Long before names like Basketmouth, Bovi, AY, Klint Da Drunk became synonymous with comedy in Nigeria, or even the most recent names known for hilarious clips online such as Sabinus, Brain Jotter, Sydney Talker or Mark Angel, there were names that had already placed Nigeria on the comedic pedestal.
They had successfully done this through another medium – the small screen. Unfortunately, Nigeria and the wider African continent are mourning the death of one of these comedians – John Okafor popularly known as Mr. Ibu.
Mr. Ibu was pronounced dead on Saturday after a long cycle of illness that had resulted in one of his legs being amputated.
Reports have attributed his death to a cardiac arrest.
The actor who died at age 62 has been in and out of hospital since 2020. At one point, he claimed he had been poisoned.
Over the last four years, he had undergone seven surgical procedures, according to his family.
In February of 2022, it emerged he was admitted in hospital and was battling with a kidney disease. This sparked speculation online with many dwelling on the issue of his lack of funds to get him the necessary medical care. He quashed these sentiments and said the public was exaggerating his condition.
“God has risen me up. I am here with my wife. I haven’t gone anywhere to beg for money. I’m not saying all my friends who have visited me can’t give me money. They can give me money, no problem. But it is not as critical as they are making it seem. So, anybody whose business it is to criticize my sickness and take advantage of it, they should stop it. I can walk now, just that I cannot run,” the actor said in a post back then.
He was later discharged before he resumed his usual business of putting out visual content online.
However, not so long after, he would be admitted to hospital again and this time, diagnosed with diseased blood vessels in one of his legs. The condition affects the vascular system and can interfere with blood flow to or from the body’s organs. Vascular diseases can lead to serious cardiovascular complications, such as blood clots, heart attack, and stroke.
Faced with this condition, Mr. Ibu resorted to crowdfunding to raise funds needed to get treatment. In a video posted on his Instagram, he pleaded with his fans to support him. He revealed that doctors had told him the only viable option was to cut off his leg.
“If they cut off my leg, where do I go from here? Please pray for me. Talk to God Almighty. I don’t want my legs to be cut off. Thank you so much,” he said in the video.
Then support poured in from his fans. Including stars like Davido, PSquare, Korra Obidi, Obi Cubana and several others.
But his condition deteriorated and in November of last year, his leg was amputated, in what his family said was an attempt to arrest the health problem. The family said he had been contending with clotting of the blood in his leg.
There were calls to have the actor flown abroad for specialized care but this did not happen since medics had rendered him unfit to fly due to his condition.
A painful four years for a man who spent over two decades doing nothing but bringing joy to millions of people through the hilarious characters that he portrayed in several films.
In the early 2000s when Nigerian movies became popular in Uganda for their unique stories and relatable plots, names like John Okafor (Mr. Ibu), Sam Loco Efe (Tom & Jerry), Nkem Owoh (Osofia in London), Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze quickly became favorites for Ugandans who were looking for films that had a comical kick to them but also whose stories were closer to home.
At the point of his death, Mr. Ibu had featured in over 300 films. While his very first film was Agony (1998), it was Mr. Ibu, the 2004 film that turned the spotlight on him as an budding entertainer. In the movie, Okafor played the character of Mr. Ibu, a father grappling with the antics of his mischievous son, Muo (portrayed by Osita Iheme).
The dynamic chemistry between the duo infused the film with an irresistible charm, captivating audiences nationwide and solidifying its status as a comedic masterpiece. Mr. Ibu was such a hit so much that it birthed sequels like Mr. Ibu 2 (2005), Mr. Ibu and His Son, Mr. Ibu in London (2005), Ibu in Prison (2006) and Mr Ibu Goes to School (2005).
While many assumed Mr. Ibu was a random film character that he later adopted in real life, it turns out Ibu was his grandfather’s name. He had disclosed in several interviews that the grandfather who himself was an actor and a witty character had an immeasurable influence on him.
