Ekenedilichukwu Ugochukwu Eric Nwenweh, (born 28 February 1985) professionally known as Ken Erics Ugo or simply Ken Erics is a Nigerian film and television actor, writer, producer and occasional musician.[1] He is popularly known for his role as Ugo in the movie 'The Illiterate' alongside Tonto Dikeh and Yul Edochie.[2] He is from Anambra State.
Ken Erics | |
|---|---|
 Ken Erics in 2019 | |
| Born | Ekenedilichukwu Ugochukwu Eric Nwenweh 28 February 1985 Kano, Kano State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Alma mater | Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, writer, producer, musician, politician |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Notable work | Okafor's Law |
| Awards | 2015 City People Entertainment Awards, Best Actor |
| Website | https://kenericsofficial.com/ |
Early life
editKen Erics was born in Kano State, Northwest Nigeria on 28 February 1985[3] and is the sixth of seven children of Eric Chukwuemeka Nwenweh and Grace Ifeyinwa Nwenweh both of Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. He is of Igbo descent. Erics had his primary education at Binta Mustapha Science Nursery and Primary School, Kano, and his secondary education at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha, Anambra State. As a child, Erics showed a passion for the arts,[4] and this culminated in his admission to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, where he graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts.[5] He also holds a master's degree in Theatre and Film studies.[6]
Career
editThis article's factual accuracy is disputed. (October 2021) |
In 2001, as a first year student in the university, Erics got his first movie role, in the Chris Ubani directed 'direct-to-DVD' movie 'Holy Prostitute',[7] where he played a minor role as a medical doctor, with just three scenes. He went on to graduate from the university and began to attend auditions and bagged a few other cameo roles in home movies. However, his 2012 portrayal of "Ugo" in the movie 'The Illiterate' endeared him to audiences[8] and opened up more opportunities for him in the Nigerian movie industry.
As a writer, Erics' first published work Cell 2[9] has gained attention and has been used in a number of Nigerian tertiary institutions for stage productions and academic purposes.
As an occasional singer and musician who plays the guitar and keyboard,[10] Erics, who had earlier run his own musical band, has been involved in the production of a number of original movie soundtracks.
He also has acted alongside top movie stars like; Ngozi Ezeonu, Yul Edochie, Desmond Elliot, Chiwetalu Agu, Regina Daniels and more.
In 2014, Erics won the award for Best Supporting Actor at the City People Entertainment Award,[11] as well as the Best Lead Actor at the Afrifimo Awards in the United States. In 2015, he went on to win the Best Lead Actor award at the City People Entertainment Award.[12]
In 2017, Erics won the City People Entertainment Awards 2017 for Best Actor of the Year and was also nominated for the Golden Movie Awards in 2018 for Best supporting Actor.
In December 2018, Ken Erics released his first music single Inozikwa Omee after he became a superstar, because he has been making music before he came to limelight. Inozikwa Omee got his fans applauding his debut single. The sensational tune accompanied with very melodious vocals is a clear indication Ken Erics is not going anywhere anytime soon.[13]
In March 2019, Ken Erics announced that he will no longer continue his marriage to his wife, Onyi Adada. According to the Actor it became important to leave his marriage after things turned unbearable. He however, expressed happiness over ending the union.[14]
Awards
edit| Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | City People Entertainment Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ken Erics | Won |
