NEED TO KNOW

• Adebowale Babatunde Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, is an award-winning actor, filmmaker and content creator best known for his Daddy Wa character.
• Before comedy,  Mr Macaroni studied Theatre Arts and Film Studies at Redeemer’s University and is completing a master’s degree in performance.
• His acting credits include Brotherhood, Aníkúlápó, Jagun Jagun, Freedom Way, Lisabi: The Uprising and Behind the Scenes. 
• He has also been a leading voice on governance and civic rights since the 2020 #EndSARS movement.
• In 2020, he won The Future Awards Africa Prize for Content Creation, before winning the Prize for Acting in 2025.

Millions know him as Mr Macaroni, outspoken comedian whose Daddy Wa character has become one of Nigeria’s most recognisable creations. On social media, he is fearless. On screen, he makes millions laugh. But behind the trademark attire and comic timing is Debo Adedayo, a man who admits that fame has made him more introverted, success has come with unexpected sacrifices, and purpose has become the compass guiding every major decision he makes.

In recent years, Adedayo has evolved beyond being a content creator into one of    Nigeria’s most influential public figures, using his platform to speak on governance, social justice and issues affecting young people. That journey has earned him admiration, criticism and, by his own account, personal costs. Yet, he remains convinced that influence means little if it is not used in service of others.

Speaking exclusively with Guardian Life, Mr Macaroni discusses the price of success, life beyond Daddy Wa, why he turned down lucrative endorsements, his decision to step back from marriage for now, the future of content creation, and the legacy he hopes to leave long after the applause fades. 

Many people know Mr Macaroni. Who is Debo Adedayo when the costume comes off?

Debo Adedayo is a man trying to figure things out, just like everyone else. I take life one at a time, making the most of each day. Life isn’t always easy. There are moments when you cry, talk to God and ask, “Why?” But I keep moving forward.

I’m not perfect, but I believe love is supreme. Love is what keeps us together and what can save humanity. Every day, I pray that God helps me live a life of love, one that is worth living not just for myself, but for others as well.

At what point did you realise fame had truly found you?

It found me in 2019 when I started creating content. I had been acting for many years before. Even in the universities I attended, I was very popular because I was outspoken and often occupied leadership positions, including serving as president of the students’ association.

I was always popular within any circle I found myself in. I also started acting in Nollywood while I was still in school, around 2010, and continued acting until 2019, when I began creating content, especially the Daddy Wa character, exposing men who are not well-behaved in society. I noticed many people were following me on social media and engaging with my content. 

What part of your lifestyle has changed the most since fame found you?

I have become more introverted. I used to go out more. Not necessarily to parties, but I was very friendly. I think I still am. Whenever I went somewhere, I was always lively, happy and ready to make new friends. But since fame came, I have preferred staying indoors more.

I wouldn’t blame that entirely on fame. At some point in my life, I was trying to navigate different things. I had to go through a lot after fame and success came knocking. You pray for success, but you also have to prepare for everything that comes with it.

There have been many challenges, and navigating them made me keep to myself more often than I wanted to. I am someone who likes to share. I talk a lot with my friends and family. We laugh, play and enjoy ourselves.

But over the years, since fame came, I noticed that I started hiding my pain and suffering. I keep more things to myself.

So,  the biggest change. I have become more introverted. However, that is something I plan to change moving forward.

Your Daddy Wa character has become iconic. Has there ever been a time you felt trapped by that image?

First, I am grateful to God for the creation of that character; it has become iconic to the glory of God. I have come to appreciate God for it even more.

I would say yes, sometimes I have felt trapped because it is what the audience loves and has become used to. I have been creating Daddy Wa content since 2019. However, I have also tried to create new characters, including “Professor Hard Life”. There was also a time when I played an “NYSC corps member”. I have tried different things alongside Daddy Wa.

However, because the Daddy Wa character is the most popular and iconic character in the Mr Macaroni universe, people love it and want more of it all the time, even when I am tired of it. Those are the moments when I sometimes feel trapped. I want to do something else, but I know people still want Daddy Wa. Sometimes, I ask myself, “Can we move on? What else do I want to do?”