“To me, he (grandfather) is a better comedian. You need to see him make jokes. You need to watch him, you need to stay with him for five minutes and your lungs will be stiffed…. So before I knew it, the man’s attitude hypnotized me. I became stupid,” he said in a 2009 interview.
Some of Okafor’s other acclaimed films include Coffin Producers, Husband Suppliers, International Players, A Fool at 40, Police Recruit, 9 Wives, Keziah and Nicodemus.
Born on 17 October 1961 in Enugu State South Eastern Nigeria, John Okafor studied Mass Communication at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) in Enugu. He joined filmmaking in 1978 working behind the camera as a continuity crew member. Prior to that, he was a boxer, football coach, and karate practitioner.
Many names in the Nigerian film industry have been paying tribute to him, citing the impact he has had on Nollywood as we know it today.
“It’s sad. It is a death too many for an industry that’s designed to entertain everyone else. I had the honor of featuring Mr Ibu in my book – Three Decades Of The New Nigerian Cinema. You can’t leave a man like that out of a major project like that. He was one of the very best, not just as a comedian but as an actor. He elevated the craft and gave his best to the industry,” said Steve Oluseyi Ayorinde, a media consultant and former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State in Nigeria.
Ayorinde says Mr. Ibu’s death should be an indictment to the Nigerian entertainment industry to push for better working conditions for actors many of whom can’t afford medical insurance.
It is unfortunate, he said, that each time a filmmaker has fallen ill, they have had to resort to begging for financial support, despite the fortunes that the Nollywood film industry has made and the invaluable impact these actors have had on many people across the continent.
“They do not deserve the pain they go through.”
The Actors Guild of Nigeria paid tribute to Mr Ibu describing him as “a true icon of Nollywood”.
“Mr. Ibu’s presence in the Nigerian film industry was not just notable; it was transformative. With his remarkable talent and unparalleled comedic timing, he reshaped the landscape of Nigerian movies, leaving an indelible mark on the industry,” the Guild wrote in a statement.
The Guild said the actor brought immeasurable joy to countless souls through his memorable performances and that “his infectious laughter and boundless energy transcended screens, bringing smiles to faces in every household across Nigeria and beyond”.
“His legacy extends far beyond the realm of entertainment; it is a testament to the power of laughter and the universal language of joy. In a world often fraught with challenges, Mr. Ibu’s ability to light up the darkest of days with his humor was nothing short of miraculous.”
Fighting for his health – vascular disease – was not the only battle that the actor has had to face in the years leading to his death. He has also had to contend with family feuds, some of them life-threatening.
In 2020, Mr. Ibu publicly alleged that he had been given poison twice by people he worked with who were envious of him.
“The people that gave me [poison] are the people working with me. I swallowed another one unknowingly because I never suspected them until God opened my eyes. They paid them and gave them enough money to make sure they eliminated me,” he said.
“All these plans are from Enugu, my townspeople and age grades that are surprised that I can own something, build some houses, buy a house in Lagos. They asked them to go and kill me.”
In a 2023 interview, he was particular about the person who fed him poison twice. On both occasions, he was lucky to have been quickly given a portion of something that helped him to vomit the poison.
He said it was his younger brother that wanted him dead. Poison had already cost Mr. Ibu three close relatives including his father, elder brother and younger brother, according to his account in the 2023 interview.
In yet another family controversy, the actor’s wife, Stella Maris Okafor, in November last year accused Mr. Ibu’s adopted daughter, Jasmine, of hijacking his treatment funds.
In an Instagram post, Mrs Okafor claimed that she did not have access to the main donation account, as it was under the control of Jasmine, whom she described as a ‘total stranger.’
Earlier the same year, Mr. Ibu was entangled in another family feud after his wife Stella accused him of domestic violence towards her and that he was sleeping with Jasmine. The actor denied both allegations.
“She’s my wife but there has been so much misunderstanding between us. That’s because she doesn’t want to understand the kind of person I am and my way of life,” he said.
Mr. Ibu is survived by 14 children, 3 of whom are girls.
