When it comes to OGs of the Nollywood industry, you would be hard pressed if you fail to mention Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedezie. They are the culture and culture is them.
From memes, to comical flicks, their roles as Aki and Pawpaw remain a Nollywood legacy. This new video game – Aki and Paw Paw Epic Tun only serves to further prove that.
Remember that in 2021, Charles Okpaleke-led Play Network company had purchased the rights to the duos’ 2002 blockbuster Aki na Ukwa and produced the film’s remake the same year.
Now, it is the same franchise that they developed into the first ever Nollywood video game, collaboration with Blueportal Software.
The video game, Aki and Pawpaw Epic Run, draws inspiration from Subway surf(in terms of the endless run) and original 2002 blockbuster, AKI na Ukwa, where both Chinedu Ikedezie and Osita Iheme played architects of mischief.
It is set in locations like East, Lasgidi (Lagos) and Sambisa (Borno) and has an air of originality that stems from the only-in-Nigeria bustle background audio.
What a power move from Charles Okpaleke? Definitely tops his remakes-acquisition-spree.
With initiatives like these, deserving actors can finally get their long overdue flowers, and for African creatives, a precedent to always showcase their heritage anywhere and everywhere has been set.
Kudos to Charles and his team.
I hope this marks the beginning of greater things for deserving actors and the Nollywood industry, at large.
