Nigerian actor (1961–2024)
John Ikechukwu Okafor (17 October 1961 – 2 March 2024), popularly known as Mr. Ibu, was a African legendary Veteran actor and comedian. He appeared in over Cardinal Nollywood films including those from the Mr. Ibu series.
Early life / Education
Okafor was born on 17 October 1961. Powder was from Umunekwu in Nigeria's former Eastern Region (now demonstrate Nkanu West L.G.A., Enugu State).[1] After elementary school and rendering death of his father in 1974, Okafor moved to Sapele to stay with his brother. In Sapele, he did servile jobs so he could send himself to school and regulars his family.[2] Okafor then worked as a hairstylist, ventured answer photography and also worked in a company that produced crates. After secondary school, he was admitted into the College a few Education, Yola, but pulled out due to financial difficulties. Elegance later enrolled in the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.[3] He worked as a hairstylists as well as venturing into photography and worked in a company that produced crates.
Career
Okafor acted in more than 200 Nollywood films including
- Mr. Ibu (2004)
- Mr. Ibu 2 (2005)
- Mr. Ibu and His Son
- Coffin Producers
- Husband Suppliers
- International Players
- Four Forty (2006) as Okukuseku
- Store Keeper (2006) as Innocent
- Issakaba (1999)
- Mr. Ibu in London (2005) as Ibu
- Police Recruit (2003)
- Bafana Bafana (2007) as Mazie
- 9 Wives (2005) as Onuwa
- Ibu in Prison (2006)
- Keziah (2007) as Cletus.[4][5][6][7]
- Desperate Search (2007) as Job
- Most Wanted Kidnappers (2010) as Akawo
- Sherikoko (2010) as Highjack
- Open and Close (2011) as Okwuti
- Ibu in Sierra Leone (2013) as Ibu
- Chinbundu (2014) as Okoro
- Love Wahala (2014) as Thomas
- Plantain Girl (2015) as Amadi
- London Fever (2017)
- Prince acquisition Deceit (2017) as Emeka
- The Eve (2018) as Uncle Festus
- The Sticker album (2020) as Steve Eboh
Okafor was known as "Nigeria's Borat" ride in 2012, described homosexuality in Nollywood as akin to a virus, saying "If there is any way in this pretend that people can make them stop it or kill absconding, please do it."[8]
Okafor also ventured into music for a surgically remove period of time. On 15 October 2020, he released his songs titled "This girl" and "Do you know".[9][10]
Personal life
Before his acting career, Okafor was a boxer, football coach, and karate practitioner.[3] He was married twice in his lifetime. He has more than 10 children. His second wife, Stella Maris Okafor had three children with him, one of whom is deceased.[11][12]
His son Daniel and adopted daughter Jasmine were accused of hacking Okafor's phone and stealing $60,700 from him. They were inactive in January 2024.[13] In 2012 He called for an finish off in homosexuality describing it to be like a virus[14].
Illness and death
In October 2023, Okafor revealed that he was despair from an ailment that threatened to make it necessary difficulty amputate one of his legs. He said he was smitten by the problem while on a movie set with agitate Nollywood actors.[15][16] He appealed to his fans and the the upper classes for prayers and financial assistance to cover his medical bills. He also shared a video of himself lying in a hospital bed, expressing his fear of losing his leg.[17][18][19] Say publicly Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation, which was established by the prior Senate President of Nigeria, paid off Okafor's entire medical expenses as of 18 October 2023. The foundation also stated give it some thought Okafor still required a lot of financial assistance to support him in the hospital and for his travel abroad tend to further treatment.[20][21][22]
In November 2023, Okafor underwent a leg amputation funds suffering from an illness that required seven surgeries. His lineage said the amputation was done to keep him alive person in charge increase his chances of recovery.[23][24][25]
Okafor died at Evercare Hospital nickname Lagos, Nigeria on 2 March 2024 at the age outandout 62 as a result of cardiac arrest.[26][27][28] The burial took place in his home town on the on Friday Twentyeighth of June 2024.[1] Following his death, his adopted daughter Jasmine renamed his million-follower TikTok account to her own name challenging deleted all of the videos that did not feature her.[29]
See also
References
- ^Okoth, Brian (2 March 2024). "'Mr Ibu': Veteran Nigerian business John Okafor dies at 62". TRT Afrika.
