Chinedu Ikedieze, MFR (born 12 December 1977) is a Nollywood actor, entrepreneur and investor. He is best known for playing alongside Osita Iheme in the 2002 film Aki na Ukwa. He has featured in over 150 films in a career spanning over 22 years. He has acted in the role of a kid in most of his films during his early career due to his stature and physical appearance. He is known as Aki for his performance in the film Aki na Ukwa. In 2011, he married a fashion designer Nneoma Nwaijah and the couple had their first child in 2012. They have 2 daughters and a son.
Education Chinedu completed his primary and secondary education in Aba, Abia State. After completing his secondary education he earned a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Theatre Arts and a degree in Mass Communication from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu (IMT). After completing his studies at IMT, he initially wanted to become a lawyer but pursued a career in film acting in 1998 and initially featured in lesser roles. He first acted in a minor role in the 1998 film Evil Men. He enrolled in the prestigious New York Film Academy in 2004.
Collaboration with Osita Iheme
He entered the Nollywood industry in 1998 and rose to recognition in a Nigerian film he acted in 2002, Aki na Ukwa, where he played the breakthrough role of Aki alongside another little person actor Osita Iheme. This created a bond between them. The duo were popularly identified as "Aki and Paw Paw" since the release of the film in 2002 and ever since they have both featured together in several films taking the lead roles in those movies. Both Chinedu and Osita have been maintaining onscreen and offscreen chemistry which is widely praised by the Nollywood fraternity. Chinedu and Osita collectively established Aki and Pawpaw Entertainment. They also own the Aki n Paw Child Care Foundation.
Honours In 2007, Ikedieze received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. He was also honored with the Order of the Federal Republic which was given by the then Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for his contributions to Nollywood and to the economic growth of the country.
In 2018, he was honored in Miami, Florida in the United States of America as a distinguished visitor to the city of Miami, Florida. In appreciation he said “From the bottom of my heart I say thank you to Miami-Dade, country office of the Mayor and the county commissioners for honoring me as a distinguished visitor to the city of Miami, Florida. You have just given me a key to more success in life. He therefore encouraged all to believe if themselves if the world believes in them.
Legacy His performance alongside fellow little person actor Osita Iheme in the 2002 film Aki na Ukwa is still widely spoken of and the duo especially Osita's character has been trending through memes since 2019 in Twitter and other social media platforms globally. Osita is listed as one of the richest actors in Nigeria. Chinedu praises Kasvid the late film producer for investing in him and Osita.
Filmography Year Film Role Notes 2002Aki na ukwaAkiwith Osita IhemeSpanner: The Humble ServantSpanner with Nkem OwohOkwu na uka with Osita Iheme & Patience OzokworAka GumChisomwith Osita Iheme 2003The Tom and JerryTomwith Osita IhemeThe Catechistwith John OkaforShow Bobo: The American BoysKizzitowith Osita IhemeSchool DropoutsIkennawith Osita IhemePipiro with Osita IhemeOnunaeyi: Seeds of Bondagewith Pete Edochie, Osita Iheme, Patience Ozokwor & Clem OhamezeLagos Boyswith Osita IhemeFamily CrisisCharge & BailUzodinmawith Osita IhemeBack from Americawith Rita DominicI'm in LoveGabrielwith Osita IhemeLocal Championwith Osita IhemeAkpu-Nku2 Ratswith Osita Iheme, Patience Ozokwor and Amaechi MuonagorNwa TeacherJajawith Osita Iheme 2004Across the Nigerwith Pete Edochie, Kanayo O. Kanayo & Ramsey NouahBig Daddieswith Osita IhemeIgbo MadeDoctor MicahNot by Heightwith Osita IhemeSpanner Goes to JailSpannerwith Nkem OwohSpanner in Battle of SupremacySpannerwith Nkem OwohSunday School Childrenwith Osita Iheme 2005Village Boyswith Osita IhemeSpoilerPeterwith Osita IhemeSecret Adventurewith Osita IhemeReggae Boyswith Osita IhemeOne Good Turnwith Osita IhemeI Think TwiceIkewith Osita IhemeFinal World Cupwith Osita IhemeColours of EmotionEbonywith Osita Iheme 2006African Tallest Menwith Osita IhemeYoung Masterswith Osita IhemeWinning Your Lovewith Osita Iheme & Patience Ozokwor'U' Generalwith Osita Iheme & Patience OzokworSweet Moneywith Osita IhemeRoyal Messengerswith Osita IhemeMagic CapAbawith Osita IhemeLast Challengewith Kanayo O. Kanayo & Osita IhemeKadurawith Osita IhemeJadonJackwith Osita IhemeGames Men Playwith Chioma Chukwuka, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Ini Edo, Mike Ezuruonye & Jim IykeCriminal LawHippowith Osita IhemeBrain MastersChimawith Osita IhemeBrain Boxwith Osita Iheme, Kanayo O. Kanayo & Sam Loco EfeBoys from HollandLincolnwith Osita IhemeBlessed Sonwith Osita IhemeCat & RatOgbuwith Osita Iheme 2007Thunder Stormwith Osita IhemeStubborn FliesAngelwith Osita IhemeSpirit of a Prophetwith Osita Iheme & Clem OhamezePowerful CivilianRichiewith Osita Iheme & Victor OsuagwuPower as of OldKatangawith Osita Iheme & Clem OhamezeEscape to Destinywith Osita IhemeCain & Abelwith Osita IhemeVillage DestroyersAzuwith Osita Iheme and Kenneth Okonkwo 2008Daddy Must ObeyAkiwith Osita IhemeIntelligent StudentsPerererwith Osita Iheme and Sam Loco EfeMarkus D Millionairewith Osita Iheme 2009Onye Obiomawith Osita Iheme2010Loyal EnemiesShedrackwith Osita Iheme and Van Vicker2011Ben Tenwith Osita IhemeLove for the Kidsfollowed by Another Love; with Osita IhemeAnother Lovesequel to Love for the Kids; with Osita IhemeYellow Sisiwith Osita Iheme2012Village RascalsAkiwith Osita Iheme2013The Fighterwith Osita Iheme and Funke AkindeleTerrible Twoswith Osita Iheme 2015Two Sons of Aliwith Osita IhemeThe First LadySmall KenechiWith Omoni Oboli, Alexx Ekubo, Joseph Benjamin 2016The Twin Sisterswith Osita Iheme2018Too Much Moneywith Osita Iheme2018Lara and the BeatBig ChiWith Ademola Adedoyin, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Kemi Lala Akindoju2020Dear AffyStreet ChildWith Toyin Abraham, Seilat Adebowale, Bimbo Ademoye2021Aki and PawpawAkiwith Osita IhemeThe Ghost and the Tout TooChief AkiWith Ayomide Abayode, Anthony Abraham, Alexander Abolore unknownHouse Boys for Salewith Patience Ozokwor and Osita Iheme2022Palava!Big TWith Mercy Aigbe, Bisola Aiyeola, Neo Akpofure2023Love Me for MeRaymondwith Amaechi Anaekwe, Grace Anga
Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef2023Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Actor In A Comedy Drama, Movie Or TV SeriesAki & PawPaw
Television The Johnsons as Efetobore Johnson, produced by Rogers Ofime
References
External links