My Experience In Kidnappers’ Den--MR IBU

Popular Nollywood actor, John Ikechukwu Okafor a.k.a. Mr. Ibu, is angry with the politics of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). In this interview, he spoke about his experience with kidnappers and other issues

Q: Sorry about the recent abduction of your friend and colleague, Nkem Owoh (Osuofia). How did you receive the news?
A: It’s sad. This is a bad development that has to be nipped in the bud. I am not happy that those smart guys have now decided to do brisk business with the kidnapping of actors. I was the first victim of kidnap last year. It’s just that my own experience was different because my abductors freed me in less than 24 hours. Just a few months ago, they also abducted Pete Edochie and now, it is Osuofia. We need to be very careful. It was one of his boys that called me that he (Osuofia) was kidnapped on Sunday night, while he was returning from Port Harcourt after a function. The kidnap, according to the boy, took place along the Aba/Port Harcourt link road and that’s all we were able to gather. Nobody can tell where he was taken to.

Q: How were you kidnapped last year and what really happened?
A: Mine was another interesting story you’d like to hear. I was at a joint somewhere around the Eastern part of the country and as we were dancing to some music, some guys drove down and parked at a distance. Immediately, I noticed that one of them danced towards my direction and pretended as if he was set to dance with me. Few minutes later, he joined me very closely and I was dancing and said “Bros, you see that car wey dey for there?” (pointing at a parked vehicle), I said yes and he said, “go enter am.” Then, I asked him why, we dey travel? He said, ‘yes’ and that I should cooperate with him, otherwise I would have myself to blame.

Somehow, I obeyed, having noticed that there was fire on the mountain. That was how I danced towards the car and the guy was dancing after me as if nothing was wrong. As I got to their car, I asked where we dey go? But the guys insisted I must not ask further questions. Then, they started playing with me as if we had known each other. After driving for a few kilometres, they took me to a boat already waiting to take off. That was how we got to their den, after travelling on water for about two hours. Although they did not harm me, they expressed their grouse with the government and requested that I must address the issue with a camera placed in front of me. I was asked to lambast the government including former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I did exactly as they commanded under duress. It was a terrible experience but I left the place smiling because at the end, they gave me a gift of N100,000 for lambasting the government.

