipe Oloibiri (2016) as Ibiere Madam President (2017) as Hajiya Halima Ali King of Boys: The Return of the King (2021) as Chief Mrs. Randle Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman (2022) as Madam Taiwo Malaika (2023) The Black Book (2023) as Editor Meeting Funmi's Parents (2024) as Grandma