Yemi Elesho

EARLY LIFE

Adeoye Adeyemi Elesho, popularly known as Yemi Elesho or Broda Nuru, grew up in Ibadan, Oyo State. He began acting and performing during his secondary school days, forming a drama group approved by the principal. The group rehearsed weekly and staged plays, charging fees for participation. He did not discover that veteran Nollywood actor and comedian Adewale Elesho was his biological father until he was about 10 years old. The revelation came while watching a movie with his mother, who pointed out “That is your dad.” He grew up primarily with his mother and grandmother in Oyo, and out of fear or uncertainty never asked about his father earlier. Driven by curiosity, he once ran away from home to search for his father in Lagos, leaving a note for his mother. He later studied Theatre Arts at university against his father’s initial wish for him to study Law. While in school, he produced a movie. His neighbours in Oyo State first recognized his natural talent for humour and encouraged him to monetize it by anchoring events in the neighbourhood before university. He moved to Lagos after school, where he fully realized the value of his talent.

CAREER

Yemi Elesho is a popular Nigerian comedian, actor, MC/emcee, and content creator. He began his professional journey in acting and drama during secondary school, then produced his first movie after school (which was initially rejected by marketers; he and a friend sold it themselves in markets like Idumota and Alaba). He produced two more movies with limited success before taking a break. His comedy career developed naturally, heavily influenced by his father’s legacy in Nollywood. He started anchoring events locally, then rose through social media skits (often in Yoruba) with comedic takes on social issues. He has appeared in movies such as Kakatu (2022) and Badcop (2023). His fans have supported him by contributing to equipment for his skits. He has joined the elite group of social media comedians in Nigeria and continues to work as an MC and actor. His father later gave him encouragement to pursue the path of entertainment.

PERSONAL LIFE

Yemi Elesho maintains a relatively private personal life. His relationship with his father, Adewale Elesho, was unknown to him for much of his childhood. He has described the emotional impact of discovering the truth and the eventual support from his father, who later encouraged him to “continue from where he stopped.” Yemi credits his mother’s influence and his upbringing for shaping his resilience. He is known for his candid interviews about family secrets and personal growth.

He is the son of veteran actor Adewale Elesho, and his journey is often described as “like father, like son.” He has built a career blending comedy, acting, and event hosting while navigating personal family revelations. His work emphasizes humour, social commentary, and entertainment in both traditional Nollywood and digital spaces.