The talented actor is considered by colleagues to be a chameleon when it comes to assuming characters to translate his roles. In this engaging interview, the Prince of Kosoko from a Royal Family of Lagos chronicles talks about the history of film productions in Nigeria, his family, and the art of acting.
There have been arguments over when Nollywood came into
existence. In your own view, when did the film industry emerge in Nigeria?
Nollywood is
more than 20 years old as against what people think. They make reference to
Living in Bondage (1992) which was not the pioneer film in Nigeria. I produced
Asiri nla that same year. Film production in Nigeria started in the 60s but
most of the films were documentaries.
Do you mind taking us down the memory
lane?
Professor
Wole Soyinka produced Kongi Harvest which did not have a commercial viability
then. Commercialised film-making in Nigeria started in 1976 with Ajani Ogun
produced by Dr. Ola Balogun . This film experimented on the already existing
Yoruba theater created by the likes of Herbert Ogunde, Baba Sala, Duro Ladipo,
Kolawole Ogunmola , Ogungbe, etc. who were as at that time,acting on stage.
Ajani Ogun
was in celluloid and that was the first film that started the revolution of
film-making in Nigeria. Other films like Ija Ominira, Aiye, etc. also followed
suit.
The process
of film production could not be completed in Nigeria because our laboratories
lacked the equipment needed for the post production, so many producers had to
travel abroad. In 1985 when the economic Structural Adjustment Programme of the
country started, many film producers could not make enough money to travel
abroad for the post production of films. Along the line, Alade Aromire broke
the jinx and produced a film using a video projector. Although the production
was of low quality, it recorded a huge success like the celluloid.
After this, I
produced Asiri Nla and Adebayo Salami produced Asewo to re meka in 1992 to
improve on the low quality. Tunde Kelani followed with Ti oluwa nile. And that
started the second revolution, improving on what was on ground. In the late 90s
the third revolution started. Living in Bondage by Kenneth Nnebue &
Okechukwu Ogunjiofor started the incursion of other tribes into the industry.
Kenneth
Nnebue had produced Aje niya mi and other films for NEK Videos before Living in
Bondage. Living in Bondage did have its impact on the Nigeria film industry, in
terms of equipment, post production etc., but can never be a point of reference
when thinking about when Nollywood came into existence.
You started acting when many parents
did not believe in the industry. How did you manage?
I started
acting professionally in 1964 at age 10. But I starred in a professional
production which was even before film production. My parents were not happy
with my choice of career just like other parents. But I was rascally as a
child. I engaged in things that many of my mates never could dare. My parents
felt I was to be entertained as a royal prince and not the other way round.
What do you think influenced your
choice of career?
My passion
for acting. Also, I lived in the same vicinity with Papa Hubert Ogunde on the
Island and had some of his children as friends. I used to admire how people
shouted his name whenever he drove round the street and I prayed to be like
him. So, when the opportunity came, even as a child, I grabbed it with both
hands.
What do you think you would have
become if you didn’t go acting?
Sincerely, I
don’t know if I could have succeeded outside the creative world. Acting and
entertainment is my calling.
What are the things you consider
before accepting roles?
I have gotten
to a stage where I cannot afford to be part of a bad production. The first
thing I consider is the quality of the script. I also put who the producer is
into consideration. A bad producer will only deliver a bad production because
he will not be able to get able hands to work with. The director and the
caliber of actors and actresses invited to narrate the story are also other
factors to consider.
Which film sold you to the world?
One film
doesn’t bring an actor to limelight rather continuity does. When people see a
particular face in good productions, they will note the face and as time goes
on, they will reckon with the face. And that is how the fame comes. That is why
I detest some of my colleagues who believe they can turn one actor to a
celebrity overnight. A continuous process of quality film productions brought
me to limelight.
You are an
authority in the film industry, a role model to many actors and actresses, one
of the pioneers in the industry, one of the few Nigerians who have been able to
participate both in Yoruba and English films. What does all these mean to you?
They mean
dedication, hard work and most importantly, God’s blessing.
And how has your work affected your
life?
It has robbed
me of my privacy. The moment you become a public figure, your life becomes
other people’s business. You have to pretend to be a gentleman even when you
are a rascal. We learn to stage-manage our lives even when we are not on set.
Many of us have learnt to live a fake life to suit and keep our fans, people
who see us as role models.
How have you been managing your role
as a father, husband, actor, role model, etc., over the years?
These are
different sectors of my life. I know my responsibility as a father. I have
eight of my kids who have graduated from the University. I make the money from
being an actor to play my role as a father and husband. I try my best to remain
focused and hardworking to remain a role model to many people.
I never
envisaged being a polygamist though I am a product of one. My parents didn’t
support it too. My first wife was a business woman. I craved for somebody who
was in the same field with me. In those days, the best advice you got was from
your better half and that was how the second woman came to be. Along the line,
I lost the two to childbirths within 11months interval.
I had seven
children as at that time, so I didn’t plan remarrying or having more children
again. But after much persuasion from my doctor and relatives, I decided to
have a woman with the agreement of not having more children but a complete
African woman will not agree to that. One thing led to the other and I got two
women again. So being a polygamist was not intentional but God’s design over
which I do not have power.
Do you mind sharing those things that
led to your marrying two women again?
The situation
that surrounded marrying my wives made me go for the two.
What has been the worst thing ever
written about you and how did you react? Bad reporting
is just bad. I can’t place my hand on the worst. I have decided not to react
because I believe I am bigger than them. Also, the more I react, the more
copies they sell. I need not cry over split milk at this level.
Many are of the opinion that actors
are very promiscuous. What’s your take on that?
That is far
from the truth. In fact, ours is one of the professions whose members are very
disciplined. People tend to make noise out of everything we do as public
figures. That is not to say we do not date or sleep with each other. The
profession is a blessed one and people should please see the good side of our
profession too. We educate, entertain, admonish, enlighten the world through
our artistic works.
I am working
on a movie titled Kobiowu meaning measurement. It is like a semi-epic movie and
I intend shooting by April.
The Nigeria film industry has more
than one professional body. Do you think having an umbrella body to regulate
the profession will be better?
I think so.
Associations are being regulated by a guild in every nation of the world. And
their guilds are under a council which serves as the executive. Just like some
people believe that the National Film and Video Censors Board are regulating
the film industry in Nigeria, this is not true because that is outside their
jurisdiction.
The film
industry needs a body managed by the film-makers and not a parastatal owned by
the government. The National Film and Video Censors Board classify our films
but they do not serve as a regulatory body. We need our own council and an
umbrella body which will soon emerge.
Are you as funny in real life as you
are in movies?
Life itself is a stage; it is just natural, it comes with the genes. I won’t call myself a comedian, but an actor must be versatile. You act any role given to you, you act the script you are given. Some people would say “Jide Kosoko, you are a crossover artiste, you act in English movies and you also act in Yoruba movies.” It is the script that I’m given that I act.
Life itself is a stage; it is just natural, it comes with the genes. I won’t call myself a comedian, but an actor must be versatile. You act any role given to you, you act the script you are given. Some people would say “Jide Kosoko, you are a crossover artiste, you act in English movies and you also act in Yoruba movies.” It is the script that I’m given that I act.
How many children do you have?
I can’t be
precise but my children are more than a dozen.
You have power onisekuse
ReplyDeleteSORRY FOR UE LOSS BUT IT IS NO EXCUSE FOR TWO WIVES
ReplyDeletewho is the 2nd wife i only know the one above
ReplyDeleteWill watch the latest film, good actor he is
ReplyDelete