Born in Nigeria, Akin Omotoso moved with his family to South Africa in 1992 after his father, Professor Bankole Omotoso, accepted a lectureship at the University of the Western Cape. Akin Omotoso has been working in the South African film and television industry since the mid-1990s acting in the SABC3 soapie Isidingo and in the e-TV stitcom Big Okes. He has also featured in international films (Lord of War and Blood Diamond); produces TV shows (Jozi and Sorted); written and directed TV series such as A Place Called Home (for which he won Best Director at the South African Film and Television awards) as well as movies including his first directorial project, God Is African (2003) and the drama about xenophobia, Man on Ground, (2011). His latest movie Tell Me Sweet Something, is a romantic comedy set in Johannesburg. 

Akin Omotoso studied Drama at UCT where he won the Fluer du Cap for most promising student. He obtained  a Performer's Diploma in Speech and Drama from UCT in 1996 and was a Dean's Merit List. In addition, he won the Standard Bank Young Artist award in 2007.