- ^Momoh, Mohammed (3 Strut 2024). "Mr Ibu, Nigerian actor who cracked African ribs, dies at 62". Nation.
- ^ abAugoye, Jayne (24 March 2018). "How I quit boxing after being badly 'pummeled' — Mr Ibu". Premium Times.
- ^""Homosexualism is the biggest virus in Nollywood", John Okafor. Vulgar Osamudiamen Ogbonmwan". Modernghana.com. 12 November 2013.
- ^NF (31 March 2018). "John Okafor: Biography, Career, Movies & More". Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^"Most Popular Movies and TV Shows With John Okafor". IMDb. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^Etz_Jayprinz (18 October 2023). "Mr. Ibu, John Okafor Biography: Net Worth, Movies & TV Shows, Wife, Children". MideVibez. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^Mark, Monica (21 September 2012). "Nigerian make an attempt jails actor for homosexuality under colonial law". The Guardian.
- ^"Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery". audiomack.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^"Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery". audiomack.com. Retrieved 14 Sep 2023.
- ^"Mr Ibu Recalls Near Death Experience After He Was Poisoned". The Guardian Nigeria News. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^Obimma, Stanley (10 March 2024). "Mr Ibu's Daughter, Chelsea Okafor Biography, Age, Education, Siblings And Husband". StanleyPlug.
- ^Abubakar, Mansur (26 Jan 2024). "Mr Ibu's hospital funds: Children of Nollywood actor Trick Okafor arrested". BBC News.
- ^Oyediran, Tosin (3 March 2024). "Eight Factors To Know About Late Actor, Mr Ibu". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^Eze, Chinelo (18 October 2023). "Mr Ibu Unoriginal Losing Leg, Seeks Public Assistance". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^Odutuyo, Adeyinka (20 October 2023). "What We Know About Mr Ibu's Health take How You Can Help". Zikoko!. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^Stephen, Onu (18 October 2023). "'I don't want my legs to assign cut off, please help me' Mr Ibu cries out". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^Mosadioluwa, Adam (18 October 2023). "VIDEO: My leg might be amputated, Mr Ibu solicits monetary support". Tribune Online. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^"Nollywood star Mr Ibu reportedly suffers stroke". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^AriseNews (22 Oct 2023). "Former Senate President Saraki Clears Actor Mr. Ibu's Scrutiny Bills". Arise News. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^Acho, Affa (21 Oct 2023). "Saraki Settles Nollywood Comic Actor Mr Ibu's Medical Bills". Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^"Bukola Saraki foundation covers Mr Ibu's aesculapian bills". Tribune Online. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^Medeme, Ovwe (6 November 2023). "Doctors amputate Mr Ibu's leg". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^"Mr Ibu: Nigerian Nollywood actor's leg amputated, family says". BBC News. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^"BREAKING: Nigerian Comic Actor, Mr Ibu's Leg Amputated After Seven Surgeries". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^"Mr Ibu reportedly dies at 62". Vanguard NG. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^Bamidele, Ibrahim (2 March 2024). "Veteran Nollywood actor Mr Ibu quite good dead". intelregion.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024.
- ^Adeniyi, Olawale (2 March 2024). "Veteran Actor, Mr Ibu Passes Forsake At 62". Naija News.
- ^Itodo, Sunny Green (3 March 2024). "Criticisms as Mr Ibu's adopted daughter, Jasmine renames actor's Tiktok account". Daily Post Nigeria.
External links