| 2014 | Afrifimo Awards (USA) | Best Lead Actor | Ken Erics | Won |
| 2015 | Golden Icons Movie Awards (GIAMA) 2015 Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role | Ken Erics | Nominated |
| Golden Icons Movie Awards (GIAMA) 2015 Awards | Best 'on-screen duo' | Ken Erics and Kiki Omeili | Nominated | |
| City People Entertainment Awards | Best Actor | Ken Erics | Won | |
| Afrifimo Awards (USA) | Best 'on-screen duo' | Ken Erics | Nominated | |
| 2017 | City People Entertainment Awards | Best Actor | Ken Erics | Won |
| Nollywood Ambassadors Awards | Best Actor of the Year | Ken Erics | Won | |
| 2018 | Golden Movie Awards (GMA) 2018 | Best Supporting Actor | Ken Erics | Nominated |
| 2019 | South South Achievers Awards (SSA) 2019 | Male Actor of the Year | Ken Erics | Won |
Filmography
editMovie Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Holy Prostitute | Doctor | Chris Ubani | Cameo Role |
| 2004 | Danger Signal | Fellow | Teco Benson | with Tunde Alabi, Toyin Alausa |
| 2006 | Silence of the gods | Onyegbula | Teco Benson | Home Video |
| 2007 | Eran and Erak | Oliver | Theodore Anyanji | Feature Film |
| 2008 | Indian Doctor | Anyasisigwu | Theodore Anyanji | Drama |
| 2010 | Evil intention | Santos | Ugezu J. Ugezu | Feature Film |
| 2010 | Lonely Walk | Chris | Ikenna Aniekwe | With Mercy Johnson Okojie, Ngozi Ezeonu, Pete Edochie |
| 2011 | Gold not Silver | Nwokolo | Tchidi Chikere | Feature Film |
| 2011 | A Better Tomorrow | Izu | Michael JaJa | Feature Film |
| 2011 | Days of Gloom | Izu | Michael JaJa | Feature Film featuring John Dumelo, Olu Jacobs and Chioma Chukwuka |
| 2012 | The Illiterate | Ugo | Silvester Madu | Feature Film |
| 2013 | Release me oh Lord | Osita | Ifeanyi Ogbonna | Feature Film |
| 2014 | Father Muonso | Father Elijah | Vincent De Anointed | Feature Film |
| 2014 | Burning Bridges | Louis | Okechukwu Oku | Feature Film |
| 2014 | Sugarcane | Azuka | Obinna Ukeze | Feature Film |
| 2015 | Trials of Igho | Igho | Chris Eneaji | Lead/Feature Film |
| 2015 | Pot of Gold | Dubem | Okey-Zubelu Okoh | With Happiness Amadi, Tina Amuziam, Cheryl Ann Amachree |
| 2015 | Echoes of Love | Prince | Ugezu J. Ugezu | Feature Film |
| 2015 | Omalicham | Jeremiah | Ugezu J. Ugezu | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Almost Perfect | Nonso | Desmond Elliot | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Within these walls | Francis | Uche Jombo | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Valerie | Joe | Taiwo Shittu | Feature Film |
| 2016 | The Vengeance | Jeff | Goodnews Erico Isika | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Okafor's Law | Chuks A.k.A Fox | Omoni Oboli | Feature Film featuring Blossom a Chukwujekwu, Richard Mofe Damijo, Omoni Oboli |
| 2017 | Crossed Path | Jesse | Frank Rajah Arase | Feature Film featuring Okawa Shaznay, Frank Artus & Emem Inwang |
| 2017 | What Lies Within[15] | Brian | Vanessa Nzediegwu | Feature Film with Michelle Dede, Tope Tedela, Kiki Omeili |
| 2017 | Omugwo | Raymond | Kunle Afolayan | Feature Film featuring Patience Ozokwo, Ayo Adesanya, Omowunmi Dada |
| 2017 | Body Language | Lancelot | Moses Inwang | Feature Film featuring Ramsey Nouah, Tana Adelana |
| 2017 | The Bridge | Augustine | Kunle Afolayan | Feature Film featuring Chidinma Ekile, Demola, Adedoyin, Zach Orji |
| 2017 | Fate of Amanda | |||
| 2018 | You Are My Light | Samson | Vincent D Anointed | Feature Film produced by Ken Erics and featuring Yvonne Jegede, Ebele Okaro |
| 2018 | The Outcast | Prince Nnamdi | Goodnews Erika Isika | with Chacha Eke, Vincent Able, Positive Abuchi |
| 2019 | Love Melody | Obiora | Ability Tagbo | Feature Film produced by Ken Erics and featuring Rachael Okonkwo |
| 2019 | Ordinary Fellows[16] | Ekene | Lorenzo Menakaya and Ikenna Aniekwe | Feature Film featuring Wale Ojo, Chiwetalu Agu and Somadina Adinma |
