Chidi Mokeme

Chidi Geoff Azubuike Mokeme Jnr., (born March 17, 1972) is a Nigerian actor, producer, and director. He has enjoyed success in fashion, television, and film. Mokeme is one of the most recognizable faces , and has been consistently named one of the best dressed and most powerful actors in Nollywood. He has been nominated and won various local and International awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. In the late 80's to early 90's, Mokeme started his career as a commercial and fashion model, where he achieved modest fame before transitioning to the screen as an actor. In 2004, his popularity increased dramatically when he starred in the popular reality television series The Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS). The show ran for eleven seasons (2004-2014) on MNET African Magic cable TV and syndicated on various networks. After the series ended, Mokeme moved from television back to film, and ultimately starred in numerous blockbuster films. Mokeme is one of the most bankable stars in Nollywood, the world's second largest movie industry. Films in which he has had leading roles have accumulated great reviews and opened to record box office earnings. He was the antagonist in the period movie '76, which was the official country selection at The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF'16) and went on to earn an unprecedented 8 nominations at AMAA'16 and unprecedented 14 nominations at the AMVCA'16 both of which are Africa's biggest entertainment awards. He has recently won Best Actor In An Independent Film Award at the 2021 edition of the Hollywood & African Prestigious Awards in LA, California, for 'Pillars of Africa'. Mokeme was born in Oba, Anambra State, Nigeria, the son of Angelina (Nwokolo), a school teacher and administrator, and Geoffrey Azubuike Mokeme Snr., an insurance broker. He grew up in Surulere, Lagos and was raised Anglican. He has four siblings, sister Uche, Ebele, Anugo, and Chioma. Mokeme attended Salvation Army Primary School, a public elementary school in Lagos. Mokeme attended Federal Government College, Minna, Niger State. He was later admitted at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, where he obtained a National Diploma in Computer Science Technology before proceeding to Yaba College of Technology for HND. It was while pursuing his Higher National Diploma that he took the plunge, choosing his passion, and embraced acting fully. Mokeme's first major roles were in the Nollywood dramas of the early 90's. His film credits include: "Goodbye Tomorrow", "Igodo", "Visa To Hell", "Secret Goldmine", "My Story", "Omotara Johnson", "Abuja Connection", "Desperadoes", "Black Sheep", "Backdrop", "First Lady", "Last Kobo", "Fire Dancer", "Player", "Armageddon King", "His Majesty", "Who Will Tell The President?", "Hitch", including the Chico Ejiro directed blockbuster 'Silent Night 3' (1996), and so many more. The Movie Anini released in 2005, saw Mokeme playing the Character Monday Osunbor in the crime thriller about the notorious armed Anini and his gang. Mokeme starred in Raging Passion (2014) A story of a naive secretary is horribly betrayed by her cousin and fiance who are having a torrid affair behind her back. In her devastation she falls for her playboy boss who has been attracted to her for a long time. In Hitch (2015), Mokeme plays the lead character in this story about a man who is recently fired from his job and resorts to desperate measures to procure funds for his son's surgery. In 2016, '76, a historical drama fiction film, in which Mokeme starred as the antagonist 'Major Gomos' had its global premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The Izu Ojukwu film was the official country selection at TIFF and went on to clinch all the major awards in the country including best Film, best director, best actor, best actress and more. Mokeme starred alongside Rita Dominic and Ramsey Nouah. 2017 saw Mokeme teaming up once again with Nollywood's leading actress Rita Dominic on Mr. & Mrs. 2, a hugely successful sequel. Mokeme starred opposite Hollywood's Hakeem Kae Kazeem in the 2019 drama Pillars of Africa. The movie also starred Sola Sobowale and other A-list actors. The movie was released in 2021 and earned Mokeme a well deserved 'best actor in an independent film award' at the 2021 Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards. The movie 'Akachi' released in 2020, had Mokeme playing the lead character Gozie, in a story chronicling the travails of a promising young man as he spirals into impoverishment. Mokeme played the lead character Charlton, a broken yet charming writer seeking restitution, in the movie Entangle. Mokeme starred alongside Rita Dominic and Toyin Abraham in Kayode Kasum's drama The Therapist. The film was released in March 2021. In 2021, Mokeme struck gold again, when he starred in the lead role as Scar, leading an ensemble cast, (including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Ini Edo, Sola Sobowale etc) in Dimeji Ajibola's Shanty Town. The film promises to be a massive blockbuster, and pundits say it'll establish Mokeme as a prime box office draw. In October 2021, Chidi Mokeme added another feather to his cap, by pivoting behind the camera and taking on a new role as producer and director. 'Bamboozler', which also has Mokeme in the lead role, is his directorial debut, and scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2022. As of January 2022, Mokeme is set to star in the independent drama Half Heaven, which will be shot on location in Douala, Cameroon. Mokeme will play an antagonist who is on the run from the law for multiple murders. Mokeme had a son, from a previous relationship, Emem Daniel Kosisochukwu Mokeme, born on June 14, 1998. Mokeme married Dr. Jean Olumba in 2012. Together they have one child Noah Akachukwu Mokeme (born 2015). Chidi and his family reside in Maryland, USA. Mokeme has been consistently listed in the top 10 list of the 10 wealthiest Nigerian actors.