Osita Iheme MFR (// ; born 20 February 1982)[1] who hails from Mbaitolu Local Government in Imo State [2]is a Nigerian actor, author, film producer and comedian known for his role as Pawpaw in Aki na Ukwa (2002) alongside Chinedu Ikedieze. Since then, he has starred in several Nollywood productions including 2 Rats (2003), Baby Police (2003), Nollywood Babylon (2008), The Mirror Boy (2011), Christmas in Miami and Aki and Pawpaw (2021). Iheme was the recipient of the 2007 Africa Movie Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement and was conferred Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), a federal honour by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.[3]
Osita Iheme | |
|---|---|
 Iheme at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | |
| Born | 20 February 1982 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Other names | Pawpaw |
| Education | Bachelor of Science |
| Alma mater | Lagos State University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2002— present |
| Known for | Aki na Ukwa |
| Parents |
|
| Awards | Africa Movie Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement (2007) |
| Honours | Order of the Federal Republic |
Early life
editBirth and education
editIheme was born on 20 February 1982 in Abia State, located in the southeastern region of Nigeria, although a native of Mbaitoli, Imo State, southeast Nigeria, to a family of five with parents, Herbert and Augustina Iheme. He had his MBA from the Institute of Management and Technology, Ghaziabad (IMT). After his education, he began acting in 1998 where he acted initially in a featured role.
Career
edit
Iheme was often typecast in the role of a child in various films. He rose to prominence after starring as Pawpaw with Chinedu Ikedieze in Aki na Ukwa (2002). He became the ambassador of TAJBank in 2023.[4] He plans to run for Political Office in the future.[5]
Personal life
editGunmen killed Prince Iheme the elder brother to Osita in Owerri Imo State. [6]
Legacy and influence
editTo reward his contribution towards comedy genre movies Nigerian Film Industry, in 2011 he was awarded the Nigerian National Honor of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by President Goodluck Jonathan.[7] In 2007, he was given the lifetime Achievement award by AMAA (African movie Academy Awards).
Osita Iheme's performance alongside fellow actor and his longtime friend Chinedu Ikedieze in the 2002 film Aki na Ukwa is still widely spoken about and the duo, especially Osita's character, on-screen trending through memes since 2019 on Twitter and other social media platforms.[8] This eventually earned him a global fanbase.[9][10]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Aka Gum | Chidi | with Chinedu Ikedieze |
| Aki na ukwa | Pawpaw | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Okwu na uka | with Chinedu Ikedieze & Patience Ozokwor | ||
| 2003 | 2 Rats | with Chinedu Ikedieze, Patience Ozokwor and Amaechi Muonagor | |
| Baby Police | Dada | with Okey Billy Boniface | |
| Back from America | Risky | with Chinedu Ikedieze and Rita Dominic | |
| Charge & Bail | Uzochukwu | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Good Mother | with Amaechi Muonagor | ||
| Green Snake | Akpuruka | with Nkiru Sylvanus | |
| I, Not Stupid | with Sam Loco Efe | ||
| I'm in Love | Osuondu | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Informant | with John Okafor | ||
| John and Johnny Just Come | |||
| Johnny Just Come | Johnson | with Sam Loco Efe | |
| Lagos Boys | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Local Champion | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Nicodemus | with John Okafor | ||
| Nwa Teacher | Azigo | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Oke Belgium | Kekere | ||
| Onunaeyi: Seeds of Bondage | with Pete Edochie, Chinedu Ikedieze, Patience Ozokwor & Clem Ohameze | ||
| Pipiro | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Show Bobo: The American Boys | Ikem | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| School Dropouts | Ejiofor | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Tell Them | with Sola Fosudo | ||
| The Tom and Jerry | Jerry | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| 2004 | American Husband | with Amaechi Muonagor | |
| Big Daddies | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Columbia Connection | |||
| Mr. Ibu | Muo | with John Okafor | |
| Not by Height | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Sunday School Children | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| 2005 | Colours of Emotion | Spark | with Chinedu Ikedieze |
| Final World Cup | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Holy Diamond | Ikenna | with Happiness Adibe | |
| I Think Twice | Obinna | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| The Last Orphan | |||
| My Business | with Chiwetalu Agu | ||
| One Good Turn | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Reggae Boys | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Secret Adventure | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Spoiler | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Twin Brothers | with Sam Loco Efe | ||
