Biography
Biography
Dévi Mboto (Dé-EvalSam David Mboto) is an Award Winning African-Canadian Creative, Actor, Model, and Director based between Toronto, Canada, and the United States. Widely celebrated within the West African diaspora, Mboto holds the historic distinction of being one of the youngest Nigerian runway models in history, a recognized actor and the youngest independent runway model of Efik descent.
Early Life & Artistic Foundations
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Dévi Mboto was raised in an elite academic household by parents working in the Analytic Sciences, experiencing a highly accelerated educational path from an early age. Identified from birth as a highly gifted child prodigy, his advanced intellectual development manifested in a self-directed interest in Poetry, Coding, Engineering, and psychology by age six. He initially commenced high school at the exceptionally young age of nine while attending Whitesands High School in Lagos, Nigeria. Upon relocating to Canada, he later restarted his secondary curriculum at age 14 within a specialized program for Gifted Children to seamlessly align with Canadian educational standards.Mboto discovered his passion for the performing arts early in life, launching his creative career in theatre at just nine years old in Lagos. Following his relocation to Canada, he committed to rigorous technical training to transition his natural charisma to the screen. He studied screen acting in Toronto at the prestigious L.B. Studios, training under veteran actor-director Louis Baumander (No Exit, Future Fear) and Degrassi alumna Melinda Shankar. A multi-faceted creative, Mboto is also an alumnus of the BBSD program at the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. He remains highly active as a poet and songwriter, frequently weaving these lyrical disciplines into his evolving artistic identity.
Screen Credits
As an actor, Mboto has rapidly built momentum in Cinema and television. He got his start in the independent feature Neon’s Around the Corner as Levi (2025), before landing his first lead role as the protagonist "Levi" in the teen drama-comedy Prayer Circle (2026), a role that saw him navigate a breakup, a death in the family, a friend’s descent into a cult, and a fractured friend group all at once. He went on to take on a supporting role in the drama Fearfully Made as "Micah Adebayo" (2026), and most recently brought his first dystopian role to life as Alfie, the longsword wielder & District 11 tribute, in the Hunger Games Fan Feature Film, The First Quarter Quell (2026), A performance built around Alfie’s short but comforting bond with Quinlan, one of the film’s central protagonists, and widely regarded as one of the most human portrayals among the tributes.
Directing & Development
A filmmaker from an early age, Mboto began directing and developing original screen projects at just fifteen years old, demonstrating a creative vision that extends beyond performance and into storytelling. Drawing inspiration from contemporary, diaspora narratives, and character-driven drama, he has focused on creating stories that explore identity, resilience, culture, and human conflict.
He is the creator, director, and lead creative force behind "Peregrinus", a YA science-fiction thriller. Conceived as a cross-cultural genre project, the series explores themes of displacement, identity, survival, and humanity’s relationship with the unknown. Through Peregrinus, Mboto aims to contribute to the growing landscape of globally relevant science-fiction while increasing representation of African and diaspora voices within the genre.
As both an actor and filmmaker, Mboto continues to develop original works that bridge commercial entertainment with meaningful cultural narratives, positioning himself as part of a new generation of multi-hyphenate creatives shaping the future of film and television.
Runway and Editorial Career
Mboto’s debut breakout into the global fashion circuit occurred on his 14th birthday at Toronto Fashion Week 2024, where he officially set the record as the youngest Efik runway model. During the cycle, he walked for prominent international brands including Ohh So Swag, La Coutts, and Couture-Cultures-Arts (CCA), while securing the highly coveted honors of both opening and closing the runway showcase for luxury label Gervacy.In March 2025, Mboto achieved a major editorial milestone when he was featured in a prominent promotional print campaign for Vogue Magazine’s Spring/Summer fashion cycle. The high-profile campaign was executed in collaboration with elite Toronto agency Kids Runway Inc., showcasing top-tier designer collections during Fashion Week and solidifying his cross-market viability.
Poetry
Beyond his cinematic and runway achievements, Mboto has established a distinct voice as an active poet and lyricist, utilizing his writing to explore complex socio-political landscapes and personal transformations. His early literary debut, "Arescentum Memoria" (signifying the fading of memory), laid the groundwork for his analytical approach to writing. He expanded on these themes with "Arescentes Paradesi," a poignant piece calling out the historical injustices faced by Indigenous communities at the hands of settlers, showcasing his deep empathy and commitment to social advocacy.
His work most personal to his life, "Stay Out of Time," offers a deeply reflective exploration of immigration, displacement, and the psychological impact of radical cultural change. The poem captures the vulnerability he felt and the resilience he had to develop to navigate a new society, serving as a powerful artistic reflection of his own international journey and his personal philosophy of deep reflection and perseverance.
Cultural Honours
A multi-disciplinary performer, Mboto is also a renown cultural dancer. At the 2025 AkwaCross Toronto End-of-Year Gala, he delivered a heavily celebrated live performance combining traditional dance with elite acrobatics. In recognition of his physical artistry and cultural preservation, the AkwaCross Nigerian Heritage Foundation presented him with the Pinnacle of Excellence Award, named him a "Promising Efik Figure", and officially designated him as a "Future Ambassador" for promoting Akwa Ibom, Calabar & Cross Riverian cultural arts within the global diaspora.