But I have come to find a balance. I do not think I will stop creating Daddy Wa content. What I have started trying to do is make it more mature. I do not know whether “sophisticated” is the right word, but I want to make it more profound.

The character is already very accessible, but I want the character and the content to continue to evolve to the standards I am trying to build and, by God’s grace, attain.

Beyond content creation, I am also acting, and I am taking it seriously because it is what I have always done, even before content creation. I am about to complete my master’s degree in performance, with acting as my major. My bachelor’s degree was also in theatre arts.

For me, it shows that I want to continue developing myself in the best way I can. I want to keep learning because you cannot know it all. You have to continue developing yourself.

There is a certain level I am trying to reach and even go beyond, by God’s grace. I am building myself and the brand towards that. I have realised that I must balance the Daddy Wa character and the other characters in the Mr Macaroni universe.

Professor Hard Life is there, alongside Mummy Wa, Motunde, Otunba, Sapagote and many others. The family has grown so large, to the glory of God. The goal is to find that balance, which we are already doing and will continue to improve on.

For the first time, we launched the Daddy Wa Family series, and it did really well. We are working towards a second season, which we pray will be even greater and better. We are looking at what we did in the first season and how we can improve it in the second season with a new style.

Sometimes, you feel trapped because you have done something many times. However, the responsibility is on you to continue finding ways to elevate the content and make it fresher for the audience, who will continue to love it.

You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in Nollywood. Which actor or filmmaker has challenged you the most creatively?

I exceptionally love working with my brother and friend, Korede Ajayi, who plays Otunba in the Daddy Wa universe. Korede and I attended school together and studied Theatre Arts at Redeemer’s University. When I entered 100 level, he was in 200 level, but we became really good friends.

There was a healthy competition between us, and it was beautiful. He is incredibly talented and inspires me in so many ways. I always enjoy working with him.

Comedy has opened many doors for you. Do you still have a dream role in film that audiences have never seen you play?

The audience has already seen me in several projects outside comedy. I have appeared in films such as Lisabi, Brotherhood, Freedom Way and Behind the Scenes. These are great films that I am proud to have been part of, and I did not play comedic roles in them.

There is also another film that has not been released yet. That role was particularly tough because it is a very dark film.

I am an actor who loves to explore. In fact, there was a time when I stopped accepting comedy scripts for about a year or two. My management knew that if a script was purely comedy, I was not interested at the time.

I felt people already knew I could do comedy, but there was still much more I wanted to show.

I have taken on some great roles, and I do not think there is just one big dream role. There are many different characters I would still love to bring to life.

Marriage is a topic your fans constantly ask about. Has fame made finding genuine love more difficult, or are you in love already?

I wouldn’t say fame has made it more difficult to find genuine love. Maybe it’s because I’m not someone who is easily carried away. I’ve seen a lot of life, even before fame came.

I’ve had great friendships with many amazing women, and I’ve also been in love before. So, for me, it has never been a question of whether I’ll find love. I know what I want.

I’m not worried that someone might only like me because I’m famous or successful. I believe I can tell the difference.

For now, I’m stepping away from it until I’m completely convinced that marriage is an institution I truly believe in and one I’m ready to embrace.

What are your biggest non-negotiables in friendship, love and relationships?

For me, the biggest non-negotiables in friendship are love and respect. I’ve had the same friends since my university days, and even one or two from secondary school. We are a small circle, about seven or eight of us, but they’ve become one of God’s greatest gifts in my life. Everything I’ve been through, I don’t think I would have overcome without God using them to support and guide me.

Has there ever been a role, endorsement or major opportunity you turned down because it conflicted with your values?

Yes, there have been opportunities I’ve turned down because they conflicted with my personal values. One of them was promoting betting platforms. I used to promote betting brands, and I have absolutely nothing against people who still do. I respect many talented people who work with betting companies, and I believe adults are responsible for their own choices. We also have to hold ourselves accountable instead of blaming influencers for every decision people make.