Q: So, how come the incident was not reported in the media?
A: That’s because they freed me in less than 24 hours. It was not necessary.
Q: Going by the way you were treated by your captors, would you like to do ‘business’ with them in the future?
A: Ah, God forbid. Although they offered me money which I collected, I will never do ‘business’ with them in my life.
Q: What do you think the kidnappers want to achieve with the current abduction of actors?
A: Nobody can guess, but with my abduction and that of Pete Edochie, I think it looked similar. All they required from me was that I must talk to the people at the helm of affairs, which I did. During the abduction of Pete Edochie, I also gathered that they told him to speak with the people in government. I am sure they will do the same with Osuofia before freeing him. However, their belief that we are close to the government is nothing to write home about. I think they believe we have a link with the government and that’s why they are beginning to kidnap actors. Please, help us appeal to them to spare us in this kidnapping saga.
Q: Why is it that only AGN actors are being kidnapped?
A: That’s a question I cannot answer. They may have their reasons, but I can’t tell.
Q: When they kidnapped you, did they make any attempt to collect a ransom before they let you off?
A: No, I did not even ask for money. How could I? To my surprise, they did not ask for money either, but they gave me the money as mobilisation fee, having lambasted the government on their behalf.
Q: Did you also make them laugh during the period?
A: I can’t even remember. Maybe I did, but I wouldn’t know. I am sure Osuofia is capable of making them laugh. Let us just pray that they don’t harm my friend because I am sure he has been reeling out jokes to his captors.
Q: Let us talk about your career. Is it true that you recently did a film with Jackie Chan?
A: Oh, yes, it’s true. It is a world class project. I learnt the producers actually conducted a poll on the most loved actor among Nkem Owoh, Charles Awurum and I. But to God be the glory, they eventually contacted me and said I was tipped for the job. It was an opportunity for me to work with the best actors in Europe, America, Australia, Asia and other continents of the world. I was the only person from Africa. It was like a reality show and I really enjoyed myself.
Q: How challenging was it?
A: It was very challenging indeed. As a matter of fact, I played Okoro, the man from Africa. We combined experience and skill to achieve the project. During the shooting, I noticed that at a point, I had to be evicted because it was more of a reality show. The amazing thing was that I never knew how popular I am until over 25,000 people trooped out to protest my eviction by carrying placards and my photographs. They all insisted that they wanted Okoro in the house and so, I was not evicted. It was a big project I would forever adore.
Q: So, you did not experience any form of discrimination during the project?
A: Why would there be? They called me for a job, it’s not as if I lobbied for it.
Q: And did you learn any lessons from there?
A: With the things I learnt on that set, I can now admit that Nollywood is still far behind. We have not really gone far in this business technically, I must confess.
Q: Why were you evicted?
A: It was because I told them initially that I could excel in sports and they believed. But after they tried me in all the sports including high jump, they noticed I was just boasting. In the first place, how could they have believed that a robust man like me could jump? I even had a fracture on my leg during the jump.
Q: So, what did you learn from Jackie Chan and others?
A: The guy came with a team of macho men from Japan and he really encouraged me to do a lot of things. He even taught me karate. Right now, we are very good friends.
Q: How much did you receive for the project?
A: That is not for public consumption.
Q: Is it right to say your level has changed?
A: Well, to God be the glory.
Q: And back home in Nollywood, how do you feel?
A: Although home is home, things are not right in Nollywood. Right now, I am not happy with the rancour in AGN.
Q: But we learnt some top actors including you have adopted Segun Arinze as the president even though others believe he came in through the back door?
A: I can never support Segun Arinze’s presidency. Where is he coming from and what has he done for AGN? The record is there. He has not even updated his membership for ten years now, not to talk of paying his dues. Who elected him? To worsen the matter, he is not even a member of the Lagos chapter of AGN, so how can he claim to be president?
Q: Do you then suspect any foul play?
A: I don’t even suspect, I know there is a foul play. I learnt that there is a peace meeting in the offing between the Board of Trustees (BOT), Caretaker Committee and Segun Arinze, but if at the end of the meeting, they decide to adopt him as president, then there will be problem in AGN. With Segun as president, AGN is on the brink of collapse. The guild will divide and there will be factions.
Q: Do you have grudges with him?
A: He is my colleague and friend. Before now, AGN had been united. I have no grudges against him, but I will say the truth, no matter what it will cost me. I can keep my mouth shut if he settles for the post of vice-president, but he cannot be president, at least for now. The other time, he came to a meeting held to battle Ejike Asiegbu, who turned everything upside down. At that meeting, I can remember how Arinze castigated Asiegbu. He even donated N50,000 to remove him from office. Now, it is the same Asiegbu that installed Segun Arinze, that’s foul play. Politics is a dirty game anywhere in the world and now, it is rocking our own association.
Q: But I was thinking you are too busy to be involved in AGN politics. Why are you now showing interest in it?
A: I am not interested in the politics but as a bona fide AGN member, I have to speak the truth. The record is there. I have paid my dues as a member of the guild, I have spent my personal money for the guild and single-handedly established AGN in Italy, South Africa and other parts of the world with my money although with the approval of the leadership of the guild. So, the issue is something that has to be treated carefully. As far as I am concerned, they are all joking.
Q: What would you suggest as possible solution to the problem?
A: We need an election that will make us have new leaders. I am not in support of the plot by Segun Arinze that in the spirit of peace and unity, the BOT can now dissolve other executive members and probably constitute a new the cabinet.

