Nollywood actor, Chidi Mokeme, who recently made a comeback in newly-released Nigerian series on Netflix, ‘Shanty Town’, has revealed the reason for his absence on the screen in the last five years.
The actor played the imposing ‘Scar’ character in the crime thriller and has since been receiving commendation for what many consider an outstanding performance.
In a recent interview with Channels Television’s ‘Rubbin Minds’, the Nollywood actor disclosed that he was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, a rare condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.
Recounting how it all started, he said: “ I have been off films for a while. After we did the promotional tour for ’76 and we went to the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016. 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.”
According to him, after the diagnosis, he tried to continue working but it dawned on him that he had to take a break.
“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 rare health condition and state of mind at the time of the diagnosis.
In his words, “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.”
He also spoke on how he has stayed relevant over the years, comments about his latest role, how Nollywood can build on its current successes and safeguard itself from exploitation.
Created by Xavier Ighorodje and Chichi Nworah, ‘Shanty Town’ follows the story of three Lagos-based hustlers who unite to wage war against the biggest and most ruthless crime ring in the state.
It casts Nollywood icons such as Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ini Edo, Nse ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Shaffy Bello, Ali Nuhu and Uche Jombo among others, in addition to Mokeme.
The six-part series also featured Zubby Michael, Nancy Isime, Sola Sobowale, Regina Daniels, Judith Audu and Peter Okoye of P-Square.
