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If you watched To Kill a Monkey and found yourself stunned by Chidi Mokeme’s performance as Teacher, asking, “Wait — who is this man?” then buckle up. That was just a taste. Watch him in Shanty Town, Tokunbo, and Merry Men 3, and you’ll understand why many of us are shouting his name with our chest. This man didn’t just return to Nollywood — he came back like thunder. A different kind of presence. A man possessed by the spirit of acting itself.
The truth is, aside from legends like Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Chidi Mokeme isn’t getting enough credit for what he’s doing in this new Nollywood era. Many remember him as one of the smooth, charming faces from Nollywood’s golden age — the late ’90s to early 2000s — back when home videos ruled and actors weren’t just entertainers, they were cultural phenomena. That era was pure magic: Genevieve Nnaji crying with real tears, Ramsey Nouah serving heartbreak for breakfast, Jim Iyke being permanently angry at the world. And right in the middle of that firestorm was Chidi Mokeme — cool, confident, and endlessly magnetic.
But Mokeme’s stardom wasn’t just built on movie sets. His mainstream breakthrough was supercharged when he became the host of Gulder Ultimate Search, one of Nigeria’s most iconic and enduring reality shows. He didn’t just present — he commanded. That voice. That presence. That calm, calculating masculinity. He wasn’t just a host; he was the show’s heartbeat.
The Lover Boy Era
For many of us who grew up in the early 2000s, Chidi Mokeme was the prototype Yoruba demon before the phrase even existed. He was the fine-boy lead, the charming bachelor, the intelligent flirt who always had a comeback. Directors kept casting him in those roles for a reason: he had the looks, the voice, and the screen presence. Think about how Timini Egbuson gets cast today — that was Chidi back then, but with even more edge.
But as time went on, something shifted. Chidi began to step away from the screen — and people assumed he’d simply retired or faded out as the industry evolved into the Netflix era. What many didn’t know was that he was quietly battling a serious health condition: Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis that temporarily affects the muscles on one side of the face. Unfortunately, many people confused it with cerebral palsy and misunderstood the gravity of what he was going through.
But here’s where the story turns: he didn’t quit. He didn’t disappear. He endured, adapted, and when he returned, he came back with fire in his eyes.
Shanty Town: The Role That Broke the Internet
In Shanty Town, Chidi Mokeme played Scar, and it was nothing short of a masterclass. The man didn’t just act — he transformed. The blinking, the growling, the eerie calm before sudden outbursts of violence — it all felt too real. Here’s the beautiful twist: that blinking wasn’t a character quirk. It was real. A side effect of his Bell’s palsy. But rather than hide it, Chidi leaned into it and built it into Scar’s character. That’s what real actors do — they use every tool, even pain, to tell the story.
It wasn’t acting. It was possession. The accent, the menace, the body language — everything about Scar was terrifyingly believable. In a cast filled with strong performances, Mokeme stood out like thunder in silence. And that’s saying something. There’s a scene where Nancy Isime’s character, Shalewa, comes to beg Scar. As talented as Nancy is, the performance gap in that moment was brutal. It felt like watching a JSS1 student act next to a master. And that’s no shade. That’s just what Chidi Mokeme does when he’s fully activated.
Not a Fluke: Tokunbo and the Reawakening of a Beast
In 2024, Chidi followed Shanty Town with Tokunbo, where he gave us yet another layered and intense performance. It was a different kind of character, but the same fiery presence. He wasn’t just proving a point; he was letting us know Shanty Town wasn’t a one-off. It was a reintroduction.
By the time he showed up again in To Kill a Monkey, there was no more debate. The man was back. This was no nostalgia trip — Chidi Mokeme was actively reshaping his legacy. From lover boy to complex villain, from smooth operator to dangerous kingpin, the evolution has been breathtaking. That kind of range is rare. And that kind of comeback? Almost unheard of.
AMVCA 2023: A Snub That Still Stings
Let’s talk about what still burns: the AMVCA snub. In 2023, Chidi Mokeme was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama (Movie or TV Series) for his unforgettable role in Shanty Town. He deserved it. Everyone knew it. But the award went to Tobi Bakre for Brotherhood. Tobi was strong, no doubt. But Chidi? Chidi carried Shanty Town like a struggling Nigerian graduate carrying family expectations. That trophy should have been his. It still stings, and frankly, it’s one of the most glaring oversights in recent AMVCA history.
A Legend Who’s Earned His Spot — Again
Chidi Mokeme’s story is one of talent, struggle, resilience, and rebirth. He took time off to fight a personal battle — not publicly, not dramatically, just quietly — and when he was ready, he returned to an industry that had moved on without him and showed everyone how it’s supposed to be done. That’s not just talent. That’s legacy.
He doesn’t need our pity. He needs our recognition.
This is not a case of “let’s give him flowers because he’s an OG.” No — let’s give Chidi Mokeme his flowers because, right now, he is performing at a level most actors aspire to. He’s operating in a different league. His return isn’t just a comeback story — it’s a masterclass in reinvention.
Conclusion: Don’t Wait Till It’s Too Late
In an industry often quick to forget, Chidi Mokeme is the reminder: true talent never dies. It may go quiet, but when it returns, it roars. We owe it to ourselves — and to the culture — to honour him now. Not later. Not when we’re sharing tributes. Now.
Chidi Mokeme is not just one of the finest actors Nollywood has produced — he’s a symbol of grit, grace, and greatness.
Give that man his flowers. While he can still smell them.
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