Mr Odega’s movie career began in 1996, but none of the numerous movies he has done have brought him as as much fame and fortune as the five minute “Gerrarahia” clip.
So popular was the short video that it got the attention of American rapper, 50 Cent who found it very funny enough to repost on his instagram page to his millions of fans.
“I am pleasantly surprised that just one scene from a movie, which I starred in three years ago, has suddenly brought me so much attention and fame,” Odega recently told Punch.
“I don’t really know why it has taken the movie three years to garner this sort of recognition. I joined Instagram two months ago, after some social media-savvy friends of mine played the Gerara Here video, which was posted on Instagram for me. The number of comments that trailed the post blew me away and I decided to join the platform almost immediately. Within a month, I had 3000 followers and currently have 18,600 fans,” the actor said in respect to the sudden popularity of the video.”
The three-part movie entitled Welcome to South, Back from South and Agony of South was shot in South Africa and Nigeria and starred Francis Odega alongside Imeh Bishop and Dede One Day.
According to Odega,
“It was an indescribable feeling and I also felt honoured when 50 Cent began following me on Instagram. Snoop Dogg also followed suit shortly after. Both artistes are obviously huge fans of mine. Don Jazzy, PSquare, Patoranking, M.I, Sound Sultan and many other Nigerian music stars also follow me on social media.”
On being asked about his recent advertising deal, Odega said:
“Etisalat recently made me its ambassador because of the attention I have been receiving. I recently had a photoshoot for the billboards and will shoot the television commercial for the brand very soon. The concept of the billboard adverts revolves around the ‘Gerara Here’ concept,” he said.
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