| 2020 | Abike | Pascal Amanfo | Feature Film with Yvonne Jegede, Vivica Anuforo, Ego Nworji | |
| 2021 | The Pocket Book | William | Victo Onwudiwe | with Chiege Alisigwe, Duke Agogo |
| 2021 | Shadow Parties | Aremu | Yemi Amodu | Feature Film with Toyin Abraham, Merit Adewale, Segun Arinze |
| 2021 | Heat Wave | Chike | Ndave Chinweike David | Feature Film with Juliet Eberechi, Prosper Godwin |
| 2022 | Complicated | Kelvin | Emmanul Anyaka | Feature Film with Onyii Alex, Moyo Lawal, Austin Ogbuefi |
| 2022 | The Anointed Bride | Prince Izunna | Ugezu J. Ugezu | Feature Film with Nwaoha Chioma, Ibiwari Etuk, Joyce Kalu |
| 2022 | Yahoo+ (film) | Ikolo | Ebuka Njoku | Feature Film with Somadina Adinma, Lorenzo Menakaya, and Lillian Echelon Mbadiwe |
| 2023 | Beyond Desires | Jimmy | Magnus Oku & Vasilisa Forbes | Short film |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Webs | Livinus Otteh | TV series | |
| 2015 | Growing Old | Chidi | Chris Eneaji | TV series |
Stage Plays
| Title | Role | Writer |
|---|---|---|
| Hopes of the Living Dead | Hacourt Whyte | Ola Rotimi |
| Trials of Oba Ovoramnwen | Consular | Ola Rotimi |
| Hangmen Also Die | R.I.P | Esiaba Irobi |
| Childe International | Chief | Wole Soyinka |
| Everyman | Everyman | Obotunde Ijimere |
| Grip Am | Ise | Ola Rotimi |
| Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh | Prof Ogun | Esiaba Irobi |
Discography
editSelected singles
edit- Inozikwa Omee (2018)
- Thank You Baba (2019)
- Mama (2019)
- Many Mysteries (2019)
- Sugarcane Baby (2019)
- Pretence (2019)
- Anom Gi N’aka (2019)
- Love is Life (2019)
References
edit- ^ Chioma, Ella (14 September 2019). "'What happened to my marriage' - Ken Erics speaks at last". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ Favour, Ugochukwu (18 January 2013). "TONTOH DIKE, KEN ERICS, EDOCHIE STARS, THE ILLITERATE". Nigeria Films. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Ola, Erinfolami (28 February 2014). "Nollywood Celebrities Birthday". Naijagists. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Emedolibe, Ngozi (9 March 2016). "My childhood interesting, entertaining —Ken Erics". National Mirror Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Bassey, Wisdom (12 January 2015). "Interview with Actor Ken Erics One of Nollywood's Emerging faces". Daily Mail Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Ken Erics: I Once Stood from Anambra to Lagos As I Couldn't Afford the Fare". THISDAYLIVE. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Izuzu, Chidumga (29 February 2016). "Ken Erics: 5 things you probably don't know about actor". The Pulse Ng. Lagos, Nigeria.
- ^ Sean, Sean (24 November 2014). "Interview With Nollywood Ken Eric, One of Nigeria's Movie Industry Emerging Faces". Daily Mail Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Izuzu, Chidumga (29 February 2016). "Cell 2". Amymuses's Blog. Lagos, Nigeria.
- ^ Izuronye, Ernesta (28 February 2016). "Nollywood Actor Ken Erics Has A Passion for Music (Photos)". Nollywood Community. Lagos, Nigeria.
- ^ Lere, Success (23 June 2014). "List Of Winners at City People Entertainment Awards 2014". Gistmainia. Lagos, Nigeria.
- ^ Lere, Mohammed (18 August 2015). "Nollywood: List of celebrities who win at the 2015 city People Award". Premium Times. Lagos, Nigeria.
- ^ Nathan Nathaniel, Ekpo (14 December 2018). "Actor, Ken Erics Releases New Single INOZIKWA OMEE". Modern Ghana. Ghana.
- ^ JustNaijaBase (30 August 2020). "Reason Ken Erics divorced his wife Onyi Adada". NaijaBase. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ "Dailytimes.ng".
- ^ "Wale Ojo, Somadina Adinma and Chiwetalu Agu star in "Ordinary Fellows", new Nollywood movie produced by Lorenzo Menakaya » YNaija". YNaija. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.