Nigerian actor and comedian Francis Odega has revealed how he came up with his now-famous catchphrase, “Gerara Here.”
Speaking in a recent interview, Odega explained that the popular line was never part of the original movie script but was instead improvised during filming in Umuahia. The movie also featured actors like Bishop Umoh and the late Dede One Day.
How “Gerara Here” was created
According to Odega, the script initially required a simple pidgin phrase meaning “leave here.” However, he decided to creatively modify it to better suit his character—a returnee from South Africa trying to sound more polished while speaking to villagers.
To achieve this, he coined the phrase “Gerara Here,” giving it a unique and humorous twist that stood out.
He also introduced other memorable lines, including “You don’t know nothing,” to further develop the character’s personality and make the dialogue more engaging.
From improvisation to viral fame
What started as an on-the-spot improvisation eventually went viral, turning “Gerara Here” into a widely recognised catchphrase. The phrase significantly boosted Odega’s popularity, earning him recognition both in Nigeria and internationally.
In his words:
“Gerara Here came from a movie I shot in Umuahia with Bishop Umoh and the late Dede One Day. It wasn’t in the script—I created it myself. The script originally had ‘comot here,’ but I changed it.
The character was someone returning from South Africa, and you know such a person wouldn’t be speaking pidgin to villagers, so I adjusted the line to sound different. When they didn’t understand, I even added the Igbo version to make it clear.”
His revelation has since sparked interest among fans, many of whom were surprised to learn that one of Nigeria’s most iconic comedy lines was purely an improvisation.
Watch video below…
@firstmatemultimedia Nollywood actor Francis Odega reveals that his viral catchphrase “Geh-ra-ra here!” and other famous slogans were never in the script. He created them right on the movie set! Pure talent. Pure originality. #whereisthelie #podcast #firstmatemultimedia #nollywood #interview ♬ original sound – firstmatemultimedia