However, I eventually decided to stop. After going through a difficult financial period myself and receiving messages from people whose lives had been negatively affected by betting, I felt it was no longer something I wanted to promote. If, in my own little way, I could discourage someone from borrowing money or making reckless financial decisions because of betting, then it was a decision worth making. I’ve also turned down a few film roles because I didn’t think I could honestly portray the characters based on what was required of me.

Looking at the current state of Nigeria, what makes you the most angry and what still gives you hope?

What makes me most angry about Nigeria is that we keep talking about the same problems year after year. The decadence, corruption and selfishness of our leaders are heartbreaking. To me, leadership is a position of service. Whether you’re a president, governor, senator or minister, you’ve been elected to serve the people. There is no greater privilege than that. It is painful to see people take that responsibility for granted in a country that has been blessed with so much. What breaks my heart is that many of those in power fail to lead with selflessness, sacrifice, integrity and accountability.

What gives me hope is the Nigerian people. We are incredibly talented and resilient, but I also think we’ve become too comfortable with merely surviving instead of succeeding. We’ve been conditioned to accept inadequacy and incompetence because we’ve learnt to navigate difficult situations. Yet, I believe that if we truly unite and understand the power we have as citizens, there’s no limit to what this country can become. Our leaders are not our gods. They are people entrusted with the responsibility to serve, and when we begin to hold both them and ourselves accountable, I believe there’s hope for a greater Nigeria.

Do you think too many Nigerian celebrities avoid speaking on national issues because they are protecting their brands?

Yes, it is fair to say that many Nigerian celebrities avoid speaking on national issues because they are protecting their brands. They also have the right to make that choice because we have seen how people are attacked for their beliefs. I am a living example. Since I began speaking up in 2020, I have faced several attacks from supporters of the government. But speaking up is part of who I am. I have done it since my school days, and that is not going to change.

We have also seen the consequences faced by other people who speak out. Sometimes, they are attacked not only by government supporters but also by the same people they are trying to defend. Anyone who chooses to speak must understand that it comes with consequences. You must decide whether you are willing to use your platform and voice for others, knowing that some people may not be happy about it. For me, having a large platform means I should use it to speak up.

You once spoke publicly about losing hundreds of millions of naira through debt and bad investments. What is the biggest financial lesson that experience taught you?

That experience taught me that I cannot help everybody or save the world. While I was dealing with serious financial challenges and seeking help myself, people were still reaching out to me for financial support because they did not know what I was going through. It made me realise that constantly trying to help everyone can become a bottomless pit and leave you in even more trouble.

The biggest lesson is to cut your coat according to your cloth. Do what you can, but do not destroy yourself trying to help others. Take it easy on yourself, invest wisely and never put your money into something you do not fully understand.

Content creation has become a billion-naira industry. Beyond the viral videos, what do many young creators still get wrong?

When I started creating content, going viral wasn’t the goal. I wasn’t thinking about fame or success. I was simply looking for an outlet to express my talent. At the time, I was attending auditions and hoping for my big Nollywood break. Content creation became a way to show people I could do much more than the small roles I was getting. Instead of waiting for opportunities, I created my own.

One of the biggest mistakes many creators make today is chasing virality instead of the craft. The focus has shifted from telling meaningful stories to doing whatever attracts attention. For me, every piece of content should have substance. Whether it’s comedy, family, relationships or politics, there should always be something people can learn from. That’s how I was trained. Drama should not only entertain, it should educate, inform and, hopefully, make society better. When you let the art lead, the numbers and even the virality can follow.

Looking ahead, do you see yourself being remembered more as a comedian, an actor, a filmmaker or someone who changed Nigerian entertainment?

There is a part of me in all those descriptions. I am a comedian, an actor and a filmmaker.

But beyond all that, I would like to be remembered as someone who used his platform, God-given talent, voice and existence for the good of mankind.

For me, it goes beyond entertainment. I want to be remembered as someone who wanted the world to become a better place and did his part to make that happen.