Chigul

{{short description|Nigerian comedian (born 1976)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox person | image = File:Chigul 2019 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Chigul in 2019 | birth_name = Chioma Omeruah | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|05|14|df=y}} | birth_place = Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | known_for = Voices and characters | notable_works = Out of Luck {{!}} Her Matters | education = Delaware State University | employer = | occupation = Actress {{!}} Comedian {{!}} MC {{!}} Talk show host | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = Samson Omeruah (father) | relatives = | signature = Chioma Omeruah Signature.png | website = {{URL|theonlychigul.com}} | footnotes = }} '''Chioma Omeruah'''{{Audio|LL-Q33578_(ibo)-Goodymeraj-Chioma_Omeruah.wav|Listen|help=no}} (born 14 May 1976), better known as '''Chigul,''' is a Nigerian comedian, singer and actress who is known for her accents and comedic characters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Startup Grind Lagos hosts Chioma Omeruah aka Chigul by Startup Grind |url=https://vc4a.com/startup-grind/startup-grind-lagos-hosts-chioma-omeruah-aka-chigul/ |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=VC4A |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 November 2021 |title=Nigerian celebrities Simi and Chigul expose sexism in music and Nollywood |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59134040 |access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

==Early life== Omeruah was born in Yaba, Lagos to Igbo parents. She moved away whilst still a baby. She is the second child of four children of Air Commodore Samson Omeruah and Mrs Omeruah.<ref name=dad>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150404070409/http://uunista.com/watch-chigurl-talks-chasing-dreams-tedxeuston/ Watch Chigurl talk about chasing dreams], 31 December 2014, Uunista, Retrieved 21 September 2016</ref>

== Education == She had her primary and secondary education in Lagos. During her secondary school days, she attended two Air Force secondary schools one in Jos, Plateau State, northern Nigeria and the other in Ikeja, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.<ref name=rr/> After her secondary school, she entered Abia State University (ABSU). She attended ABSU for three months. In 1994, she left ABSU to study Criminal Law at Delaware State University, ⁣<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/married-virgin-divorced-chigul/|title = Married a virgin at 33, divorced after a year... Chigul opens up about her private life|date = 30 May 2017|newspaper=TheCable}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Chioma Omeruah Archives |url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/tag/chioma-omeruah/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |newspaper=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref> at her father's request.<ref name=dad/> This was not a success, so she left after two years<ref name=tedx>[http://woman.ng/2015/05/the-leading-woman-chioma-chigul-omeruah-her-comedy-business-is-not-a-joke/ Comedy is not a joke] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111010106/http://woman.ng/2015/05/the-leading-woman-chioma-chigul-omeruah-her-comedy-business-is-not-a-joke/ |date=11 November 2020 }}, Chioma Chigul Omeruah, Woman.ng, Retrieved 20 September 2016</ref> to study French Education at Delaware State University. Omeruah is a polyglot and can speak 5 languages fluently. She returned to Nigeria after twelve years in America.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/life/on-the-cover/the-other-side-of-chioma-omeruah-aka-chigul/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title = The Other Side of Chioma Omeruah AKA Chigul|date = 25 April 2016|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

== Career == She initially became a singer under the name C-Flow, but this has been subsumed by her characters – principal of which is Chigul. Chigul speaks in a strong Igbo accent. Chigul was first heard as a recording of the song "Kilode" sent by Omeruah to her friends, but the sound was soon re-sent around Nigeria.<ref name=rr>[http://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/165963-the-rise-and-rise-of-chigul.html The Rise and Rise of Chigul], PremiumTimesNG, Retrieved 20 September 2016</ref> Chigul has been married, but this ended with no joint children.<ref name=bio>[http://www.mybiohub.com/2016/05/chigul-biography-age.html Chigul], Mybiohub.com, Retrieved 20 September 2016</ref>