| Village Boys | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| 2006 | African Tallest Men | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Big Thief Small Thief | with Amaechi Muonagor | ||
| Blessed Son | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Boys from Holland | Pablo | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Brain Box | with Chinedu Ikedieze, Kanayo O. Kanayo & Sam Loco Efe | ||
| Brain Masters | Ike | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Cat & Rat | Kalu | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Criminal Law | Chris | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Jadon | Prince Jadon | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Kadura | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Last Challenge | with Kanayo O. Kanayo & Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Magic Cap | Anya | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Remote Control | Ichie Okwubanego | with Nora Amah | |
| Royal Messengers | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Sweet Money | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| 'U' General | with Chinedu Ikedieze & Patience Ozokwor | ||
| Winning Your Love | with Chinedu Ikedieze & Patience Ozokwor | ||
| Young Masters | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| 2007 | Thunder Storm | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Stubborn Flies | Sambro | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Spirit of a Prophet | with Chinedu Ikedieze & Clem Ohameze | ||
| Powerful Civilian | Joe | with Chinedu Ikedieze & Victor Osuagwu | |
| Power as of Old | Cheche | with Chinedu Ikedieze & Clem Ohameze | |
| Escape to Destiny | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Cain & Abel | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Village Destroyers | Acho | with Chinedu Ikedieze and Kenneth Okonkwo | |
| 2008 | Daddy Must Obey | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Intelligent Students | Santos | with Chinedu Ikedieze and Sam Loco Efe | |
| Markus D Millionaire | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| 2009 | Onye Obioma | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| 2010 | Loyal Enemies | Meshark | with Chinedu Ikedieze and Van Vicker |
| 2011 | Ben Ten | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| Love for the Kids | followed by Another Love; with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| Another Love | sequel to Love for the Kids; with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| The Mirror Boy | Mirror Boy | with Genevieve Nnaji | |
| Yellow Sisi | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| 2012 | Kingdom on Earth | with John Dumelo | |
| Village Rascals | Popo | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| 2013 | Double Mama | Arusi | with Chiwetalu Agu |
| The Fighter | with Chinedu Ikedieze and Funke Akindele | ||
| Terrible Twos | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| 2014 | Bomboy | followed by Osuofia the Boxer; with Nkem Owoh | |
| Osuofia the Boxer | sequel to Bomboy; with Nkem Owoh | ||
| Pawpaw the Guitar Boy | with Chiwetalu Agu | ||
| 2015 | Two Sons of Ali | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| 2016 | The Twin Sisters | with Chinedu Ikedieze | |
| 2017 | The Self-Destruction of Little Mark | ||
| 2018 | Ada My Love | ||
| Games Men Play 5: Computer Games Is Our Game | |||
| Too Much Money | with Chinedu Ikedieze | ||
| 2019 | Babysitter | Sabinus | with Emma Ayalogu |
| 2021 | Aki and Pawpaw | Pawpaw | with Chinedu Ikedieze |
| Fatty and Sons Autos | Aki | With Chinedu Ikedieze, Muyiwa Adegoke | |
| Christmas in Miami | Raphael | With Ayo Makun, Richard Mofe-Damijo | |
| 2023 | Welcome to Africa | ||
| Sabinus the Best Man | Don Little | With Tobi Bakre, Sophia Chisom | |
| 2024 | The Odds | With Kelechi Udegbe | |
| unknown | House Boys for Sale[11] | with Patience Ozokwor and Chinedu Ikedieze |
References
edit- ^ Jimmy (23 March 2024). "Osita Iheme Net Worth, Cars, House & Latest Biography » Carmart Blog". Carmart Blog. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Njoku, Benjamin (29 October 2011). "Finally, Pawpaw gets nat'l honours". Vanguard.
- ^ Njoku, Benjamin (29 October 2011). "Finally, Paw-Paw gets nat'l honours". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Adegwu, John (5 May 2023). "TAJBank Unveils Iheme, Daso As Brand Ambassadors, 3 Others As Influencers". Leadership News. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Rita, Chioma (5 March 2018). "ACTOR OSITA IHEME AKA PAWPAW, REVEALS PLANS FOR MARRIAGE AND HIS KIND OF WOMEN". Vanguard.
- ^ Busari, Biodun (10 December 202). "Gunmen kill Nollywood Actor,Osita Iheme's brother in Imo". Vanguard.
- ^ "In Pictures: Jonathan Decorates Dangote, Others at National Awards in Abuja". PM News Nigeria. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 13 September 2019.
Don't be fooled by Iheme and Ikedieze's size — they're both grown men (Iheme is 37 and Ikedieze is 41).
- ^ "House Boys for Sale". WorldCat. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
External links
edit- Osita Iheme at IMDb