Tekena Sylvester Ekanem Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Death Cause, Movies & More
Tekena Sylvester Ekanem (born 4 March 2000 – died 11 July 2023, Aged: 23 years old) was a Nigerian actor who had a promising career in the entertainment industry. He was best known for his role as Tekena in the Netflix movie Blood Vessel, a thriller that explores the plight of the people of Nembe, a Niger Delta community affected by oil pollution and violence. He also appeared in other films and web series, such as Class and Class, where he played the character of Duke. He was also a popular TikToker, known as Effyze, who entertained his fans with his renditions of popular songs.
Early Life and Education
Tekena Sylvester was born on March 4th, 2000, in Lagos, Nigeria. He was the second of three children of his parents, who were both civil servants. He attended St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, for his secondary education, where he developed an interest in acting and music. He participated in several school dramas and musicals and won several awards and accolades for his performances.
He graduated from the college in 2018 and proceeded to study Theatre Arts at the University of Lagos, where he continued to hone his skills and passion for the arts. He was a member of the Theatre Arts Students Association (TASA) and the Creative Arts Students Association (CASA), where he took part in various productions and projects. He was also a member of the Lagos State University Theatre Troupe, where he performed in several stage plays and festivals.
Tekena Sylvester Ekanem Wiki/Bio
| Name | Tekena Sylvester Ekanem |
| Date of Birth | March 4th, 2000 |
| Date of Death | July 11th, 2023 |
| Age | 23 years |
| Cause of Death | Unknown |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Ethnicity | Ijaw |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | St. Gregory’s College, Lagos; University of Lagos |
| Occupation | Actor, Singer, TikToker |
| Known For | Blood Vessel, Class and Class, Coming of Age |
| Net Worth | $50,000 |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches |
| Weight | 70 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Tattoo | God’s Plan on left arm |
| Nickname | Effyze |
| Relationship Status | Rumored to be dating a fellow actor |
| Social Media Accounts | Instagram: @effyze |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Achievements
Tekena Ekanem started his professional acting career in 2020 when he landed a role in the web series Class and Class, produced by Ryameen Films. He played the role of Duke, a smart and witty student who often got into trouble with his classmates and teachers. He impressed the viewers and critics with his natural and humorous acting and gained a loyal fan base. He also featured in another web series, Coming of Age, where he played the role of a young man who faced various challenges and temptations in his quest for success and happiness.
However, his breakthrough role came in 2023, when he starred in the Netflix movie Blood Vessel, directed by Moses Inwang and produced by Charles Okpaleke of Play Network Africa. He played the role of Tekena, one of the six stowaways who escaped from a town devastated by oil pollution and violence and found themselves on a mysterious ship, unaware of the dangers that awaited them.
He delivered a captivating and emotional performance, portraying the character’s courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. He also showcased his versatility and talent by speaking fluent Ijaw and Pidgin English in the movie, which was largely made in those languages. He received rave reviews and praises from the viewers and critics and was hailed as a rising star in the Nigerian film industry.
Sylvester Ekanem was also a talented singer and songwriter, who expressed his love for music through his TikTok account, where he had over 100,000 followers. He often posted videos of himself singing and dancing to popular songs, adding his twist and flair to them. He also created original songs and covers, which he shared on his Instagram account, where he had over 50,000 followers. He collaborated with other artists and influencers, such as Uche Chika Elumelu, Preach Bassey, Oreva Uzero, and others. He was working on releasing his debut EP before his untimely death.
Parents and Siblings
Tekena Sylvester was the second of three children of his parents, who were both civil servants. He was very close to his family and often shared pictures and videos of them on his social media accounts. He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation for their support and love. He had an elder brother and a younger sister, whose names are not publicly known. He also had a nephew, whom he adored and called his son.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Religion
Tekena Ekanem was a Nigerian by nationality. He was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, where he attended his primary and secondary education. He later moved to the University of Lagos, where he studied Theatre Arts. He was of Ijaw ethnicity, which is one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, mainly inhabiting the Niger Delta region.
He was proud of his heritage and culture and showcased his fluency in the Ijaw language in the movie Blood Vessel, where he played the role of Tekena, a stowaway from Nembe, a Niger Delta community. He was also proficient in Pidgin English, which is a lingua franca in Nigeria, especially in the southern parts of the country. He was a Christian by religion, and often professed his faith and devotion to God. He prayed for his blessings and guidance and thanked him for his talent and opportunities.