Interview With Millicent Jack

Talented costumer, dancer-actress, Millicent jack, the immediate past vice president of Actors Guild of Nigeria{south-south},is the CEO of kilali Kreative Minds, based in port Harcourt .
In this interview, the best costumer of AMAA 2006, who have acted in movies like golden crown, labister, etc, spoke on the way forward for the AGN with Eric jeminiwa.
Excepts:
BACKGROUND
My name is millicient jack,I hail from Akuku-toru LGA in rivers state. I started my art career with Nabai theatre group in UST,from where I moved to the popular willy-willy theatre group then.Iam a gradute of the theatre arts from the presigous university of port Harcourt, with specialisation in children thaetre.
WHY I PARTICIPATED IN THE PORT HARCOURT AGN ELECTION
Firstly my tenure as the south-south vice president of the guild has elapsed and i strongly believe in democracy,though iam not a politian.secondly,when i got to the venue of the election,i saw highly respected actor like sam loco-Efe presiding over the election ,that produced segun arinze as the president of actors guild of nigeria with other elected national officers of the guild,which to me has given the election credibility.
AGN CRISIS
Words are very scarce in my mouth.The on going leadership crisis is not pleasant to the ears. Nollywood started very well on a good note .with the actors guild of Nigeria {AGN},which came with the sanitization in 2003. TO me AGN is like a growing child that just started crawling but was interrupted with distractions from outside. who knows of what benefit the crisis is to them .I am not a politician but I suggest we should go back to the tree of love, to love one another because presently the tree of love have being caught off.
WAY FORWARD FOR AGN
The two groups should come together{talking of Ejike Asiegbu and kanayo.o.kanayo}.It is Silly and Stupid that two mature people will be at logger heads. AS actors, we are the mirror of the society, a front runner in the nation building and the Re-branding project. we should stop washing our dirts on pages of the newspapers. To the best of my knowledge, the two of them are friends. Ejike Asiegu, once told me that kanayo.o. kanayo was his bestman during his wedding. we need to reconcile the two groups,to put the nollywood industry on right track.the actors guild{AGN} need to speak with one voice to make the reconciliation a success.
KILALI KREATIVE MINDS
It is the mind of God. God is the owner of creativity. The kilali creative minds actually started in my university days in 1994 during the long strike, Which lasted for a whole year .I told myself that I can’t sit down doing nothing. It began with kilali kiddies ,then I use to take the kiddies to shell club, Elf club and others. After my graduation, I went to Lagos because I wanted to be in front of cameras but it didn’t work out well because some of the producers then wanted me to pay my dues in bed .I told myself I can’t do this,iam agraduate of theatre arts. one day, I packed my things and headed back to port Harcourt .But God brought me back to entertainment scene through costume designing where I won the best costumer in AMAA 2006.Kilali creative minds is not all about me but with other like minded people, we Are Engaged in costume designing, cultural display, Decorations, kiddies shows and event management.
BREAK IN THE INDUSTRY
One day francis duru came to me to do costume for a movie tittled ‘king jaj a of opobo’,but I told him why don’t you give it to late Dr. Amatu Braide, so I can work under her because she is my mentor, mother, she taught me everything I know in the industry. He said no, we saw other people before coming to you. I then said okay and he dropped the script with me but I didn’t touch it for two weeks. One faithful morning after my morning devotion, I heard a voice spoke three times to me saying, ’go take the script and read it’. I read the script, after which I went to Nkwerre where the late king jaja of opobo was born and to opobo.I was able to gather my costumes with the help of Adonye pepple. Then I went for the film in lagos, which turn out a great success for me, that brought out my breakthrough in costuming.
STYLE AND FASHION
Style to me is creativity, it is innovative and originality. Style is an innovation from creative mind of an individual.
ROLE OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN NATION BUILDING AS REGARDS THE RESTIVE NIGER DELTA YOUTHS
I just concluded a training of sixteen repentant militants, who graduated from the Rivers state social Rrehabilitation Programme, which took place in Okehi in Etche LGA. It was a huge Success. The youths are rearing to go in Nolywood industry.you just watchout for them.
Entertainment is one industry one can’t live without .we can channel the minds of the youths in Niger Delta and the Nigerian youths at large from violence to focus on Entertainment which will not only put food on their table but can make them a houlsehold name . My advice for the youth is to get Educated. without education,you are a nobody.please put your talent in what you believe in, not violence, drugs. God has endowed everybody with a particular property to make success. so it’s now up to you to discover what talent God has given you.
FULFILMENT

Am fulfilled with what am doing in entertainment industry. Entertainment gives life ,love and joy. I could remember that my mother wanted me to become a lawyer and my father wanted me to be an accountant but with encouragement from late Amatu Braide, IAM what IAM Today. My parents are now very proud hearing my name doing al l these things.

I took up comdey to survive hardship------Klink da Drunk

Encountering Afamefula Igwemma off stage was a totally different experience. He cuts nothing of the picture he portrays on stage as Klint da Drunk. The Agwu_Ukwu, Nri born comedian was not born a drunk. A multi-talented artiste, Klint is not just a comedian par excellence, he’s also a musician, actor, painter and a designer.

Unknown to many, Klint trained as a painter at the Institute of Technology,(IMT) Enugu, before abandoning his brush for the stage to make ends meet. Several years, after he made his mark as one of the leading comedians in the country. Klint da Drunk in this interview, reveals why he abandoned his career in music for comedy .