Omeruah has twelve characters, but she is known as "Chigul" after her most well-known invention. She has been interviewed and lauded by a number of media outlets. She had given TEDx talks<ref name=tedx/><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCioozcEQvc |title=MAKING SUCCESS FROM WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE {{!}} CHIOMA OMERUAH {{!}} TEDxNzaStreet |date=2022-02-22 |last=TEDx Talks |access-date=2024-08-02 |via=YouTube}}</ref> and appeared as a character in the Nollywood film ''Road to Yesterday''.<ref name=ten>{{Cite news | url=https://thenet.ng/10-things-you-should-know-about-genevieve-nnajis-upcoming-movie-road-to-yesterday/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=10 things you should know about Genevieve Nnaji's upcoming movie, Road to Yesterday | date=10 September 2015 | access-date=20 September 2016 | author=Badmus, Kayode | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927093108/http://thenet.ng/2015/09/10-things-you-should-know-about-genevieve-nnajis-upcoming-movie-road-to-yesterday/ | archive-date=27 September 2016 | url-status=live |newspaper=The NET}}</ref> In 2015 she appeared as a guest on the single "Karishika" by Falz.<ref name=falz>[http://tooxclusive.com/download-mp3/falz-karishika-ft-phyno-chigul/ Karishika], TooExclusive.com, Retrieved 20 September 2016</ref> She was a 2014 honouree as the “''Comedienne of The Year”'' at ''The Sisterhoods Award'' Ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 2016 |title=Awards {{!}} EbonyLife TV |url=http://ebonylifetv.com/awards/ |access-date=28 July 2022 |website=EbonyLife TV {{!}} Everything you think you know about Africa is about to change forever. |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2020, Omeruah appeared in the Visual Collaborative electronic catalogue, in an issue called ''TwentyEightyFour'', she was featured in the same issue with Dakore Akande, Oliver Nakakande and Coppé.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Onyekwelu |first1=Stephen |title=Les Nubians, Rika, Chigul, Dakore feature in TwentyEightyFour |url=https://businessday.ng/life-arts/article/les-nubians-rika-chigul-dakore-feature-in-twentyeightyfour/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=15 May 2020 |date=6 May 2020|newspaper=BusinessDay}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Les Nubians, Rika Muranaka, Chigul, Busie Matsiko-Andan, Coppé appear in TwentyEightyFour |url=https://guardian.ng/art/les-nubians-rika-muranaka-chigul-busie-matsiko-andan-coppe-appear-in-twentyeightyfour/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=15 May 2020 |issue=Guardian Arts |date=3 May 2020|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

In September 2022, Chioma Omeruah produced and hosted ''Her Matters'', a talk-show series addressing pressing issues affecting women globally. The show provides a platform for professionals to share their expertise and personal experiences, focusing on sensitive subjects related to women's health and welfare. By covering a wide range of topics, ''Her Matters'' aims to empower women and raise awareness through informed discussions and relatable stories.

== Personal life == Her father is said to be one of the best things that happened in football. Her late dad was a three time minister for information, youth, sports and culture. He was in charge in 1985 when the Golden Eaglets won the Inaugural FIFA under-16 World Championship.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2019 |title=Chioma Chigul Omeruah: unforgettable memories of my father |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/chioma-chigul-omeruah-unforgettable-memories-of-my-father/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Nation}}</ref> Chioma speaks 5 languages French, Spanish, Igbo, Hausa and English.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2019 |title=chioma chigul omeruah: unforgettable memories with my father |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/chioma-chigul-omeruah-unforgettable-memories-of-my-father/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Nation}}</ref>

==Filmography== *''Out of Luck'' (2015) *''Road to Yesterday'' (2015) – Onome *'' Remember Me'' (2016) – Sissy *''The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai'' (2017) – Female Immigration Officer *''Scorned'' (2017) – Chigul *''Wives on Strike: The Revolution'' (2017) – Iyawo Prince *''Banana Island Ghost'' (2017) – Ijeoma *''Prince of Deceit'' (2017) – Onome *''Relatives'' (2017) – Angela *''Chief Daddy'' (2018) – Chuchu *''Crazy People'' (2018) – Lucy *''Bandits'' (2018) – Philomena *''The Ghost and the Tout'' (2018) – Chigirl *''200 Million'' (2018) – Chigirl *''She is'' (2019) – Ojugo *''Makate Must Sell'' (2018) – Chioma *''Dead Rite'' (2019) – Chigul *''The Reunion'' (2019) – Chioma Omeruah *''Your Excellency'' (2019) – Madam Echejile *''Ada the Country'' (2020) – Nkem *''Omo Ghetto:The Saga'' (2020) – Amaka *''Eyimofe (This is my Desire)'' (2020) – Mama Esther<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chioma Omeruah (Chigul) Archives |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/tag/chioma-omeruah-chigul |access-date=2024-08-02 |newspaper=Premium Times|language=en-GB}}</ref> *''Charge and Bail'' (2021) – Barrister Nkechi *''King of Boys: The Return of the King'' (2021) – Madam Chijioke *''Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke'' (2022) – Chuchu *''Inside Life'' (2022) *''Raised Apart'' (2023) - *''The Beads'' (2024) – Aunty Adanna *Scama O Rama (2024)

==Internet and television== *''Her Matters (2022)'' – Executive Producer and Host

== Television shows ==

* HQ Barbers * Relatives(2017)

== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Awards !Category !Result !Ref |- |2021 |Net Honours |Most Popular Media Personality (female) |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite news|title=Net Honours - The Class of 2021|url=https://thenet.ng/net-honours-class-of-2021/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=7 September 2021|newspaper=The NET|language=en-US}}</ref> |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{imdbname|7465273}} *[https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Chioma-Omeruah/amzn1.dv.gti.02a7db20-6883-490d-ab74-0bd170e86893/ Chioma Omeruah] on Amazon

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:People from Lagos Category:Nigerian film actresses Category:Nigerian women comedians Category:Nigerian women singers Category:Nigerian expatriate actresses in the United States Category:Delaware State University alumni Category:Igbo actresses Category:Abia State University alumni

Chigul

Connections

Linked from (38 total)

Links to (43 total)