Nollywood Veteran Abiodun Ayoyinka Sheds Iconic ‘Papa Ajasco’ Persona, Rebrands As ‘Bondu Alaska’ Amid Intellectual Property Dispute

Nollywood star Abiodun Ayoyinka drops his "Papa Ajasco" name for "Bondu Alaska." Discover the trademark dispute that led to this veteran actor's rebrand.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 8:42 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Legit.ng

The Birth of Bondu Alaska

In a significant pivot for the Nigerian entertainment industry, veteran Nollywood actor Abiodun Ayoyinka has announced a total rebrand of his professional identity. In a video released on Saturday, March 21, 2026, the actor, who became a household name playing the lead in the Papa Ajasco & Company sitcom, requested that the public address him by a new moniker: "Bondu Alaska." Expressing profound gratitude for the support of his audience, Ayoyinka declared himself a "new person" and pledged to maintain his standard of excellence under the new name.

Intellectual Property and Brand Limitations

The decision to rebrand follows Ayoyinka's recent revelations regarding the financial constraints imposed by the "Papa Ajasco" trademark. The actor disclosed that because the character is legally owned and trademarked by filmmaker Wale Adenuga, he faced significant restrictions in monetizing the brand outside of official company productions. Ayoyinka noted that these limitations had affected his earnings over the years, prompting a need to establish an independent identity that he could fully control and benefit from commercially.

The Producer’s Rebuttal

The rebrand comes on the heels of a public response from Wale Adenuga, the CEO of Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP). Adenuga dismissed claims that the actor had suffered financially, asserting that Ayoyinka’s career with the company had been highly beneficial, citing the actor’s property ownership and professional status as evidence of industry-standard compensation. However, Adenuga maintained that while the actor is free to pursue other roles, the "Papa Ajasco" character remains the exclusive property of the production house, requiring formal approval for any external use.