Motunrayo Omoniyi

Biography

Motunrayo Omoniyi (often credited as Morayo Akandé) is a British-Nigerian filmmaker, screenwriter, and actress. She gained international recognition for shedding light on the forgotten history of slavery in Scotland through her writing. In 2026, her work continues to resonate as historical dramas gain traction. She is best known as the writer and star of the award-winning film "1745", which she developed alongside her sister, actress Moyo Akandé. The film tells the harrowing story of two sisters escaping slavery in the Scottish Highlands during the Jacobite rising. Omoniyi's script was praised for its "visceral and necessary" perspective on Black British history, challenging the narrative that slavery was solely an overseas colonial issue. Recent reports from late 2025 indicate she has been active on the lecture and screening circuit (including events at the Omohundro Institute), discussing the educational impact of her work. She is currently developing the feature-length adaptation of 1745, which has attracted significant industry attention following the success of other historical epics in the mid-2020s. As a performer, she trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has appeared in various stage and screen productions, balancing her time between acting and crafting scripts that center marginalized voices.