JJC Skillz Biography: Wife, Net Worth, Age, Children, Parents, Songs, Movies, TV Shows
JJC Skillz, born Abdulrasheed Bello on April 4, 1977, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter, record producer, and television producer.
He was born in Kano State into a mixed-religion household, with a Muslim father and a Christian mother, and relocated to the United Kingdom at age 14.
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In the UK, he developed a passion for music rooted in his father’s country music and Nigerian juju records before embracing hip-hop and performing at local talent shows. His stage name, JJC, is short for “Johnny Just Come,” a Nigerian expression for newcomers navigating an unfamiliar city.
He became a prominent figure in the Afrobeat and hip-hop scenes in the early 2000s, working with notable acts such as Ginuwine, Lemar, and Big Brovaz, and is credited as one of the pioneers who helped popularize Afrobeat in the UK.
His debut album, Atide, released in December 2002, blended hip-hop, African rhythms, and salsa, with lyrics in both English and Nigerian languages. He later broke through in Nigeria with the afrobeat anthem “We Are Africans,” which earned him the Nigerian Entertainment Award for Best International Performer in 2013.
He was previously married to Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele, with whom he tied the knot in 2016 and welcomed twin boys in 2018. The couple announced their separation in June 2022, citing irreconcilable differences. Together, they co-produced Industreet, a television series focused on the Nigerian music industry.
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Abdulrasheed Bello |
| Stage Name: | JJC Skillz |
| Born: | April 4, 1977 (age 49 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Kano State, Nigeria |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Ethnicity: | Hausa |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Parents: | Mr. and Mrs. Bello |
| Spouse: | Funke Akindele (m. 2016-2022), Falilat Raji Bello (m. 2023) |
| Relationship: | Taiye Fajemisin, Mella Snoop Mommy |
| Children: | Tamira Bello, Benito Bello, Josiah Bello |
| Occupation: | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Television Producer, Film Director |
| Net Worth: | $1 million-$5 million |
Early Life & Education
JJC Skillz was born Abdulrasheed Bello on April 4, 1977, in Kano State, Nigeria. He is 49 years old.
His birth date places him under the Aries zodiac sign. He is of Hausa ethnicity and Muslim by faith, having publicly announced his return to Islam, his father’s religion, in 2023.
He was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bello and is the middle child among thirteen children. The names of his siblings are not publicly known. He relocated to the United Kingdom at age 14 following his father’s passing, settling in South London to live with his sister.
His mother was a Christian while his father was a Muslim, and growing up, his siblings were known to argue back and forth about both religions, with everyone eventually settling into their own beliefs. During his early years in Kano, he attended an Islamiyah school, where he experienced a strict environment rooted in Islamic education.
His father’s record collection was a formative influence. The elder Bello kept country music records alongside popular Nigerian juju sounds, and this musically rich home environment cultivated JJC Skillz’s early passion for performance and creativity long before he left Nigeria.
After arriving in the UK, he completed his high school education and went on to study TV and video production at university level. He settled in South London, where exposure to the diversity of British musical culture introduced him to hip-hop, shaping the artistic direction he would pursue professionally. He would go on to spend 25 years in the UK before eventually returning to Nigeria.
Career
JJC Skillz launched his professional journey in the UK in the late 1990s, producing singles for prominent British acts including Liberty X, Lemar, and Jamelia.
His most significant early breakthrough came through his work with Big Brovaz, where his production on their debut single “Nu Flow”, released in 2002, propelled the track to number three on the UK Singles Chart and contributed to the group’s multi-platinum success across Europe and Australia, with their album Nu-Flow achieving platinum certification in the UK for 300,000 units sold.
Through his work with Big Brovaz and subsequent projects, he pioneered the “Afropean” genre, a fusion of African rhythms and percussion with European hip-hop and electronic elements, which influenced the evolution of Afrobeats and cross-cultural urban music.
He co-founded the supergroup JJC & The 419 Squad, with whom he released his first album, Atide, in 2004. At the 2004 KORA Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa, he and the group took home the Best African Group trophy. As a producer, his credits during this period included “Ijoya” by Weird MC, “Pu Yanga” by Tillaman, and “Morile” by Buoqui.
Returning to Nigeria, JJC Skillz helped fuel the domestic Afrobeats surge. His production work extended to organizing major events, including the MTV 100th LIVE concert in Abuja in 2005, broadcast to 420 million households across 164 countries.
He also supported the early rise of the Mo’ Hits label, collaborating with Don Jazzy and D’Banj during their formative years. His afrobeat anthem “We Are Africans” became his signature record on the continent, earning him the Nigerian Entertainment Award for Best International Artist in 2013.
He co-created the television series Industreet alongside actress Funke Akindele, a show centred on the Nigerian music industry, and also directed episodes of Jenifa’s Diary. These projects marked the beginning of a deliberate pivot from music into film and television production.
