Before people started calling him “Gorilla Guy,” Chekwas Okorie was already known in Enugu’s dance and fitness scene as someone deeply
involved in entertainment and street performance culture.
But sometime around 2023, everything changed.
Instead of following the usual TikTok route of comedy skits and dance challenges, he created a strange but memorable online identity, moving like a gorilla in public spaces, interrupting normal environments with aggressive body movements, chest beating, and awkward human animal behavior that instantly caught attention online.
At first, many Nigerians thought the videos were random cruise content. Then the clips kept spreading.
Today, Gorilla Guy has become one of the most recognizable internet characters in Nigeria’s creator space.
Gorilla Guy Real Name
Gorilla Guy’s real name is Chekwas Okorie Michael, though many people online simply call him Chekwas Michaels.
Because of the similarity in names, some people mistakenly mix him up with politician Chekwas Okorie, but they are completely different people.
Gorilla Guy Age and Birthday
Chekwas Okorie was born on October 28, 1992.
As of 2026, he is 33 years old.
State of Origin
Chekwas Michaels is from Alayi in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria.
Even though many people associate him with Enugu because of his work and online presence there, he is originally from Abia State.
That southeastern background actually reflects in his content style. There’s a strong street-performance culture in many parts of the East, especially around dance, fitness gatherings, and public entertainment, and that energy shaped his personality long before social media fame arrived.
Education
One thing that separates Chekwas from many random viral creators is that he already had structure around his life before internet fame happened.
He attended Federal Government College, Okigwe for his secondary education before studying Economics at Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu, where he graduated in 2015.
People who knew him around Enugu’s entertainment scene already recognized him as someone active in dance and fitness long before the “gorilla” identity became famous online.
Career Before the Gorilla Character
Chekwas did not suddenly wake up and become Gorilla Guy overnight.
Before the viral content started, he was doing multiple things already such as a fitness trainer, dance instructor, event hypeman, entertainment entrepreneur.
He is the founder of Enugu Dancers Forum, a platform created to support dancers and performers within Enugu’s entertainment scene.
He also runs Alpha Xtreme Aerobics, a fitness brand that combines dance and workout sessions.
That background explains why his movements look controlled and physical rather than random.
There was already performance experience behind the content.
How Gorilla Guy Became Famous
The real breakthrough came when videos of him acting like a gorilla in public places started going viral on TikTok and Instagram.
The idea sounded ridiculous at first, but that was exactly why people paid attention.
Nigerian social media moves fast. If something looks different, people repost it immediately.
Chekwas understood something many creators still don’t understand, people remember characters faster than ordinary personalities.
The moment viewers saw the posture, the chest movements, the aggressive walk, the animal behavior, they instantly recognized the brand.
That consistency helped him grow very quickly online.
I Stopped Being Human in 2023 – Chekwas Okorie
One of the biggest moments in his career came after an interview clip where he explained why he embraced the gorilla character fully.
According to him, acting like a “normal human being” never changed his life financially, but becoming Gorilla Guy completely transformed his career.
In his words:
I stopped being a human being in 2023. I started being a gorilla and in just two years, I achieved times five of what I achieved all my life as a human being.
That statement went viral because it sounded funny, but many young Nigerians actually understood what he meant.
The internet rewards visibility, originality, and strong identity.
Chekwas found one thing people could instantly associate with him and stayed consistent with it.
Engagement and Marriage
He got engaged to his longtime partner and fellow content creator Jasmine in June 2024 and they both officially tied the knot in August 2025.
By late 2025, Chekwas and Jasmine welcomed their first child, a daughter named Zirachi.
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Net Worth
There’s no verified public record of Chekwas Michaels’ exact net worth.
His earnings are believed to come from:
- social media promotions
- influencer gigs
- event appearances
- fitness business
- dance-related engagements
- brand collaborations
What matters more is that the Gorilla Guy identity became commercially valuable enough to turn him into a recognizable entertainment figure nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Gorilla Guy’s real name?
His real name is Chekwas Okorie Michael.
Where is Gorilla Guy from?
He is from Alayi in Abia State, Nigeria.
Why is he called Gorilla Guy?
He became famous for acting and moving like a gorilla in his viral social media videos.
Is Gorilla Guy a dancer?
Yes. Apart from content creation, he is also known for dance and performance related entertainment.
Which university did Gorilla Guy attend?
He graduated from Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu State.
Is Gorilla Guy married?
Yes, he got married to a fellow content creator and dancer with the name Jasmine in August 2025 after engaging her the previous year.
How did Gorilla Guy become famous?
He gained popularity after videos of him acting like a gorilla in public spaces went viral on TikTok and Instagram.
What is Gorilla Guy’s net worth?
His exact net worth is not publicly confirmed, though he earns through content creation, promotions, appearances, and collaborations.
I am Precious James, a Level 400 Computer Science student specializing in Front-end Development. At 9ja Ent Hub, I bridge the gap between technology and storytelling by applying technical research methods to document the biographies of African icons.
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