Renowned Nollywood actor, producer, and director Tchidi Chikere has shared a heartfelt tribute to legendary actor Olu Jacobs on social media.
In a recent post on his official Facebook page, Tchidi revealed that many older men in the eastern region opposed his decision to cast Olu Jacobs as an Igbo Chief, arguing that Jacobs lacked an understanding of their traditions. Despite their objections, Tchidi persisted and continued to cast Jacobs in these roles.
Tchidi emphasized that at the time, many older men in the east openly questioned why producers chose Olu Jacobs for the role of an Igbo Chief. They argued that Jacobs was Yoruba and unfamiliar with Igbo culture, asking him why he was casting Jacobs for the Igwe role, and doubting his knowledge of breaking kola nut and traditional rites.
Despite this, Tchidi smiled and cast him even more frequently in those roles. He asserted that Olu Jacobs is the best, praising him as a true gentleman who never lost his cool or got angry throughout all the years they worked together, from 'Ijele' in 1999 to the present. ( Photo credit : Instagram )
He remarked, "Many older guys in the east at the time openly wondered why producers preferred to cast Olu Jacobs as an Igbo Chief. They said he was Yoruba and had no fundamental understanding of Igbo Culture, they said 'Tchidi why are you casting Olu Jacobs for the Igwe role? What does he know about breaking kolanut and the traditional rites?".
"I smiled and I cast him even the more and in more roles. Uncle Olu Jacobs is the best, yes I said what I said. A gentleman to the core, never seen him loose his cool or get angry in all the years I have known him and worked with him from Ijele in 1999 till date, he was a peacemaker on set, he didn't give nobody no trouble, his age didn't cause him to ever have any sense of entitlement or look down on us who started watching his movies as kids while he dazzled as Inspector Best Idafa in the now rested NTA series, The Third Eye", Tchidi Chikere wrote and it stirred massive reactions from the general public.
Below is screenshot of his post