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Chinedu Ikedieze

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Chinedu Ikedieze
MFR
Ikedieze at an award show
Ikedieze at the 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards
Born (1977-12-12) 12 December 1977 (age 46)
Iluoma Uzuakoli, Bende, Abia State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Other namesAki
Alma materNew York Film Academy
Institute of Management and Technology
OccupationActor
Years active2000–present
Known forAki na Ukwa
SpouseNneoma 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Awards and nominations

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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

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References

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  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.
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