Veteran Nollywood actor Abiodun Ayoyinka has officially adopted a new stage name, Bondu Alaska, marking a departure from the iconic Papa Ajasco character that defined much of his career.
In a video shared on social media, the actor introduced himself with the new identity and expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support, especially following renewed public attention from his recent viral interviews.
Ayoyinka urged fans, brands, and the public to recognise him as Bondu Alaska going forward, noting that he has also updated his Instagram handle to reflect the change.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning Nigerians. My name is Bondu Alaska. The one and only Bondu Alaska,” he said.
“I want to use this medium to thank Nigerians because they have done a lot in my life. I’m a new person now, and I promise that I will not let you down,” he added.
The name change follows a public disagreement with Wale Adenuga, founder of Wale Adenuga Productions, over rights to the Papa Ajasco brand.
According to Ayoyinka, he is unable to use the Papa Ajasco name for commercial purposes as it is trademarked by the production company. He also opened up about financial challenges, stating that despite portraying the character for many years, he did not receive the level of benefit he expected.