Francis Odega Recounts Work Experience with Olamide

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Odega has opened up about his collaboration with Afrobeats star Olamide and how his famous catchphrase “Gerara here” gained widespread popularity.

Speaking during an appearance on the Where Is The Lie Podcast, the 56-year-old comic actor revealed that Olamide personally contacted him before using the phrase in a song with Lil Kesh.

According to Odega, he gave the singer permission to use his voice and signature lines in the track and was well compensated for the collaboration.

“Olamide called me and he paid me in dollars for using my voice and the lines ‘Gerara here’ and ‘You don’t know nothing’ in Lil Kesh’s song,” he said.

The actor explained that at the time of the collaboration he was in South Africa, and the artists sought his approval before lifting his voice for the song.

Odega added that the viral success of the catchphrase brought him massive attention both locally and internationally. He said the trend led to several endorsement deals and global recognition.

According to him, the viral moment attracted attention from international celebrities such as Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent, who reposted his content online.

He also disclosed that the exposure helped him secure endorsement opportunities, including serving as an ambassador for Etisalat for three years and appearing in advertisements for DStv.

The actor said the experience remains one of the highlights of his career, showing how a simple catchphrase can evolve into a major cultural moment. 🎬