Mr Macaroni

An indigene of Ogun State, Adebowale Babatunde Adedayo was born in Ogudu, Lagos into an Upper middle class, Islamic and Christian family on May 3, 1993. He grew up in Magodo area of Lagos where he attended Tendercare International Nursery. He went to Primary school in Ojota, Ogudu{{Cite web |last=Abdullahi |first=Idowu |date=2022-03-24 |title=I studied at four universities before graduating - Mr Macaroni |url=https://punchng.com/i-studied-at-four-universities-before-graduating-mr-macaroni/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} and then attended Babcock University High School. In 2009, he gained admission to Lead City University, where he studied law but was forced to leave by his second year due to the university's accreditation issue.{{Cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/519360-why-i-attended-four-universities-mr-macaroni.html?tztc=1 |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}}

By 2011, Adedayo was a law student at Houdegbe North American University Cotonou in the Republic of Benin but was forced to leave before earning his degrees.{{Cite news |last=Idowu |first=Abdullah |date=24 March 2022 |title=studied at four universities before graduating – Mr Macaroni |work=The Punch Newspaper |url=https://punchng.com/i-studied-at-four-universities-before-graduating-mr-macaroni/ |access-date=28 December 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Ademola |first=Olonilua |date=24 Mar 2022 |title=Why I Attended Four Universities Before Graduating — Mr Macaroni |work=The Daily Trust |url=https://dailytrust.com/why-i-attended-four-universities-before-graduating-mr-macaroni/ |access-date=28 December 2023}}

Upon leaving Cotonou, Adedayo decided to discontinue his education and pursue a career in acting. After being featured in a few film and television roles his parents convinced him to resume his education. He went on to study Theatre Arts at Afe Babalola University before switching to Redeemer's University Nigeria in 2013 where he earned a degree in Theatre Arts and Film Studies in 2018.{{Cite web|title=After Struggling for 10years, Actor, Debo Adedayo Graduates with Upper Credit|url=https://www.modernghana.com/nollywood/34657/after-struggling-for-10years-actor-debo-adedayo.html|access-date=2 March 2021|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}

Adedayo started as an actor{{Cite web|date=30 January 2021|title=Mr Macaroni: I'm single, but not searching|work=The Nation Nigeria|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/mr-macaroni-im-single-but-not-searching/|access-date=2 March 2021|language=en-US}} in Nollywood before creating comedy videos.{{Cite web|date=26 December 2020|title=Mr. Macaroni walks through narrow tubes|work=The Nation Nigeria|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/mr-macaroni-walks-through-narrow-tubes/|access-date=2 March 2021|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Naughty requests from ladies are appreciation of my works –Mr. Macaroni|url=https://punchng.com/naughty-requests-from-ladies-are-appreciation-of-my-works-mr-macaroni/|access-date=2 March 2021|website=Punch Newspapers|date=10 January 2020|language=en-US}} In an interview with Punch Nigeria, he said that he had been an actor for a long time by doing movies and soap operas. He said movie roles were no longer coming at some point and it took a while before he decided to start online comedy.

Debo's comedy addresses events and real issues in Africa.{{Cite web|date=13 July 2021|title=How Mr. Macaroni Is changing the face of the comedy industry and pushing other talents along {{!}} By Adetayo Omotoyosi Adeolu|url=https://qwenu.com/2021/07/13/how-mr-macaroni-is-changing-the-face-of-comedy-industry-and-pushing-other-talents-along-by-adetayo-omotoyosi-adeolu/|access-date=30 July 2021|website=Qwenu!|language=en-GB|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730115452/https://qwenu.com/2021/07/13/how-mr-macaroni-is-changing-the-face-of-comedy-industry-and-pushing-other-talents-along-by-adetayo-omotoyosi-adeolu/|url-status=dead}} He always plays the role of a sugar daddy. In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, he said he chose the role of a sugar daddy because it represents a good percentage of naughty men who cannot control themselves.{{Cite news|last=Adeoye|first=Faith|date=1 February 2020|title=I always find it hard to see myself as a comedian —Adedayo, Mr. Macaroni|work=Nigerian Tribune|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/i-always-find-it-hard-to-see-myself-as-a-comedian-adedayo-mr-macaroni/|access-date=2 March 2021}}

His satirical skits highlight social and political issues like bad governance, civic responsibility, and human rights. He typically plays the role of a Sugar daddy politician known as "Daddy Wa" or a strict lecturer known as "Professor Hardlife".{{cite web | last=Omorogbe | first=Paul | title=(OPINION) Debo Adedayo: Mr Macaroni and socio-political activism | website=Tribune Online | date=2022-06-05 | url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/opinion-debo-adedayo-mr-macaroni-and-socio-political-activism/ | access-date=2022-07-28}}

Debo, in an interview with Punch Nigeria, said he knew he had a flair for comedy when he would mimic Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and everyone would laugh.{{Cite news|date=11 January 2020|title=Naughty requests from ladies are appreciation of my works –Mr. Macaroni|work=Punch Nigeria|url=https://punchng.com/naughty-requests-from-ladies-are-appreciation-of-my-works-mr-macaroni/}}

