Woman Crush Wednesday: Esther Idowu Philips, Mama Rainbow , (Iya Rainbow at 77)

Our today episode on Woman Crush Wednesday team ALGIST has bring to you an icon from the Yoruba Nollywood industry in person of Dr. Mrs Esther Idowu Philips popularly known as Iya Rainbow / Mama Rainbow as she turn a new year. Join us as we celebrate Mama (Iya) Rainbow at 77

Biography Of  Mama (Iya) Rainbow

Nigerian Yoruba actress Esther Idowu Philips, popularly referred to as Mama Rainbow or Iya Rainbow by her teeming Yoruba movie fans, is a movie director and producer. She is a native of Ijebu Ode in Ogun state.

Iya Rainbow had her primary and secondary education in Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, South Western region of Nigeria and thereafter got admitted into the nursing school, she worked as a certified nurse for over 20years before she ventured into the movie career.

Idowu Philips date of birth record shows that the prolific Yoruba actress was born on 16th October 1942.

        Yoruba actress mama rainbow’s movie career

Mama rainbow had developed strong passion for acting while she was working as a nurse; her late Husband formed the Osumare theater group, from where Iya rainbow started as a stage actress. She often finds time to movie locations to shoot movies while she worked as a nurse, and in 1986, she retired from Nursing at the age of 45 and joined his late husband theater group fully on the advice of the late Yoruba movie icon- Hubert Ogunde. Since 1986 when she started acting, Yoruba actress Idowu Philips has become the Pillar of Yoruba movies.

Iya rainbow first appeared in a set of movies titles “Eru”, and “Aje ni iya mi”, but it was the movie – “Asiri Nla” that brought Iya rainbow into limelight and she has featured in well over 500 movies in her movie career.

      Mama Rainbow / Iya Rainbow Movies

Some of the most popular Yoruba movies featuring Yoruba actress mama

rainbow are;

•    Aso funfun
•    Aje Meta
•    Apadi
•    Si gbogbo Obinrin
•    Oba Adegboro
•    Eni akoko
•    Iyawo onise
•    Asiri Ola
•    Omo iya alakara
•    Egun
•    T’Oluwa lase
•    Ayo ojokan
•    Ase Ntedumare

Mama rainbow is blessed with 5 children, one of her children Femi has also ventured into the movie trade and he already has some popular movie flicks to his credit.
Team ALGIST celebrate Mama Rainbow at 77