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

(1985-02-28) 28 February 1985 (age 39)
Kano, Kano State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma materNnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, producer, musician, politician
Years active2001–present
Notable workOkafor's Law
Awards2015 City People Entertainment Awards, Best Actor
Websitehttps://kenericsofficial.com/

Early life edit

Ken 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 young 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 edit

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 lime light. 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 edit

Movie Roles

Year Title Role Director Notes
2002 Holy Prostitute Doctor Chris Ubani Cameo Role
2006 Silence of the gods Onyegbula Teco Benson Home Video
2007 Eran and Erak Oliver Theodore Anyanji Feature Film
2010 Evil intention Santos Ugezu J. Ugezu Feature Film
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 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
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

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 edit

Selected 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

  1. ^ Chioma, Ella (14 September 2019). "'What happened to my marriage' - Ken Erics speaks at last". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Ola, Erinfolami (28 February 2014). "Nollywood Celebrities Birthday". Naijagists. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Ken Erics: I Once Stood from Anambra to Lagos As I Couldn't Afford the Fare". THISDAYLIVE. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  7. ^ Izuzu, Chidumga (29 February 2016). "Ken Erics: 5 things you probably don't know about actor". The Pulse Ng. Lagos, Nigeria.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Izuzu, Chidumga (29 February 2016). "Cell 2". Amymuses's Blog. Lagos, Nigeria.
  10. ^ Izuronye, Ernesta (28 February 2016). "Nollywood Actor Ken Erics Has A Passion for Music (Photos)". Nollywood Community. Lagos, Nigeria.
  11. ^ Lere, Success (23 June 2014). "List Of Winners at City People Entertainment Awards 2014". Gistmainia. Lagos, Nigeria.
  12. ^ Lere, Mohammed (18 August 2015). "Nollywood: List of celebrities who win at the 2015 city People Award". Premium Times. Lagos, Nigeria.
  13. ^ Nathan Nathaniel, Ekpo (14 December 2018). "Actor, Ken Erics Releases New Single INOZIKWA OMEE". Modern Ghana. Ghana.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Dailytimes.ng".
  16. ^ "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.


External links edit