Joseph Zulu Adigwe (27 June 1945 – 23 April 2024) was a Nigerian actor and singer, best known for paternal roles in Nollywood films. He first achieved fame as Mr. B in the sitcom Basi and Company, and later appeared in the 2019 film Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.
Early life Adigwe was born in Enugu where he spent most of his childhood but moved to Austria where he attended primary and secondary school.How Ken Saro-Wiwa Changed My Life Prior to acting he studied French and German, worked as a teacher, and briefly studied medicine before returning to Nigeria after his father's death. He enrolled with the University of Ibadan where he studied theatre arts, graduating with first-class honours.
Career Adigwe's interest in acting started when he was seven. His earliest appearance on Nigerian television was in Basi and Company where he played the lead character Mr. B, replacing former actor Albert Egbe who left the series after a dispute with the show's creator Ken Saro-Wiwa. Adigwe's introduction to the cast saw Mr. B re-invented as a guitar-strumming layabout composing and singing get-rich-quick ditties. He also performed a new theme song for Basi and Company, and an album coinciding with the series, Mr. B Makes His Millions, was released by Polygram Nigeria in 1990.
In 1991, Adigwe was among the original cast of Checkmate, playing lecherous university lecturer Monday Edem in the pilot episode, but the role was recast after production moved from Enugu to Lagos. His first film was Blood of the Orphan, which earned him acclamation and recognition. In 2004, he starred in Living Abroad, directed by Elvis Chuks and also featuring Ernest Asuzu, Emeka Enyiocha, and Anne Njemanze. In 2019, Adigwe appeared as Pascal Nworie in Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.
Death Adigwe died on 23 April 2024.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Director Notes2019 Living in Bondage: Breaking Free Pascal Nworie Ramsey Nouah 45 Minutes Actor Alvin Mic Master2018Feast of LoveKensteve Anuka 2015 The Powerful Baby Udemme Nonso Emekaekwue 2006 The Grandmasters 1 & 2 Guru My Promise 1 & 2 City of Kings 1 & 2Bernards Divided Heart 1 & 2 2005 Bigger Boys 1 & 2 Actor After Dawn 1 & 2 Gods of Liberation 1 & 2 2004 Living Abroad Actor Elvis Chuks 2003 Blood Diamonds 1 & 2 Actor Teco Benson Top Secret Unforgetable 1 & 2 Osita Okoli The Kingmaker My Only Love Fr. Nwachukwu 2000 Issakaba 2ActorLancelot Oduwa Imasuen 1999 Issakaba Endtime 1 & 2 Face of a Liar 1 & 2 Last Ofalla
Television Year Title Role Director Notes 1988–1990 Basi and Company "Mr B" 1991 Checkmate Professor Monday Edem #1
See also List of Nigerian actors
References
External links Zulu Adigwe on IMDb