Nigerian – American actor, Tireni Oyenusi is set to join previously announced actors, Lupita Nyong’o, Zackary Momoh, Uzo Aduba and Corey Hawkins as HBO Max rounds out the lead cast for Americanah, its upcoming limited series based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name.
Americanah tells the epic story of Ifemelu (Nyong’o), a young, beautiful, self-assured woman raised in Nigeria, who as a teenager falls in love with her classmate Obinze (Momoh).
Living in a military-ruled country, they each depart for the west, with Ifemelu heading for America, where, despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple for the first time with what it means to be black. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous undocumented life in London.
Tireni Oyenusi plays Dike, Aunty Uju’s (Aduba) son, who immigrated to America as an infant. An old soul who is incredibly dear to Ifemelu (Nyong’o), Dike is on a path to self-discovery, starting with the mystery shrouding the identity of his father.
Americanaah is Oyenusi’s first major TV role. He starred last year in the Film Independent shot A True Crime in the lead role of Donte. Oyenusi is repped by Progressive Artists Agency and The ESI Network.
Born in America to Nigerian parents, the 16-year-old has starred in multiple commercials, short films and theatre productions.
His love for acting started in church at the age of five and he has been trained under the likes of Diane Christiansen, New York Film Academy and AMTC (Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ).