Chidi Muokeme’s Unrivaled Niche in Screen Villainy

Ferdinand Ekechukwu

With storytelling, heroes and heroines often take center stage but with Nollywood actor, Chidi Mokeme, playing the hero isn’t his only ticket to the spotlight. Mokeme has successfully solidified his place in cinematic history with his many years as an actor and recently, a reputation for playing formidable villains. 

Yet, that’s not all, Chidi Mokeme’s journey in the entertainment industry has been marked with his striking features and commanding screen presence, he has portrayed many other characters and at some point, was the host of the beloved show “Gulder Ultimate Search.”

Here, he demonstrated his versatility, offering viewers a glimpse into his charismatic and engaging side. Despite this, we never seem to forget his villainous characters like the friend turned enemy, Major Gomos in “76,” the ruthless antagonist in “Shanty Town,” and the criminal mastermind in “No Way Through.”

Mokeme is known for his magnetic presence and intense performances, and he has shown time and time again that he is the perfect villain – the kind that will bring out depths of hatred in the audience and his latest film Tòkunbọ̀, shows that he is never letting go of that title. 

Tòkunbọ̀ premiered on Netflix on August 23, and it tells the story of an ex-car smuggler who is given three hours to deliver a government official’s daughter to her captor — or else his family will suffer the consequences. He has to choose between saving his wife, their only child, or the “daughter.”

The film is the third directorial by prolific actor and filmmaker, Ramsey Nouah.  It is an original story created by Story Hub and produced by Ramsey Films and Sozo films. Although, it stands out from the previous two, Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story and Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, which are remakes of Nollywood classics. 

The new thriller cum drama stars Chidi Mokeme alongside Gideon Okeke in the lead, Funlola Aofiyebi – Raimi, Nobert Young, Majid Michel, Adunni Ade, Ivie Okujaye, Tosin Adeyemi, Stanley ‘funnybone’ Chibunna, Darasimi Nadi and Aaron Sunday among other cast.

In the film, Mokeme plays the role of Gaza, the crime lord never to be owed. He portrays the role so spectacularly that you don’t draw parallels between this character and the famous “Scar,” whom we met in Shanty Town, despite them being almost the same character.

This time, as always, the audience looks forward to the villain’s downfall because of how beautifully Mokeme embodies the role. Undoubtedly, like wine, his characters get even better with time. –