Chioma Omeruah alias (Chigul) is an artiste, singer, comedienne and all round entertainer. She is the first daughter of the late Col. Emeka Omeruah and has a unique accent. Her road to fame began in 2009, when she did a voice note with the character Chigul. According to the lady from Oboro Ikwuano, Umuahia, Abia State, she sang a crazy song that went viral. That song launched her into stardom and Chigul is now sought after female comedian. In a chat with Sunday Sun, she talked her craft, upbringing and what she misses the most about her father.
How did you start as a comedian?
I did a voice note in 2009 with the character Chigul. Actually, it was a crazy song; it went viral and here we are.
The way you are talking to me now, is this your real voice, I thought it’s only for stage?
As I am talking to you now, this is my calm inside voice. (Laughs)
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Lagos, I grew up in Lagos and went to school in Jos. About four years later, I came back to Lagos before going to the United States in 1994. I lived there for 12 years and moved back to Nigeria in 2006.
What were you doing in the United States?
I went to high school and later studied at Daleware State University in the US. I also worked a bit before my father asked me to come home.
What do you miss about your dad?
When you see his character you feel you have a covering, I feel I’m covered but God has been the one covering us. God has been my covering. When we were young, my dad had a way of making us study harder to come out with good results and there was always a price for it.
Once you pass your common entrance my dad would give you a gift. My elder brother traveled to the Olympics in Los Angeles and he met Muhammad Ali and other sports men. I went on pilgrimage with my mum and dad. I remember we went to London, Israel and Rome.
How was growing up for you?
It was fun. When someone came to the house back then, I would always be the one to notice them and mimic them. I was always close to the TV, I could copy the characters in commercials on TV and I just made fun of everything. I watched TV a lot when I was a kid. I grew up watching television all the time. It caused me trouble so many times.
What is style for you?
Comfort. Style is looking nice but being comfortable and being practical as well. Considering everything about yourself and what you think will look nice on you. Sometimes sticking to your ground, sometimes not taking to advice on what to wear and what not to wear.
Which part of celebrity lifestyle don’t you like?
I don’t think there’s anything about being a celebrity that I don’t like right now. May be the aspect of going out and working all the time. Sometimes you want to take a break but and then you realize you can’t work forever, so you do the best that you can.
Do you still eat and walk on the road, like eating boli and roasted plantain?
Me? I can do anything. I can stop and eat on the road. I don’t have time.
If I feel like eating boli, I go and buy it. If I feel like eating corn, I go and buy it. Even if I want to eat guguru and epa (groundnut and popcorn), I will buy it and eat. I don’t like going to the market, even when I was younger I didn’t like it.
I can pay someone to go to the market. I don’t like shopping at all. Whether its supermarket or store I don’t like it.
Your commercial for Diamond Bank is really nice, what can you say about it?
It was a unique experience. I thank God for it. I have had a lot of people pass by and say, ‘This is the lady in the Salary-For-Life advert.’ It has added a plus to my career. I’m so grateful to God for the opportunity.
Were you shy on first day on stage as a comedienne? Did you have butterflies in your stomach?
Shy? I felt like I was walking on air. I’m never a shy person. Even if I try to fake it wouldn’t work.
So, were you spoilt growing up?
No way. My father was a strict military man.
He was disciplinarian. He did not spare anybody. Nobody in my house was spoilt. We didn’t have too many househelps, maybe one at a time.
My father had one who was helping him and we had one househelp like a nanny; we had cousins living with us. Our house was always full, because they came to live with us and go to school. The house was big enough.
What has life taught you?
My mantra in this world is: be humble, be grounded, work hard, know where you are coming from, have the idea of where you are going to in your head, and keep calm as much as you can. Tell people around you the truth, be aware of yourself, keep good people around you that would tell you the truth, be aware of your surroundings, and watch and pray.
Now that you are making waves as Chigul, many people would now want to come to you as friends, how do you take that?
I’m a believer of people coming into your life and people coming through your life and they stayed and they remained.
I’ve been blessed with good people around me, people who are considerate and grounded, people who remind me of where I come from, and where I’m going to and push me when they need to. I think that is the most important thing.
Did you ever envisage you would make money from talking this way?
I never thought I could make money from this. I never planned comedy; comedy just happened for me. God just created the space.
I used to serve as a compere (master of ceremonies, MC) at some time. The first time I did the comedy thing was with Basket Mouth and it was my best show ever.