Mr Macaroni Biography: Early Life, Career, Recognitions, Controversy, Wife & Net Worth

Adebowale “Debo” Adedayo (born May 3, 1993), better known by the stage name Mr Macaroni, is a Nigerian actor, comedian, and activist. He is recognized for his online comedy routines and parts in films, including Aníkúlápó (2022), Freedom Way (2024), and Lisabi: The Uprising (2024).

He earned the TFAA Prize for Acting in 2025 and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the AMVCAs the same year for his role in the Netflix film Lisabi: The Uprising. He premiered two films at TIFF in 2024, won Best Supporting Actor, Africa at TINFF, and was named to YNAIJA and Ebonylife’s The Nollywood 100 list. He received two honorary doctorates in 2023.

Adedayo originally rose to prominence in 2019 with his satirical social media skits, in which he played characters such as the philandering political figure “Daddy Wa” and a harsh instructor, “Professor Hard Life”. He popularized catchphrases such as “Ooin,” “Freaky freaky,” and “You are doing great.”

He is an advocate for social and civic empowerment, and he was a key figure in Nigeria’s 2020 #EndSARS movement after being a victim of police violence himself.

Who is Mr Macaroni?

Mr Macaroni was born Adebowale “Debo” Adedayo on May 3, 1993, in Lagos State, Nigeria, and raised by his parents, Dorcas Adedayo and Musa Alao Adedayo. His father, Musa, is a journalist and performer, and his mother, Dorcas, is an educator, which helped him develop his artistic abilities. Although information about his siblings is not publicly available, Mr. Macaroni was raised in a family of ten.

He attended several universities during his academic career. He began studying law at Lead City University but had to transfer owing to accreditation concerns. He later enrolled at Houdegbe North American University in Cotonou, but a disagreement with a lecturer caused him to leave. His next visit was to Afe Babalola University, where he planned to study Creative Arts, but due to accreditation issues, he ultimately graduated from Redeemer’s University.

Career

Adedayo began his career as a Nollywood actor before venturing into comedic videos. In an interview with Punch Nigeria, he stated that he had been acting for a long time, having been in movies and soap operas. He stated that movie roles stopped coming at some point, and it took him a while to decide to start doing online comedy.

Debo’s comedy explores current events and real-world challenges in Africa. He always plays the part of the sugar daddy. In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, he explained that he picked the character of a sugar daddy because it represents a large number of immoral men who are unable to restrain themselves.

His comedic sketches address social and political concerns such as ineffective governance, civic responsibility, and human rights. He often portrays a Sugar daddy politician known as “Daddy Wa” or a severe instructor known as “Professor Hardlife”.

Debo told Punch Nigeria that he realized he had a talent for humor when he mimicked Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and everyone laughed.

His skits generally involve Nollywood and Nigerian entertainment industry heavyweights such as Jim Iyke, Bimbo Ademoye, Lateef Adedimeji, Sola Sobowale, Falz, and Mr. P. He has also collaborated with other skit creators, Oga Sabinus (Mr. Funny), Kie Kie, Remote, and Broda Shaggi. He’s also featured Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife.

Debo made his big screen debut in March 2021, starring in Ponzi, a comedy film directed by Kayode Kasum, followed by the Ayinla Omowura biopic Ayinla, which was released in June. Later, he played Adura in Jade Osiberu’s criminal drama thriller, Brotherhood, and Akanji in Netflix’s Aníkúlápó. Both films debuted in September 2022.

In 2023, he played Moyale in the Netflix original Yoruba Epic film Jagun Jagun, directed by Femi Adebayo. He played Wemimo in Gangs of Lagos, which was also produced by Osiberu, and appeared in the Biodun Stephen-directed comedy Small Talk that same year. The latter landed him a Best Actor nomination at the 2024 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards.

He returned to Netflix in January 2024 to star in his third Yoruba Epic film, Lisabi: The Uprising, which is inspired on the actual 18th-century Lisabi Rebellion of Abeokuta. The film received ten nominations at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), including Best Supporting Actor for Debo.

Debo debuted two films, The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos and Freedom Way, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Freedom Way was premiered in Nigerian cinemas in July 2025, and Variety described movie as “a melodrama of heightened situations”. Both films were chosen as festival favorites at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. In June 2025, he co-starred in the critically praised film Red Circle with Bukky Wright, Lateef Adedimeji, Timini Egbuson, and Tobi Bakre.

Recognition and Accolades

Debo was President of the Student Association while attending Redeemer’s University.

In 2023, he received two honorary doctorates: Doctor of Creative Writing, Honoris Causa from Precious Cornerstone University, Nigeria, and Doctor of Arts, Honoris Causa from Hill City University, Benin Republic.

