How my dad evicted me from home because of acting – Jim Iyke

Jim Iyke, an actor, has described how his father kicked him out of the house because he decided to pursue acting.

On the most recent episode of the podcast Is This Seat Taken, which is hosted by actress Chinasa Anukam, the award-winning actor revealed this.

The 46-year-old claimed that after receiving his first degree at age 18, his father wanted him to continue his education.

Jim stressed that his late mother gave him the chance to realise himself when he said that she supported his decision to work in the film industry.

“I was a straight-A student. And the course was already, I mean, you know the Igbo parent, they decide your life before you are born and probably after you die if they outlive you,” he began.

“I was about 18 and a half when I finished my first degree. The idea was, ‘Get your MBA.’ That was the whole plan. My dad’s boss is American, so he already had a setup. And I came home one day and said, ‘I think I really want to be an actor.’”

Jim explained further, “Now, my dad’s fair argument then was that I’m excruciatingly shy. Now, how come you come out? A well-known introvert comes out to say, ‘You want to be an actor?’ But I think there was something—you know, call it female intuition or whatever. She (my mum) just believed, even before I did. I just saw a glimpse of something that made me believe this is what I wanted to do, but it wasn’t hard-formed.

“There was no core to it. There was no master plan. There was no road map. It was just a simple conviction. But she believed before I did. And I think that is what makes mothers as unique as they are.

“She started supporting. It became unbearable to stay at home. So much so that one day, my dad woke up and said, ‘Listen, there can’t be two captains on this ship. You either go get this master’s going as quickly as possible. Take one year, go do whatever nonsense you want to do, come back, and then we set the course again or you leave my house.’ So I left.”

In June 2022, Jim debunked the rumour that he had converted to Islam after photos of him in a Muslim outfit circulated on social media.