“The English I Speak Today Is Self-Taught,” Actor Ibrahim Chatta Reveals Why He Dropped Out of Secondary School

Nollywood actor and filmmaker Ibrahim Chatta recently revealed that he dropped out of high school to pursue his passion for acting. In an interview with BBC Yoruba, Chatta shared that he began his acting career in 1985, often skipping school to perform in theaters with his colleagues.

Chatta explained that his dedication to theater led him to abandon his high school education. Now in his fifties, he continues to educate himself through online courses and programs.

“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,” he said. “My parents would think I was in school, but I would have followed my colleagues for what we call travel theater. It has now transitioned into filmmaking. That was how some of our bosses started their acting career from the stage into cinema movies.”

Chatta added, “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 I speak is self-taught, and I love reading. 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) and has since starred in numerous films including ‘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).

Chatta’s story highlights his commitment to lifelong learning and his passion for acting, which has driven him to achieve success despite the challenges he faced.