Amaechi Muonagor

Amaechi Muonagor (20 August 1962 – 24 March 2024) was a veteran Nigerian actor, comedian, and movie producer. He was nominated for the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for Best actor. He joined the Nigerian movie industry Nollywood in 1989 and had starred in many movies including Taboo 1&2, Aki and Pawpaw, Karishika (1998), and Aki na Ukwa (2002), Igodo (1999).

Early life Amaechi Muonagor was born in Obosi, a village in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State. He attended St. Mary's Primary School, Obosi, Oraifite Grammar School before he furthered his education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu state, where he studied economics and graduated in 1987.

Career

In 1989, Amaechi started working for NAN (News Agency of Nigeria). He left his job a few years later for an acting role in his first movie as 'Akunatakasi' in the Nigerian movie, Taboo 1. In 1999, Amaechi Muonagor starred in the movie Igodo, a movie that was known in its time. This movie earned Amaechi a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Amaechi Muonagor's popularity soared in 2003 with his performance in the Nollywood iconic comedy "Aki na Ukwa," alongside Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) and Osita Iheme (Pawpaw). This film achieved great success in Nigeria and beyond, gaining over 11 million views on YouTube years after its release. Amaechi's role earned him a nomination for Best Actor in Comedy at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

Amaechi, among other Nollywood stars like Chinyere Winifred, Ebere Okaro, joined Dr. Chris Eke of Word and Spirit Assembly, Ijegun Lagos as he marked his 40th birthday back in 2015, celebrating it with prison inmates, as well as with children at the Hearts of Gold Children's Hospice orphanage home. In 2020, Amaechi said sexual harassment is not peculiar to Nollywood as it happens in every profession.

Illness and death In 2016, it was reported that Amaechi was suffering from diabetes and had left the film industry. In 2023, he suffered from a stroke that resulted in partial paralysis of his left leg. On 24 March 2024, Amaechi died of kidney failure, at the age of 61.

Filmography Taboo 1&2 (1993) Blood Money (1997) Rituals (1997) Oracle (1998) as Igwe Karishika (1998) as Minister Jonathan Igodo (1999) The Last Burial (2000) Issakaba (2000) as Igwe State of Emergency (2000) Vanity Upon Vanity (2000) as Egwu Executive Crime (2000) as Chief Inspector Married to a Witch (2001) as Papa Aki na Ukwa (2002) as Mbakwe 2 Rats (2003) as Ndukwe Charge & Bail (2003) as Jephtah Cold War (2005) as Odimba Desperate Women (2006) as Jude End of Evil Doers (2007) as Igwe Onyima His Last Action (2008) as David Sincerity (2009) as Chief Ezekwe Without Goodbye (2009) as Chief Rufus Most Wanted Kidnappers (2010) as Utu Jack and Jill (2011) as Amadi Village Rascal (2012) August Meeting (2012) as Mazi Igwemba Ihite Kingdom (2014) as Alfred Evil World (2015) Ugonma (2015) Code of Silence (2015) Spirits (2016) Rosemary (2016) The Bushman I Love (2017) as Chief Mmili High Stakes (2019) as Pius My Village People (2021) as Ndio Aki and Pawpaw (2021) as Mazi Mbakwe Fishers of Wealth (2023) as Obiakor