Francis Odega says rapper Olamide paid him in dollars to use his viral “Gerara Here” catchphrase, boosting his international recognition and endorsements

Nollywood actor Francis Odega has revealed that his iconic catchphrase “Gerara Here” went viral and earned him a payment from Nigerian rapper Olamide.

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Speaking on the Where Is The Lie podcast, Odega explained that Olamide reached out to request the use of his voice and lines, including “You don’t know nothing,” for a Lil Kesh song. At the time, Odega was in South Africa when he received the request.

“Olamide called me and he paid me in dollars for him to use my voice and line ‘Gerara Here’ and ‘You don’t know nothing’ in Lil Kesh’s song. I said YES,” Odega said.

The viral moment brought widespread attention, with the actor noting that even international stars such as Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent shared the clip online.

The catchphrase also opened doors to multiple endorsements, including a three-year stint as an Etisalat ambassador and appearances in DStv adverts.

Reflecting on Nollywood, Odega lamented the current state of the industry compared to his early days.

“Back then, one script would give us one unforgettable movie. But now, one script can give you seven bad movies, and that’s not right. Nollywood back then is far better than the Nollywood of today,” he said.

Odega further highlighted his pioneering role in the Nigerian film industry.

“I was among the people who made Nollywood. When we started, Nollywood was just a phenomenon. Our organisation used to be called Nigerian Actors Guild, NAG, before we later changed it to Actors’ Guild Of Nigeria, AGN,” he explained. He added that he has been active in the movie industry for three decades.

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The viral tagline “Gerara Here” remains one of the highlights of Odega’s career, bridging Nollywood, music, and international recognition.