Mr Macaroni (Debo Adedayo) made Daddy Wa and Professor Hard Life household names, then became one of Nollywood's highest-grossing actors. Here is his full story: education, skits, films, EndSARS activism and awards.
Quick facts
| Real name | Adebowale Babatunde Adedayo (Debo) |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 May 1993, Ogudu, Lagos |
| State of origin | Ogun State |
| Education | Theatre Arts and Film Studies, Redeemer's University (2018); RADA course (UK) |
| Famous characters | Daddy Wa, Professor Hard Life |
| Catchphrases | "Ooin", "Freaky freaky" |
| Recent film | Behind The Scenes (2025) |
| Estimated net worth | No verified figure |
Who is Mr Macaroni?
Mr Macaroni is a Nigerian actor, comedian and activist. His satirical skits about corrupt politicians and strict lecturers made him one of Nigeria's biggest online comedians, and he has since become a major Nollywood star.
Early life and education
Adebowale Babatunde Adedayo was born on 3 May 1993 in Ogudu, Lagos, and is from Ogun State. He was head boy at Babcock University High School. He started law at two universities but left both, trained as an actor at PEFTI Film Institute in 2012, and earned a degree in Theatre Arts and Film Studies from Redeemer's University in 2018. In 2025 he completed an advanced acting course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
Career
Frustrated by a shortage of good roles, he turned to online comedy and exploded in 2019 with Daddy Wa, a philandering "big man", and Professor Hard Life, a terrifying lecturer. His films include Ayinla, Aníkúlápó, Jagun Jagun, Gangs of Lagos, Lisabi: The Uprising, Freedom Way and Funke Akindele's record-breaking Behind The Scenes (2025). He was reported as Nollywood's second highest-grossing actor of 2025. He has also hosted big events such as Davido's Timeless concert.
Activism
He was a visible voice of the #EndSARS movement in 2020 after experiencing police brutality himself, was arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate in February 2021, and has led memorial walks with Falz. He works with civic groups such as Yiaga Africa and SERAP on youth voting.
Awards
He won The Future Awards Africa Prize for Content Creation (2020) and Prize for Acting (2025), was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2025 AMVCAs, and received a YouTube Gold award in December 2025.
