Chidi Mokeme Reveals The Reason Why He Took A Break From Acting 

The veteran actor had been absent from the performing world for more than five years prior to his return.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

Chidi Mokeme revealed his reason for taking a break from acting in a recent interview.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Rubbin Minds’ over the weekend, the legendary Nollywood actor said that he was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a rare ailment that causes an abrupt weakening in the muscles on one side of the face.

In his words, “Yeah I have been off the film for a while. After we did the promotional tour for 76 and we went to the Toronto International Film Festival. I will say something that I haven’t actually said somewhere else because after that, as we were preparing to go to the UK for the British International Film Festival, I came down with something called Bell’s Palsy, it was the first time I was hearing it.”

Following his diagnosis, Mokeme attempted to continue working until it was evident that he needed to take a break.

He said, “I thought it was something I could move around with, I tried to come for the Lagos premiere of 76 at the time but the attention was sort of focused on the face rather than the premiere. Then I knew it was not something that I could work with. I will take time off to try and sort out that problem. So in the meantime, I just focused on doing my other business.”

The popular actor also educated the audience on his unique health issue and his mental state at the time of the diagnosis.

According to him, “Bell’s Palsy comes like a stroke and it’s something that affects one side of your face and sort of gives you a droop. It was something that the doctors felt was incurable because they didn’t know what causes it, they didn’t know how to treat it. So, as an actor if you come down with something that affects your face, you can imagine what I must have been going through that time.”

Mokeme makes a comeback as Scar, the male protagonist in the recently released Nigerian series ‘Shanty Town.’

The six-part series, which was created by Xavier Ighorodje and Chichi Nworah, tells the tale of three hustlers from Lagos who band up to fight the greatest and most brutal criminal organization in the state.

Icons of Nollywood like Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ini Edo, Chidi Mokeme, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Shaffy Bello, Ali Nuhu, and Uche Jombo are among the illustrious cast members.

Zubby Michael, Nancy Isime, Omowunmi Dada, Mercy Eke, Sola Sobowale, Regina Daniels, Judith Audu, and Peter Okoye of P-Square, who are all favorites of the audience, are also included.