He co-directed Omo Ghetto: The Saga in 2020, which remains one of the highest-grossing Nigerian films to date, earning ₦636.1 million at the box office. He also directed the Amazon Prime production She Must Be Obeyed.
In August 2025, JJC Skillz released Hakeem: Seeking Justice, produced by Afristar Media and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment. The film stars Deyemi Okanlawon in the lead role, alongside Chioma Chukwuka, Zubby Michael, Bolanle Ninalowo, Gabriel Afolayan, Regina Daniels, Liquorose, Ali Nuhu, Skales, and WhiteMoney. The story follows an ex-military soldier who returns home to find his family murdered and sets out to seek justice for their deaths. The film earned a strong box office performance and was widely praised as a bold new direction for Nollywood action cinema.
JJC Skillz has stated publicly that his move into filmmaking was driven by feeling “too old” for the demands of the music industry, and he continues to advocate for Nigerian cinema’s potential on the global stage.
Social Media
- Wikipedia: JJC Skillz
- Instagram: Abdul Bello (@jjcskillz)
- Facebook: Jjc Skillz (@jjcisback)
- YouTube: JJC
Personal Life
JJC Skillz is 49 years old, having been born on April 4, 1977.
JJC Skillz and Funke Akindele met while working on the production of her hit comedy-drama series Jenifa’s Diary. The two tied the knot in a private ceremony in London in 2016, making theirs one of the most talked-about unions in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
On June 30, 2022, after six years of marriage, JJC Skillz announced their separation via Instagram, stating that they had been living apart for several months due to unresolved issues and citing irreconcilable differences, including challenges in communication and compatibility.
Nine months after the split, he married Falilat Raji, a Kogi State native of Ebira descent, in a private ceremony in Kano in February 2023, making it his second officially recognized marriage.
Before his marriage to Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz had three children from previous relationships: Tamira Bello, Benito Bello, and Josiah Bello. Tamira Bello’s mother is Taiye Fajemisin, while Benito Bello’s mother is Mella Bello, also known as Snoop Mommy. The identity of the mother of his third child remains publicly unknown. He and Funke Akindele welcomed a set of twin boys in 2018.
Prior to his marriage to Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz was in relationships with at least three women: Taiye Fajemisin, Mella (also known as Snoop Mommy), and a third partner whose identity has not been made public. It is not confirmed that he married any of them, though Taiye Fajemisin has often been erroneously cited in the media as his first wife. She has since moved on and is a married woman with children of her own. No other publicly confirmed romantic relationships have been reported.
Net Worth
JJC Skillz has built his wealth across two decades of activity in music production, recording, television, and Nollywood filmmaking.
Sources vary in their estimates of his net worth, with figures ranging from $1 million to $5 million, reflecting the breadth of his career rather than any single verified disclosure. His earnings draw from his work as a rapper, songwriter, record producer, and television producer.
His income streams have included music production credits for major UK and Nigerian acts, his own recordings and albums, television production through projects such as Industreet and Jenifa’s Diary, and his growing filmmaking portfolio.
His co-direction of Omo Ghetto: The Saga significantly boosted his profile and earnings in the film industry, with the project grossing ₦636.1 million at the Nigerian box office. His 2025 theatrical release, Hakeem: Seeking Justice, produced by Afristar Media and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, further cemented his standing as a commercial filmmaker.
JJC Skillz’s net worth is estimated at $1 million-$5 million.
Discography
Albums
- Atide (2002) — with JJC & The 419 Squad
- Liberation (2002) — with JJC & The 419 Squad
- African Dream (2011)
- Skillz (2015)
Singles
- “We Are Africans” (2009) (feat. J Rock and Randy)
- “African Skank”
- “International African”
- “My Life”
- “See Us Now” (feat. Kate Henshaw)
- “Handle Ur Drink” (feat. Silverstone)
- “Motiwa” (feat. Olamide)
- “Milengbe” (feat. Dresticks)
- “Shikena” (feat. Victoria Kimani)
- “Yes/No”
- “Social Network”
- “Somebody Loves You”
- “Thank God”
- “Feeling You”
- “Eru”
- “Jaye”
- “Forget Me No”
As Producer
- “Ijoya” — Weird MC
- “Pu Yanga” — Tillaman
- “Morile” — Buoqui
- “Nu Flow” — Big Brovaz
Filmography
TV Shows
- Jenifa’s Diary (2015) — Director
- Industreet (2017) — Creator, Writer, Director
- Aiyetoro Town (2019) — Director
- My Siblings and I (2018) — Director
- Jenifa on Lockdown (2021) — Director
- She Must Be Obeyed (2023, Amazon Prime Video) — Director
- My Sunshine (2024) — Director
Movies
- Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020) — Co-Director
- Hakeem: Seeking Justice (2025) — Director, Writer, Executive Producer
As Writer/Executive Producer
- Sabuwar Amarya (2025)
- Taqdeer (2025)
What People Ask
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