Physical Stats
Tekena Sylvester was a handsome and charming young man, who had a captivating smile and a charismatic personality. He had a slim and fit body, with a height of about 5 feet 10 inches and a weight of about 70 kg.
He had black hair brown eyes, and a fair complexion. He was fond of dressing in casual and trendy outfits and often accessorized with hats, sunglasses, and jewelry. He also had a tattoo on his left arm, which read “God’s Plan”.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Tekena Ekanem was a rising star in the Nigerian entertainment industry, who had a promising and lucrative career ahead of him. He had a net worth of about $50,000, which he earned from his acting and music endeavors. He was paid for his roles in various films and web series, such as Blood Vessel, Class and Class, and Coming of Age.
He also made money from his TikTok and Instagram accounts, where he had over 100,000 and 50,000 followers respectively. He collaborated with other artists and influencers and received sponsorship and endorsement deals from various brands and companies. He was also working on releasing his debut EP before his untimely death.
Personal Life & Girlfriend
Tekena Sylvester Ekanem was a cheerful and friendly person, who loved to make people laugh and smile. He was close to his family and friends, and often shared pictures and videos of them on his social media accounts. He was also a devout Christian, who believed in God and prayed for his blessings and guidance. He was not married, but he was rumored to be in a relationship with a fellow actor, whose identity he did not reveal to the public.
Death
Tekena Sylvester died on July 11th, 2023, at the age of 23. The cause of his death was not made known to the public, but it was reported that he died in his sleep. His death came as a shock and a tragedy to his family, friends, fans, and colleagues, who mourned and paid tribute to him on various platforms. Netflix dedicated the movie Blood Vessel to him and wrote on its Instagram account: “In our hearts forever. Sylvester ‘Tekena’ Ekanem. Sail on brother.”
His name was also mentioned towards the end credit of the film as Netflix dedicated the movie “In His Loving Memory.” His co-stars and fellow actors, such as Jidekene Achufusi, Adaobi Dibor, Obinna Okenwa, Levi Chikere, Alex Cyr Budin, and René Mena, also expressed their grief and condolences and celebrated his life and legacy. His fans and followers also shared their messages of love and support and thanked him for his talent and joy.
Legacy and Impact
Tekena Ekanem was a talented and promising artist who left a mark on the world through his work. He was an inspiration and a role model to many young and aspiring actors and musicians, who looked up to him and admired him. He was also a voice and a representative of his community and culture, who used his platform and influence to raise awareness and advocate for the issues and challenges facing the people of the Niger Delta region.
He was a star who shone bright and sparkled like a diamond in the sky but was sadly dimmed before his time. He will be remembered and missed by many, and his work will live on in the hearts and minds of his fans and admirers.
Episode in Blood Vessel
Netflix has dedicated its latest original movie, Blood Vessel, to the late Nigerian actor and TikToker Sylvester Ekanem, who played the role of Tekena in the film. Ekanem died on July 11, 2023, at the age of 22, from an undisclosed cause. Netflix Naija shared his photos on Instagram with the caption: “In our hearts forever. Sylvester ‘Tekena’ Ekanem. Sail on brother.” His name was also mentioned towards the end credit of the film as Netflix dedicated the movie “In His Loving Memory.”
Blood Vessel is a drama thriller executive produced by Charles Okpaleke and directed by Moses Inwang. It tells the story of six individuals who escape a town devastated by oil pollution and become stowaways on a mysterious ship, unaware of the dangers that await. The film features an ensemble cast, including Adaobi Dibor, David Ezekiel, Jidekene Achufusi, Levi Chikere, Obinna Okenwa, Alex Cyr Budin, and René Mena. It was released on Netflix on December 8, 2023.
Tekena Sylvester Ekanem was a Nigerian actor, singer, and TikToker, who died in 2023 at the age of 23. He was best known for his role as Tekena in the Netflix movie Blood Vessel, a thriller that explores the plight of the people of Nembe, a Niger Delta community affected by oil pollution and violence. He also appeared in other films and web series, such as Class and Class, where he played the character of Duke, and Coming of Age, where he played the role of a young man who faced various challenges and temptations in his quest for success and happiness.
He was also a popular TikToker, known as Effyze, who entertained his fans with his renditions of popular songs and created original songs and covers, which he shared on his Instagram account. He was a cheerful and friendly person, who loved to make people laugh and smile. He was close to his family and friends, and often shared pictures and videos of them on his social media accounts. He was also a devout Christian, who believed in God and prayed for his blessings and guidance.
