They were adults playing children, and audiences across Africa loved them. Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, known by their screen names Aki and Pawpaw, became the most famous comic pair in Nollywood after starring in Aki na Ukwa in 2002. Their films, full of pranks and mischief, sold in huge numbers.
The actors and their first films
Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme are both actors of short stature from south-eastern Nigeria. Their size allowed them to play children convincingly, even as adults. Aki na Ukwa (2002) told the story of two troublesome brothers who cause chaos in their family and village. Its success turned the duo into stars. They went on to star in many films together, often playing naughty children or tricksters. Their comic timing and chemistry made them favourites with families.
Achievement awards, memes and business
In 2007, they received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, a sign of their impact. Osita Iheme’s facial expressions became internet memes used around the world, especially an image of him smiling with his hands together. Many people who have never seen a Nollywood film know his face. Both actors pursued education and business. Iheme founded the Inspired Movement, a youth motivational organisation, and both have earned university degrees.
Typecasting, marriage and legacy
Playing children for so long brought fame but also limits. Both actors have spoken about wanting more varied roles, and in later years they appeared in adult characters and more serious films. Chinedu Ikedieze married in 2011, in a wedding that attracted wide media coverage. The duo showed the power of comedy in Nollywood and helped spread Nigerian films across Africa and the diaspora.
Their films were popular across West Africa, including Ghana, where Nollywood DVDs filled markets in the 2000s.
Film sets and later films
On set, the pair were known for improvising jokes and comic routines. They appeared in comedies into the 2010s, including big-screen releases. Both men have spoken about growing up as short people in Nigeria and the teasing they faced. They turned their size into an advantage on screen and have encouraged others not to see height as a limit on ambition.
Aki and Pawpaw spent their careers pretending to be children. Their work was taken seriously enough to win a lifetime achievement award while they were still young men.