In February 2024, he was named to YNaija and BellaNaija’s list of The Nollywood 100, together with industry stalwarts Funke Akindele, Ireti Doyle, Shaffy Bello, and others.

Debo took part in the United States’ International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in July 2024, along with several other promising leaders, in Washington, DC, Miami, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles.

He earned the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2024 Toronto International Nigerian Film Festival for his role in Survivors.

Debo, together with Japanese filmmaker Shunji Iwai, Juri Ueno (actor), Miyuki Fukuma (producer), and Tao Okamoto (model-actress), served on the jury for Japan’s Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) in May 2025.

He won The Future Awards Africa Prize for Acting in November 2025, following his success with the Prize for Content Creation in 2020. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for his role in Lisabi: The Uprising.

He received the YouTube Gold Award for reaching one million followers on the channel in December 2025.

Controversy

Adedayo has participated in the End SARS movement. On Saturday, February 13, 2021, police apprehended him at Lekki Toll Gate during the #OccupyLekkiTollgate protest. After holding a sleep-in at the state house in Alausa with Rinu Oduala and a group of protestors on October 8, 2020, Adedayo proceeded to give his platform to the protests and became one of the prominent figures in the #EndSARS movement.

Protests resurfaced in February 2021 with the hashtag #OccupyLekkiTollGate after the government announced plans to restart tolling at the toll gate. Adedayo and many other activists were detained and brutalized by Nigerian police until a public uproar prompted their release.

He was later apprehended alongside 49 other protestors and arrested for breaching a Lagos State injunction prohibiting the protest. The demonstrators were granted N100,000 bail apiece and charged with violating the COVID-19 protocol on public meetings and ‘breaking an order not to protest’.

In October 2021, on the first anniversary of the Lekki massacre, prominent #EndSARS figures, including Debo, Folarin “Falz” Falana, and others, organized a successful drive-by of the toll gate in memory of the massacre victims.

In November 2021, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu asked major #EndSARS figures and stakeholders to take part in a peace walk. Adedayo fiercely rejected his offer, instead urging the government to execute the conclusions of the Lekki massacre investigation panel.

Filmography

• Doubt
• Day of Destiny
• Ponzi
• Ayinla
• Crazy Grannies
• Lugard
• Ejika The Tailor
• Online
• The Perfect Arrangement
• Flatus
• Survivors
• Kakatu
• Rubicon
• Hammer
• Brotherhood
• Aníkúlápó
• Almajiri
• Alagbara
• King of Thieves
• Gangs of Lagos
• Ran Mi Lowo (Help Me)
• World Famous
• Lockdown Love
• Jagun Jagun
• Késárí: The King
• Small Talk
• Onyeegwu
• I Hate It Here
• Aiye Nika
• L.I.F.E.
• Blacksmith: Alagbede
• Love & Crime
• Freedom Way
• The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos
• Omoge Suzzy
• Lisabi: The Uprising
• Singleness is Bliss
• Atiko
• I Am Anis
• Trade By Bata
• Olùmòtàn: Stories We Are Not Supposed to Tell
• Red Circle
• Gingerrr
• Son of Iron
• Behind the Scenes

Awards and Nominations

Mr Macaroni wife

Despite persistent reports and speculation, Mr Macaroni’s relationship status remains unknown. Known for keeping his love life private, he astonished fans in April 2022 by revealing engagement images on social media with his on-screen bride, “Mummy Wa,” portrayed by Kemi Ikuseedun. This sparked a whirlwind of curiosity about whether the couple was getting married or if it was merely another spoof.

Mr. Macaroni later clarified that he was not married to Kemi Ikuseedun and disclosed in a podcast with Adeherself that he has been single for more than ten years. In an interview with WAZOBIA FM, he described his love life as “hullabaloo” and “topsy-turvy,” confessing that he admires someone but isn’t looking for a relationship, marriage, or anything involving love affairs since he isn’t ready to “chop breakfast” (Nigerian slang for being heartbroken).

Despite being linked to various ladies in the past, Mr. Macaroni has never publicly confirmed any of them. He has no known children and is dedicated to his work as a skit maker, actor, and content developer.

Mr Macaroni Net Worth

Mr. Macaroni is a Nigerian actor, comedian, and social media personality. He has amassed a significant following on social media through his hilarious sketches, and he has also utilized his platform to promote social problems.

Mr Macaroni’s net worth has not been proven; however, it is considered to be around $500,000. He accumulated this income through a successful entertainment career that encompasses acting, comedy, and social media.

Social Media

Instagram: @mrmacaroni1