His skits typically feature veterans of Nollywood and the Nigerian entertainment industry, like Jim Iyke, Bimbo Ademoye, Lateef Adedimeji, Sola Sobowale, Falz and Mr. P. He has also featured fellow skit makers like Oga Sabinus (Mr. Funny), KieKie, Remote, and Broda Shaggi. He has also featured Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife.{{cite web | last=Ogunsemore | first=John | title=Mr Macaroni features Tony Umez in sizzling new comedy skit (Video) | website= | date=2020-10-04 | url=https://www.herald.ng/mr-macaroni-features-tony-umez-in-sizzling-new-comedy-skit-video/ | access-date=2022-07-28}}

Adedayo has been active in the End SARS movement.{{Cite web|date=14 February 2021|title=#OccupyLekkiTollgate: They beat, threatened to kill us – Mr Macaroni tells experience with police|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/02/occupylekkitollgate-they-beat-threatened-to-kill-us-mr-macaroni-tells-experience-with-police-video/|access-date=2 March 2021|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=22 February 2021|title=WATCH: Mr Macaroni hails #OccupyLekki protesters in 'One Coward, 39 Heroes' skit|url=http://lifestyle.thecable.ng/watch-mr-macaroni-hails-occupylekki-protesters-in-one-coward-39-heroes-skit/|access-date=2 March 2021|website=TheCable Lifestyle|language=en-US}}

On Saturday, 13 February 2021, police arrested him at Lekki Toll Gate during the #OccupyLekkiTollgate protest.{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/news/mr-macaroni-arrested-by-police-at-occupylekkitollgate-protest/|title=Mr Macaroni arrested by Police at #OccupyLekkitollgate protest|access-date=2 March 2021|website=guardian.ng|date=13 February 2021}}

After staging a sleep-in at the state house in Alausa, with Rinu Oduala and a group of protestors on the 8th of October 2020, Adedayo continued to lend his platform to the protests and became one of the key faces of the #EndSARS movement.{{cite web | last=Online | first=Tribune | title=#ENDSARS: How Nigerian celebrities, social media influencers backed protests | website=Tribune Online | date=2020-10-17 | url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/endsars-how-nigerian-celebrities-social-media-influencers-backed-protests/ | access-date=2022-07-28}}{{cite web | last=Egbas | first=Jude | title=Mr Macaroni, #EndSARS protesters, spend the cold night at Lagos House of Assembly | website=Pulse Nigeria | date=2020-10-09 | url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/mr-macaroni-endsars-protesters-spend-night-at-lagos-house-of-assembly/q8x50wc | access-date=2022-07-28}}

In February 2021, upon learning that the government intended to resume tolling at the toll gate, protests resumed once again under the #OccupyLekkiTollGate movement. Adedayo and numerous other protestors were arrested and savagely brutalized by the Nigerian police till public outcry forced their release.{{cite web | last=Olasupo | first=Abisola | title=Mr Macaroni arrested by Police at #OccupyLekkitollgate protest - Nigeria and World News | website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News | date=2021-02-13 | url=https://guardian.ng/news/mr-macaroni-arrested-by-police-at-occupylekkitollgate-protest/ | access-date=2022-07-28}}{{cite web | last=Augoye | first=Jayne | title=#OccupyLekkitollgate: How policemen took turns to beat me - Mr Macaroni | website=Premium Times Nigeria | date=2021-04-18 | url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/455925-occupylekkitollgate-how-policemen-took-turns-to-beat-me-mr-macaroni.html | access-date=2022-07-28}}

He was subsequently picked up [https://koko.ng/endsars-police-took-turns-to-beat-me-mr-macaroni/ among 49 other protesters] and arrested for defying the Lagos State directive against the protest. The protesters have since been granted N100,000 bail each and arraigned on charges bordering on flouting the COVID-19 protocol on public gatherings and ‘breaking an order not to protest’.

In October 2021, on the 1-year anniversary of the Lekki massacre, key #EndSARS figures, including Debo, Folarin “Falz” Falana, and others, led a successful drive-by event at the toll gate in memory of the massacre victims.{{cite web | last=Adediran | first=Ifeoluwa | title=#EndSARS Memorial: Police disperse protesters at Lekki tollgate | website=Premium Times Nigeria | date=2021-10-20 | url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/490786-endsars-memorial-police-disperse-protesters-at-lekki-tollgate.html | access-date=2022-07-28}}{{cite web | title=The EndSARS memorial paid due respect to a Nigerian tragedy - Quartz Africa | website=Quartz | date=2021-10-20 | url=https://qz.com/africa/2076571/the-endsars-memorial-paid-due-respect-to-a-nigerian-tragedy/ | access-date=2022-07-28}}

In November 2021, the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu invited key #EndSARS figures and stakeholders to participate in a peace walk. His offer was vehemently rejected by Adedayo, who instead urged the government to implement the findings of the panel that investigated the Lekki massacre.{{cite web | title=EndSARS: Mr Macaroni, Falz reject Sanwo-Olu's invite for peace walk | website=Punch Newspapers | date=2021-11-30 | url=https://punchng.com/endsars-mr-macaroni-falz-reject-sanwo-olus-invite-for-peace-walk/ | access-date=2022-07-28}}

• List of Nigerian comedians

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• {{IMDb name|id=12354481}}
• {{official website|https://mrmacaronitv.com}}

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Category:1993 births

Category:Living people

Category:Nigerian male comedians

Category:Redeemer's University Nigeria people

Category:Nigerian Internet celebrities

Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors

Category:Nigerian male film actors

Category:Nigerian activists

Category:Actors from Ogun State

Category:People from Ogun State

Category:Yoruba actors

Category:Nigerian comedians