By Faith Azubuike
Nkem Owoh born on the 7th of February 1958 is a for most Nigerian actor and comedian. In 2008 he won the African movie academy award for “Best Actor in a leading role “for his role in the Nigerian film, “Stronger than pain”
Nkem Owoh has entertained Africans as a co- comedian, singer, and actor since the 1980s. It’s almost impossible not to laugh when you see him on TV. He’s known for playing comedy, chatty roles that make viewers laugh to their heart’s content. Many people who know actor Nkem Owoh are curious about his wife, children and professional accomplishments.
Nkem Owoh has been featured in some of Nigeria’s higher grossing films like Chief Daddy, Lion Heart, and My Village People
The actor is 66 years old; he was born on 7th February 1958 in Udi, Nigeria.
His younger brother Bartholomew Owoh, was among the three Nigerians General Buhari executed for an offense that allegedly did not deserve the death penalty.
Nkem Owoh obtained his primary, secondary and university education in Nigeria. He began acting in primary school and made it to film and television productions while studying engineering at the University of Ibadan (UI). He also performed on stage as a comedian. After graduating from university, Nkem Owoh worked as a broadcaster for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Anambra State Broadcasting Services (ASBS). He later fully immersed himself in the entertainment industry.
Nkem Owoh started as a writer and singer before becoming an actor. He wrote Igbo subtitles for the Living in Bondage video and script for Nigerian sitcoms like The New Masquerade, Tales by Moonlight, and Bassey and Company.
On top of that, one of his famous songs in his earlier career days was I go chop your dollar. The song was about fee fraud, and it was featured in the master film where Owoh played the role of a scammer. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) banned the song later.
Nkem’s Know Me When I’m Poor heat single is his latest release. The song has been making waves online and in the mainstream media since it came out in August 2023.
Nkem Owoh’s early acting roles were in the 1987 movie Things Fall Apart, where he played alongside Pete Edochie, in Circle of Doom 2 in 1993, where he performed alongside Kanayo O. Kanayo. His first lead role was in the 2000 film ukwa
Many loved his role in the 2003 film Osofia in London where he acted as a village man who wanted to inherit his late brother’s fiancée. The brother died in London leaving behind a lot of wealth.
In 2008, Nkem Owoh won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a leading role because of his character, Ulonna, in Stronger Than Pain
The actor has also appeared in over 100 films since 1987. His career peaked in the first decade of the 21st century. He would perform in over five movies a year and still have more lining up for him in the following year.
The actor and his wife, Ngozi Nkem Owoh, have been married since 1998. Nkem Owoh’s wife has always been very supportive of her husband’s career. Most of the time, Ngozi and the kids understood when he would stay away from home to shoot films. The couple lost one of their two daughters in June 2023.
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Ngozi and Nkem Owoh’s 24-year-old daughter, Kosisochukwu Nkem Owoh, died on the 28th of June 2023 after a brief illness. She was buried on the 24th of August 2023 in her father’s home in Amagu village, Udi town, Udi LGA, Enugu State.
He has supported many charity initiatives and NGOs like the Marian Mission Charity.
In 2007, Nkem was performing a musical show in Amsterdam, Netherlands, when the cops raided the venue and arrested him alongside 111 people over lottery fraud and immigration violations suspicions. Nkem was released later.
In November 2009, kidnappers abducted him and demanded 1.5 million naira in ransom. They freed him after his family allegedly paid 1.4 million naira.
Nkem Owoh is among the most celebrated actors in Africa. Fans argue that his best movie was Osofia in London.
From 2012 to date, the actor has been doing fewer movies than he used to between 2000 and 2010. Fans eagerly await to see more appearances in movies and series.
