Chika Okpala

Okpala was born in Ahoada in present-day Rivers State into a family of nine children in a polygamous family who lived in harmony. He was tutored by his father's friend, whom he served as a houseboy. His father wanted him to be a banker and did everything possible to keep him on that track to achieve his goals. His father’s plan for him was influenced by his background as a businessman. As part of this plan, the young Okpala and his siblings were sent back home to their paternal grandmother in their hometown, Nnobi, in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, to stay connected to their roots.

Okpala started his formal education journey from standard 1 to 3 in his hometown, Nnobi, before he was brought back to Ahoada to continue his standard 4. But he became a handful and often played truancy with his peers. He would sneak out at night to go to cinemas to see films without his parents knowledge. On one of those occasions, one of his friends got injured while trying to sneak into the cinema house without paying. In turn, his friend's parents confronted his parents because of this incident. His father decided to take him to another village called Join karama, where he stayed with his father's friend who worked at a Baptist hospital and needed someone to stay at home and take care of his son when his wife was at the farm.

Okpala later proceeded to take his common entrance examination and was accepted at the Baptist Day School, Port Harcourt. He also attended Prince Memorial High School at Onitsha, a city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria, between 1964 and 1972.{{cite web |title=Chika Okpala aka Chief Zebrudaya Goes Back To School At Age 64yrs |url=http://www.informationng.com/2014/07/chika-okpala-aka-chief-zebrudaya-goes-back-to-school-at-age-64yrs.html |access-date=8 February 2015 |work=Information Nigeria}} He later obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in mass communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 1996.{{cite news |last=Adibe |first=Tony |title=Nobody can manage me - Zebrudaya |url=https://dailytrust.com/nobody-can-manage-me-zebrudaya/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208121032/http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/weekly/index.php/magazine-cover/17181-nobody-can-manage-me-zebrudaya |archive-date=8 February 2015 |access-date=8 February 2015 |work=Weekly Trust}}{{Cite web |date=2015-02-08 |title=PEOPLE THINK I'M AN ILLITERATE – Chika Okpala, aka Chief Zebrudaya |url=http://www.punchng.com/feature/life-times/people-think-im-poorly-educated-chika-okpala-aka-chief-zebrudaya/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208144028/http://www.punchng.com/feature/life-times/people-think-im-poorly-educated-chika-okpala-aka-chief-zebrudaya/ |archive-date=2015-02-08 |access-date=2024-10-08}}

In 2014, he was among the 700 students that matriculated at National Open University of Nigeria, Enugu State, where he enrolled for the master's programme in business management at the age of 64.{{Cite web |date=2015-02-08 |title=Chief Zebrudaya Chika Okpala Studying Business Management At Age 64 - nigeriafilms.com |url=http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/28103/27/chief-zebrudaya-chika-okpala-studying-business-man.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208114353/http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/28103/27/chief-zebrudaya-chika-okpala-studying-business-man.html |archive-date=2015-02-08 |access-date=2024-10-08}}

Okpala became popular playing "Chief Zebrudaya alias 4.30" in the popular 80s sitcom New Masquerade. His character portrays a pompous, half-educated champion of the elite who spoke in a characteristic blend of wrong grammar and witty proverbs. The sitcom uses humour to navigate complex societal issues and was a cultural touchstone that helped people with their everyday lives.{{Cite news |last=Itunu |first=Azeez Kareem |date=November 5, 2023 |title=Exploring the Legacy of the New Masquerade |url=https://guardian.ng/life/exploring-the-legacy-of-masquerade/ |work=Guardian Life}}

Okpala is married to Lizzy Evoeme and has two children, both of whom are married and have children of their own. Although he initially had three children, he lost his eldest daughter.{{Cite web |last=Okere |first=Alexander |date=2022-07-10 |title=Dad introduced 99 ladies to his parents before marrying – Zebrudaya’s son |url=https://punchng.com/dad-introduced-99-ladies-to-his-parents-before-marrying-zebrudayas-son/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} His son, Henry Okpala, is married and has a daughter. He lives and works in Nigeria. There were reports that Okpala had lost his wife, but they turned out to be rumours.{{Cite web |last=Njoku |first=Benjamin |date=February 11, 2022 |title=Chief Zebrudaya, Ovuleria of 'New Masquerade' fame mourn Natty's death |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/02/chief-zebrudaya-ovuleria-of-new-masquerade-fame-mourn-nattys-death/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}

On 4 March 2017, Okpala won the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award (AMVCA) 2017 Industry Merit.

He has also been honoured with a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Federal Government of Nigeria for his contributions to the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Okpala is an ambassador of malaria in Nigeria, an ambassador of lepers in Nigeria, and an ambassador of the National Open University of Nigeria.{{Cite web |last=Buchi |first=Blessing |date=2022-06-05 |title=Chika Okpala (Chief Zebrudaya) Biography: Wife, Age, Songs, Net Worth, State Of Origin, Comedy, Movies, Wikipedia, Children |url=https://www.thecityceleb.com/biography/entertainer/comedian/chika-okpala-chief-zebrudaya-biography-wife-age-songs-net-worth-state-of-origin-comedy-movies-wikipedia-children/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=TheCityCeleb |language=en-US}}

Okpala holds several traditional titles, including Ezeonunekwuru Ora of Nnobi, Ezekwesili of Akabo Mbaise and Ezeonunekwuru Oha of Aba.

• New Masquerade
• Professor Johnbull
• Phone Swap (2012) as Mary's Father
• Lionheart (2018) as Board Member 1
• I Believe (2018) as Pa Joseph
• Dark October (2023) as Village Chief
• savana (2014)
• Ifediche (2023)

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Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Nigerian male comedians

Category:Igbo male actors

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Enugu State University of Science and Technology alumni

Category:AMVCA Industry Merit Award winners

Category:Nigerian television actors

Category:20th-century Nigerian male actors

Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors

Category:Members of the Order of the Federal Republic

Category:Nigerian comedians