Popular Nollywood actor, James Ikechukwu, better known as Jim Iyke, has opened up on how he came about his stage name.
Speaking in an interview with media personality, Temisan Emmanuel, of Tea with Tay podcast, which was published on Friday night, the actor noted that he wanted to make a name for himself that was different from his family’s.
Jim Iyke revealed that he doesn’t share the same last name with his six sisters.
Sharing the story behind the change of name, Jim Iyke said; “We don’t share the same last name. My real name is James Ikechukwu Esomughua Okelue. Okelue is my great grandfather’s name and everybody goes with that last name.
“Of course, from day one I figured that part out before I knew what was going on in the industry.
“I said that if I’m going to embark on this journey, I’m going to go alone. I’m going to go through the trials and ups and downs that comes with this journey and if it works, I’ll be the centre of it.
“If it doesn’t, I’d have exempted this people from whatever comes with it.
“I’ve had that strategy from day one and now, there’s an extension of it to my next generation; my sons.
“I said, how about if I’m so famous and I can’t walk around in public places, what would happen to my relationship with my sisters?
“I took that decision then and said, ‘you know what? What can I take away from my name?’ James – Jim; Ikechukwu – Iyke. And that was it. Jim Iyke was born.”