Charles Okocha, popularly known by his stage name Igwe 2Pac, is a Nigerian actor, comedian, and rapper celebrated for his distinctive comic persona and instantly recognisable bastardized American accent.

Born Charles Chukwuemeka Okocha on July 5, 1976, in Anambra State, Nigeria, he was raised in Surulere, Lagos, after his family relocated there when he was young. Okocha’s entry into Nollywood came in 2001 when he met award-winning director Teco Benson, who cast him in the film Wasted Years. The role introduced him to audiences and earned him the enduring nickname Igwe 2Pac, inspired by his emulation of the late American rapper Tupac Shakur.

Over more than two decades in the industry, Okocha has appeared in over 100 Nollywood films, building a reputation for playing streetwise, larger-than-life bad-boy and comic characters. His notable credits include Three Thieves, Mokalik, Makate Must Sell, and Muri & Ko, alongside television appearances on popular shows including The Johnsons and Tinsel.

Beyond acting, Okocha has built out a multifaceted entertainment career as a comedian, rapper, and singer, frequently collaborating with fellow comic performers such as Broda Shaggi on skits that circulate widely on social media. He is also an entrepreneur, having founded the clothing brand NUNU, and serves as a brand ambassador for several Nigerian companies.

Okocha’s blend of comedy, music, and acting has made him one of the most recognisable personalities to emerge from Nollywood’s comic tradition, with his catchphrases and mannerisms remaining a fixture of Nigerian pop culture well into his third decade in the industry.