Chinedu Ikedieze

Chinedu Ikedieze MFR
Ikedieze at the 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards
Born	(1977-12-12) 12 December 1977 (age 47) Iluoma Uzuakoli, Bende, Abia State, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Other names	Aki
Alma mater	New York Film Academy Institute of Management and Technology
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2000–present
Known for	Aki na Ukwa
Spouse	Nneoma Ikedieze (m. 2011)

Chinedu Ikedieze// ^ⓘ, MFR[1][2] (born 12 December 1977) is a Nigerian actor,[3][4] entrepreneur and investor. He is best known for playing alongside Osita Iheme in the 2002 film Aki na Ukwa.[5] He has featured in over 150 films in a career spanning over 22 years. He has acted in the role of a kid in most of his films during his early career due to his stature and physical appearance. He is known as Aki for his performance in the film Aki na Ukwa. In 2011, he married fashion designer Nneoma Nwaijah and the couple had their first child in 2012.[6] They have 2 daughters and a son.[7]

Education

Chinedu completed his primary and secondary education in Aba, Abia State. After completing his secondary education he earned a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Theatre Arts and a degree in Mass Communication from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu (IMT).[8][9] After completing his studies at IMT, he initially wanted to become a lawyer but pursued a career in film acting in 1998 and initially featured in lesser roles.[10] He first acted in a minor role in the 1998 film Evil Men. He enrolled in the prestigious New York Film Academy in 2004.[11]

Collaboration with Osita Iheme

Aki and Paw Paw

He entered the Nollywood industry in 2000 and rose to recognition in a Nigerian film he acted in 2000, Aki na Ukwa, where he played the breakthrough role of Aki alongside another little person actor Osita Iheme.[12] This created a bond between both of them. The duo were popularly identified as "Aki and Paw Paw" since the release of the film in 2002 and ever since they have both featured together in several films taking the lead roles in those movies. Both Chinedu and Osita have been maintaining onscreen and offscreen chemistry which is widely praised by the Nollywood fraternity.[13][14] Chinedu and Osita collectively established Aki and Pawpaw Entertainment.[15] They also own the Aki n Paw Child Care Foundation.[16]

Honours

In 2007, Ikedieze received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.[17] He was also honored with the Order of the Federal Republic which was given by the then Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for his contributions to Nollywood and to the economic growth of the country.[18]

In 2018, he was honored in Miami, Florida in the United States of America as a distinguished visitor to the city of Miami, Florida.[19] In appreciation he said “From the bottom of my heart I say thank you to Miami-Dade, country office of the Mayor and the county commissioners for honoring me as a distinguished visitor to the city of Miami, Florida. You have just given me a key to more success in life. He therefore encouraged all to believe if themselves if the world believes in them.[20]

