True Story: How Aki And Paw paw Were Discovered In Nollywood

 Chinedu Ikedieze a.k.a, Aki, and Osita Iheme popularly known as Pawpaw, are many things rolled into one. Call them mischievous twins, inseparable duo, blood brothers or comic actors for their roles in movies and you may not be wrong..

Chinedu and Osita  are indisputably one of the most famous and loved actors in Nollywood today. Since destiny made their paths cross, after featuring in the 2002 comedy flick, Aki Na Ukwa, the duo have succeeded in the comic revolution of the Nigerian movie industry.

Success however didn’t come easy for them.  and when the duo had almost given up on acting, luck smiled on them as they were casted in the film that eventually gave them the much-needed break in the industry.

The instant smash success of ” Aki Na Ukwa” changed their story and ensured that the duo became superstars overnight.

What the duo lacked in height, they made up in their enviable talents.  Many are fond of the screen twins because of the mischievous roles they play in movies and how they always complement each other’s effort. Following their mischievous roles, most parents at some point were tempted to stop their wards from watching their movies to avoid being influenced negatively.

The duo once traced how the Aki and Pawpaw  brand was created years back.

Speaking at the candlelight/tribute night in honour of the late film maker and marketer who created the Aki and Pawpaw brand, Chukwuka Emelionwu, popularly known as Kasvid,  Osita Iheme recalled how he met and became friends with Kasvid who also produced popular movies such as Mr. Ibu in London, The last Burial, August Meeting, Isakaba, Aki na Ukwa among others.

He said, “Kasvid was my boss who later became my friend. I met him in Enugu in 2002. Then, I was based in Aba, where I was nurturing my acting skills. I decided to relocate to Enugu to hustle. While in Enugu, Kasvid was shooting a film. When he sighted me, he developed interest in me. He just believed in me immediately he sighted me. The late film maker created the Aki and Pawpaw’ brand.

“ Kavid asked me if I would like to go into acting. I told him, I have been into acting way back in Aba. He then asked me again, do you know Chinedu Ikedieze who featured in Last Burial? I answered him in the affirmative. Then I didn’t know he was the producer of Last Burial. Later, he invited a writer to write a script around Aki and I. That was how the movie, Aki na Ukwa  came about.

Also sharing his nolstagic moment with man that brought him to limelight, Chinedu Ikedieze recalled how he met the late film maker while he was an undergraduate at Institute of Management Technology, IMT, Enugu. “I went for an audition, and he saw one smart looking small boy and he immediately developed interest in me. A week after that encounter, he visited me in my hostel on campus.

Kasvid took a risk in us. He invested his money in us. He saw something in us that other producers did not see. He made us who we are today.”