“I Came Down With Bell’s Palsy” – Chidi Mokeme Explains His Hiatus From Acting

Nollywood OG, Chidi Mokeme has come out to shed some light on the topic of his absence from the movie scene prior to new crime-thriller series Shanty Town.

Chidi was notably absent from the acting scene after the release of historical drama ’76 in 2016 before making his return in the 2021 drama, The Therapist. Explaining his absence on an IG live on TV show, Rubbin’ Minds, the actor revealed that he was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, a condition that weakens the muscles on one side of the face, after promoting ’76 back in 2016.

“We were preparing to go on a trip to the UK for the British International Film Festival when I came down with something called Bell’s Palsy,” he said.

The actor further revealed that the diagnosis caused him to take a break from acting to focus on other business ventures while he nursed himself back to good health, in his own words, “I said I will take time off to try and go sort out this problem that needed my face to be in top shape.”

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Chidi Mokeme currently leads the new crime thriller Shanty Town, a 6-part series currently streaming on Netflix that follows a group of courtesans’ attempts to escape the grasp of a notorious kingpin all while political corruption and blood ties makes their freedom a near-impossible goal.

It also stars Ini Edo, Nse Ikpe Etim, Richard Mofe Damijo, Nancy Isime, amongst others.