Photographs line the walls of Nollywood actor, Chidi Mokeme’s house, weaving picture perfect, glossy tales of his achievements in the Nigerian film industry.
His face is very recognisable, from the playboy grin he flashes, to his ever-ready confident stance, it is quite apparent this man was born to be in front of the camera.
Chidi Mokeme stepped out of obscurity and into the limelight about 15 years ago, gaining visibility through modelling in commercial advertisements, television and radio shows.
The transition from model to actor came about while he hung around production studios, getting chummy with actors and directors, and occasionally featuring as an extra or add-on in small films here and there.
These humble beginnings paid off, as he was able to network his way into bigger films, flexing his acting muscle and carving a niche role for himself within the movie industry as the ‘bad guy’.
“I have to say I love playing the bad boy role, because he gets to have all the fun,” Chidi says. “He drives all the good cars, gets the women, while the good guy is busy frustrated and running around. So yes I prefer to play the bad guy. But I play all kind of roles.”
He has learned the tricks of the trade and thoroughly enjoys the adventures that come with shooting a movie on location in Nigeria. “Given the working conditions, the things we have to go through when we’re shooting out there on location in some remote area, we do a lot.
“At the stage where I am at now, the accomplishments are yet to come because now there’s a conscious effort to be useful, to be responsible and to have meaning in society. I believe the accomplishments will pour in now because I have a focus and I know what I am doing this for.”
Nollywood movies are so far reaching and have become such a cultural phenomenon, that they transcend class barriers and impact the masses from the very affluent in society right down to street hawkers and local tradesmen.
It is the third largest movie market after Hollywood and Bollywood and has garnered much international acclaim for telling the painfully honest stories about the complexities of Nigerian life.
Originally from Anambra State, Chidi grew up in the heart of Surulere, in a loving family with four other siblings. “I had a pretty normal upbringing, nothing extravagant, just responsible parents trying to make sure their kids get what they need.”
He has received no professional training for acting. In his case, experience seems to have been the best teacher. Over the years he has starred in many Nollywood hits, and enjoys working with Izu Ojukwu and Ami Amenechi, directors of the hit thriller armed robbery feature he starred in, Desperados.
Chidi Mokeme has a background in Information Technology. He was educated at the Institute of Management and Technology in Enugu and graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the Yaba College of Technology in the early 80s. Since the acting bug bit, he has put away the books for good, trading them for scripts and following his passion. Chidi has over 75 movies under his belt. Some include: Critical Condition, Minority Tension, Who Will Tell the President, Boiling Point, Blood Battle, Crazy Passion, Pretty Angels, Test of Manhood, Goodbye New York, Promise Me Forever, To Love Forever, Agony of a Mother and Prisoner of Love. (Nigeriafilms adapted)