Legacy

His performance alongside fellow little person actor Osita Iheme in the 2002 film Aki na Ukwa is still widely spoken of and the duo especially Osita's character has been trending through memes since 2019 in Twitter and other social media platforms globally. Osita is listed as one of the richest actors in Nigeria.[21][22][23][24] Chinedu praises Kasvid the late film producer for investing in him and Osita.[25]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
2002	Aki na ukwa	Aki	with Osita Iheme
	Spanner: The Humble Servant	Spanner	with Nkem Owoh
	Okwu na uka		with Osita Iheme & Patience Ozokwor
	Aka Gum	Chisom	with Osita Iheme
2003	The Tom and Jerry	Tom	with Osita Iheme
	The Catechist		with John Okafor
	Show Bobo: The American Boys	Kizzito	with Osita Iheme
	School Dropouts	Ikenna	with Osita Iheme
	Pipiro		with Osita Iheme
	Onunaeyi: Seeds of Bondage		with Pete Edochie, Osita Iheme, Patience Ozokwor & Clem Ohameze
	Lagos Boys		with Osita Iheme
	Family Crisis
	Charge & Bail	Uzodinma	with Osita Iheme
	Back from America		with Rita Dominic
	I'm in Love	Gabriel	with Osita Iheme
	Local Champion		with Osita Iheme
	Akpu-Nku
	2 Rats		with Osita Iheme, Patience Ozokwor and Amaechi Muonagor
	Nwa Teacher	Jaja	with Osita Iheme
2004	Across the Niger		with Pete Edochie, Kanayo O. Kanayo & Ramsey Nouah
	Big Daddies		with Osita Iheme
	Igbo Made	Doctor Micah
	Not by Height		with Osita Iheme
	Spanner Goes to Jail	Spanner	with Nkem Owoh
	Spanner in Battle of Supremacy	Spanner	with Nkem Owoh
	Sunday School Children		with Osita Iheme
2005	Village Boys		with Osita Iheme
	Spoiler	Peter	with Osita Iheme
	Secret Adventure		with Osita Iheme
	Reggae Boys		with Osita Iheme
	One Good Turn		with Osita Iheme
	I Think Twice	Ike	with Osita Iheme
	Final World Cup		with Osita Iheme
	Colours of Emotion	Ebony	with Osita Iheme
2006	African Tallest Men		with Osita Iheme
	Young Masters		with Osita Iheme
	Winning Your Love		with Osita Iheme & Patience Ozokwor
	'U' General		with Osita Iheme & Patience Ozokwor
	Sweet Money		with Osita Iheme
	Royal Messengers		with Osita Iheme
	Magic Cap	Aba	with Osita Iheme
	Last Challenge		with Kanayo O. Kanayo & Osita Iheme
	Kadura		with Osita Iheme
	Jadon	Jack	with Osita Iheme
	Games Men Play		with Chioma Chukwuka, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Ini Edo, Mike Ezuruonye & Jim Iyke
	Criminal Law	Hippo	with Osita Iheme
	Brain Masters	Chima	with Osita Iheme
	Brain Box		with Osita Iheme, Kanayo O. Kanayo & Sam Loco Efe
	Boys from Holland	Lincoln	with Osita Iheme
	Blessed Son		with Osita Iheme
	Cat & Rat	Ogbu	with Osita Iheme
2007	Thunder Storm		with Osita Iheme
	Stubborn Flies	Angel	with Osita Iheme
	Spirit of a Prophet		with Osita Iheme & Clem Ohameze
	Powerful Civilian	Richie	with Osita Iheme & Victor Osuagwu
	Power as of Old	Katanga	with Osita Iheme & Clem Ohameze
	Escape to Destiny		with Osita Iheme
	Cain & Abel		with Osita Iheme
	Village Destroyers	Azu	with Osita Iheme and Kenneth Okonkwo
2008	Daddy Must Obey	Aki	with Osita Iheme
	Intelligent Students	Pererer	with Osita Iheme and Sam Loco Efe
	Markus D Millionaire		with Osita Iheme
2009	Onye Obioma		with Osita Iheme
2010	Loyal Enemies	Shedrack	with Osita Iheme and Van Vicker
2011	Ben Ten		with Osita Iheme
	Love for the Kids		followed by Another Love; with Osita Iheme
	Another Love		sequel to Love for the Kids; with Osita Iheme
	Yellow Sisi		with Osita Iheme
2012	Village Rascals	Aki	with Osita Iheme
2013	The Fighter		with Osita Iheme and Funke Akindele
	Terrible Twos		with Osita Iheme
2015	Two Sons of Ali		with Osita Iheme
2015	The First Lady	Small Kenechi	With Omoni Oboli, Alexx Ekubo, Joseph Benjamin
2016	The Twin Sisters		with Osita Iheme
2018	Too Much Money		with Osita Iheme
2018	Lara and the Beat	Big Chi	With Ademola Adedoyin, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Kemi Lala Akindoju
2020	Dear Affy	Street Child	With Toyin Abraham, Seilat Adebowale, Bimbo Ademoye
2021	Aki and Pawpaw	Aki	with Osita Iheme
unknown	House Boys for Sale[26]		with Patience Ozokwor and Osita Iheme
2021	The Ghost and the Tout Too	Chief Aki	With Ayomide Abayode, Anthony Abraham, Alexander Abolore
2022	Palava!	Big T	With Mercy Aigbe, Bisola Aiyeola, Neo Akpofure
2023	Love Me for Me	Raymond	with Amaechi Anaekwe, Grace Anga

