mr ibu addresses homosexuality in nollywood

John ‘Mr Ibu’ Okafor has opened up on his
character in movies as well the issue of
homosexuality in Nollywood.
John ‘Mr Ibu’ Okafor on the set of a movie.
In an interview with Vanguard the actor talked
about how he got the name Mr Ibu from childhood.
He also revealed that he doesn’t prepare for acting
in any special way as it comes naturally to him.
“There is no preparation; it’s an in-built thing. I
love acting, and interpretation of characters given
to me doesn’t really take me time to do. Straight
ahead, I read and interpret my characters and I
enjoy it so much.
On his popular stage name, Mr Ibu, he said: “Ibu
has been my name from childhood. My grandfather
bore the name too and I took after him because as
I was growing up, they used to call me all his
names. On how I got the name in a movie,
somebody was actually writing a script that I was
going to act in. He was using my name as a
character in it and at the end of the day, they titled
the film ‘John Ibu Okafor’. It took me time to
change it from Mr. John Ibu to John Okafor; later I
left it as Mr. Ibu. ”
The comic character said he doesn’t remember
any specific high point in his career as ‘everything
is a high point for [him]’.
He also explained that acting provides enough to
pay the bills.
However; Ibu disclosed that the movie industry is
plagued with homosexuals, people he described as
‘viruses that can kill the spirit in the industry’.
“I fight vehemently against homosexuals; both
gays and lesbians,” he said.
According to the actor, “[In Nollywood] men harass
themselves, and women harass themselves, so
they are wonderfully preparing themselves for the
devil, and I tell you, they will all go to hell.”
He also recounted an experience where he publicly
embarrassed a certain man who had approached
him looking to lure him into homosexuality.
“The man that approached me will never come
close to me again in his life because I humiliated
him publicly. I called him out, and shouted his
name everywhere. Besides, if it was by looks,
nobody would approach me because I’m not fine,”
he said.
The 54-year-old actor is married to Stella Maris
Okafor and is best known for his hilarious
appearances in movies.
What stands out his brand of comedy is how he
often appears as though having a low level of
understanding.