Nollywood actor and filmmaker Ibrahim Chatta admitted that he dropped out of high school to pursue a career in acting.
In a recent interview with BBC Yoruba, Chatta, who began acting in 1985, shared that as a young man, he often skipped classes to perform in theaters with his colleagues.
His dedication to theater led him to abandon his high school education. Now in his fifties, Chatta continues to educate himself through online courses and programs.
He explained his journey and commitment to lifelong learning.
“I started acting very early in my life. I knew I was going to go into acting as a kid. Acting took a lot from me. It did not allow me to go to school.
”My parents would think I was in school those days but I would have followed my colleagues for what we call travel theatre. It has now transitioned into filmmaking. That was how some of our bosses started their acting career from the stage into cinema movies.
“Although, I am doing some courses in adult education that are related to acting, I did not finish my secondary school education. The English language is like every other language. It can be taught and can be heard. The English language I speak is self-taught and I love reading so much. When I was little and I bought puff-puff, I used to read the paper wrap. I read about the English Language from the books.”
Ibrahim Chatta rose to prominence with his performance in the film ‘Aiyekooto’ (2012). He has also starred in films such as ‘Atini O’go’ (2006), ‘Mafi Wonmi’ (2008), ‘Olo’ (2008), ‘Mafi Sere’ (2009), ‘Orere Laye’ (2009), and ‘Ebere Adigun’ (2010).
Other notable works include ‘Ifa Iwa’ (2013), ‘October 1’ (2014), ‘Olokiki Oru: The Midnight Sensation’ (2019), and ‘Omoyagba’ (2020).