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Film	Result	Ref
2023	Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards	Best Actor In A Comedy Drama, Movie Or TV Series	Aki & PawPaw	Nominated	[27][28]

Television

• The Johnsons as Efetobore Johnson, produced by Rogers Ofime

References

1. Njoku, Ben (23 July 2010). "Stakeholders hail Aki's MFR award, plead for Paw-paw". The Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria: Vanguard Media. Retrieved 7 September 2010.^[permanent dead link‍]
2. "Aki Without Pawpaw". AllAfrica.com. AllAfrica Global Media. 6 August 2010. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
3. "Chinedu Ikedieze, Biography". mobile.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
4. "I love basketball but my height won't let me play — Chinedu Ikedieze". Punch Newspapers. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
5. Katende, Jude (27 January 2008). "Nigeria's funny little men come to Kampala". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda: New Vision Printing & Publishing Company Limited. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
6. "Chinedu Ikedieze is a year older". Pulse Nigeria. 12 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
7. Osadebe, Precious (16 July 2024). "You've blessed me with 3 kids - chinedu Ikedieze to wife on birthday". Vanguard.
8. Bankole, Evelyn (14 December 2020). "Chinedu Ikedieze biography: His age, spouse, career, net worth". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
9. "Chinedu Ikedieze". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
10. "'God, thank you for a perfect creation' - Chinedu Ikedieze celebrates 42nd birthday". TheCable Lifestyle. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
11. "Chinedu Ikedieze". Africa Magic - Chinedu Ikedieze. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
12. Augoye, Jayne (11 August 2018). "Nigeria: How My Height Made Me a Superstar - Chinedu Ikedieze, Aka Aki". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2024 – via allAfrica.
13. "Chinedu Ikedieze writes to Osita Iheme as he turns 38". OYO Gist. 21 February 2020. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
14. "Read why actor and Chinedu Ikedieze are friendship goals!". Pulse. 3 October 2018. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
15. Njoku, Benjamin (18 August 2019). "The making of Aki and Pawpaw". Vanguard.
16. Njoku, Benjamin (18 August 2019). "The making of Aki and Pawpaw". Vanguard.
17. Coker, Onikepo (4 May 2007). "Africa Celebrates Film Industry at AMAA 2007". Mshale Newspaper. Minneapolis, USA: Mshale Communications. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
18. "Chinedu Ikedieze: Building Legacy Projects, Touching Lives - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
19. "Nollywood actor Aki honored in Miami, Florida". Vanguard Newspaper. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
20. "Nollywood actor Aki honored in Miami, Florida". Vanguard News. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
21. Mbamalu, Socrates (10 July 2019). "Is Osita Iheme's meme used by Fenty Beauty and 50 Cent a win for Nollywood?". This is Africa. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
22. "Why dis Osita Iheme meme dey burst pipo brain?". BBC News Pidgin. 2 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
23. Adikwu, Marris (14 August 2019). "The Nigerian Film Stars Behind Some of Twitter's Greatest Memes". Vulture. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
24. "Who is the Richest Actor in Nigeria – (TOP 15 ACTORS AND NET WORTH)". Grabalets. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
25. Njoku, Benjamin (18 August 2019). "The making of Aki and Pawpaw". Vanguard.
26. "House Boys for Sale". WorldCat. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
27. "Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees". AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees. Retrieved 23 April 2023.^[permanent dead link‍]
28. "Tobi Bakre clinches Best Actor at AMVCA 2023 for 'Brotherhood'". Vanguard. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.

External links

• Chinedu Ikedieze at IMDb