They both have tiny frames but they
are giants in their chosen career. Aki
and Pawpaw are the petit Nollywood stars
who have turned their physical
disabilities into creative tools in the
entrtainment industry. The two actors,
who are usually paired for roles in
movies, recently spoke about their
sojourn in the Nollywood including their
brotherly bond and their budding
romances.
Aki
Chinedu Ikedieze (aka Aki) is 29, he is
the first and the older of the Aki and
Pawpaw duo. The talented actor, who
hails from Abia state, is the only short
child among the nine children of his
parents. He attended Institute of
Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu
where he studied Mass Communication
although he had nursed an ambition of
studying Law.
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Akin & Pawpaw
Pix: Sun News Publishing |
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The actor
started exhibiting his acting skills at
the institute’s dramatic society where
he acted in a small dramatic sketch, and
was later inspired to participate
actively in dramatic activities. After
leaving school, Aki auditioned for a
role in the film, Evil Men in 1998, and
he was selected and paid N500 for his
role. Other roles followed in quick
succession, even as Aki gradually
started demanding higher rates for his
acting skills. Today, Aki and Pawpaw are
reportedly the highest paid actors in
Nollywood, charging as much as N300, 000
each for guest appearances, N50, 000 to
N100, 000 for brief performances and
N1.7million for a full length film.
Aki said he and Pawpaw have also
performed in Brussels, Ghana, Germany,
America, Italy and Sierra Leone among
other countries. According to him,
whoever hires them for overseas show
must be ready to pay good money.
Aki recently got engaged to his
girlfriend, Nora Mokwunye, and described
her as a tall, beautiful, easy-going and
straightforward woman. He added that
their difference in height has not
affected their relationship. The actor
plans to run a Master’s degree programme
in International Relations as well as
set up an International production
studio in Nigeria.
Pawpaw
Osita Kenneth Iheme (akaPawpaw) is just
21 and a native of Mbaitolu in Imo
state. He is the youngest of five
siblings. Like Aki, Pawpaw is equally
the only member of his family who is
short. According to him, while growing
up, he did not feel in any way different
from others. After completing his high
school education, he worked for a while
in a designer’s shop near his parents’
house. In 2001, he auditioned for a part
in the movie Cold Blood and succeeded.
He was then paid N5, 000 for his
supporting role and since then, he has
been making waves in the industry.
Pawpaw looks forward to a brighter
future in Hollywood. He also publishes a
magazine called ,Nollywood Guide which
deals with movies and artistes. On his
love life, Pawpaw said he has a
girlfriend but will not reveal her
identity yet.
The Nollywood twins met each other at an
audition in 2001 and since then, they
have become inseparable friends. Both of
them said they are more like brothers
than colleagues as they share the same
flat, height, weight and talent, so
either both of them are cast in a movie
or neither. They first paired in Aki Na
Ukwa and their performance in that film
took them to the limelight.
In September 2004, Aki and Pawpaw
went to America’s New York Film Academy
to brush up their acting dexterities.
According to them, they studied for 10
hours per day and they spent 12 weeks
there, it was very intense and
tremendously rewarding, we learnt a
great deal, they said. We were just
thankful for the opportunity fame has
given us to travel around the globe to
meet role models like Will Smith, Eddie
Murphy, and Gary Coleman among others.
In the case of these indispensable
actors, shortness is deceptive,
According to them they said there are so
many tall people who do not have talent.