He also highlights part of his plans to use his act to affect the lives of those who live under the influence of alcohol as well as how he met his beautiful wife, Lilien, his stage personality and more. We ran into this prodigious artiste, last weekend, where he attended the premiere of a comedy movie, which he played a led-role titled, ‘Eno De Sawa”, held at the Water Parks, Ikeja, with his beautiful wife, Lilien and engaged him in this revealing interview.

Find out more about Klint Da Drunk and the character he portrays from Benjamin Njoku and Ishola balogun:

Klint, when will you give up drinking on stage?

Never, I will never stop drinking. I will never stop being drunk on stage as a comedian because it’s my source of existence and livelihood. Never, I can’t stop it. It must continue.

How long have you been a humour merchant?

My brother, it has been a very long time. Like in 1993, when I gained admission to study Fine and Applied Art at the Institute of Technology,(IMT) Enugu. I was already doing certain programmes for NTA, ESBS and many other stations in Enugu then.

And that was after my secondary school education. I was doing some TV dramas as an up and coming talent. It was something few young men of my age then would want to engage themselves in because as at that time, the quest to work in an oil company, belong to those lucrative professions like medicine, law and engineering was very much in vogue.

But right from childhood, I have had this flair for entertainment. I started during my secondary school days where I would play the drunk and other comic roles. With time, it became an integral of me. I was in a drama group both in the church and in school.

I led my school band in secondary school then, and happened to be a force to reckon with when you talked of my school drama group.

In everything I did while I was growing up had some elements of humour in it. I’m not surprise today because I have always expressed that flair for entertainment right from childhood. Even when I completed my post-secondary education at IMT, Enugu, I was posted to Port-Harcourt for my National Youth Service Corps(NYSC).

But while in Port-Harcourt, instead of doing the service, I engaged myself in doing some entertainment stuff. I sojourned in Port-Harcourt for two years from 2000 to 2001, and principally engaged myself in entertaining people; going from night club to night club, performing on stage.

It was not lucrative then because there no were sponsors. Nobody then supported me. Even my parents were against my decision to go into the business of entertaining people. But because I loved what I was doing, I did not give up. I was performing for “spray-money.” I could go to four to five night clubs to perform at one night, just to have people spray money on me. Comedy for me then was for survival.

At what point would you say you started making money from the business?

It was after performing at the “Night of a Thousand Laughs” held in 2002 and 2003, at Port-Harcourt. It really exposed me and gave my the mileage I needed to move forward in the business.

Was it the highpoint of your career as comedian then?

It was obvious that when I was performing for the “spray-money”, I was never paid anything. But I would say the highest money I made as a starter then was N300. I was still at IMT when there was the need for me to perform during one of the shows held in the institution. In the past, I had done a lot of free shows and later I vowed never to do it.

As a result, the organizers of the show promised to pay me N300 at the end of the show. Between 1994 and 1995, N300 was a very big money for me as a student. At least, I was able to use the money to buy myself a second hand T-shirt and a pair of faded jersey.

That was the situation I found myself at the beginning. It was not easy for me in those days because comedy then was just for survival and not a money-making venture. We were just doing it to survive, unlike now where it has become a very big business.

How did you come about the drunken character you always portray?

I have told this story time without number. There’s this man called, Scatter Mojo. He used to be our caretaker in the village. Mr. Scatter Mojo was a real drunk, following his kind of person and the odd jobs he did in the village that usually got soaked.

So, each time he got drunk and staggered his way back to our house, I noticed that my father and my uncle usually entertained themselves on that day. Sometimes, I would mimic him, without knowing that I was consciously preparing myself to earn a living by adopting the character of a drunk. I just kept on practising what Mr. Mojo was doing. Then, I used to sing and perform on stage while I was in secondary school.

But I wasn’t really portraying the drunken comic, until one day I went for a show where I was to sing and it happened that 2Face Idibia was newly admitted into the IMT. At that show, 2Face was scheduled to go on stage before me. And when I watched him perform and heard his voice on stage, I immediately sneaked out of the place.

Were you intimidated?

Intimidation is an understatement. I was downgraded and belittled by 2Face’s performance. I felt I was stupid to even venture into singing because 2Face’s performance overwhelmed me. And because of that encounter, I decided to change my career.

2Face himself is aware of what I’m staying. He was the one that made me change my career in music. 2Face talks about it even till today.

As a result, I found solace in trying my hands in comedy, perhaps, recreating the drunk character that the man in my village was noted for. I did it once, and people embraced the act. And before I knew what was happening, I was everywhere in Enugu.

Then, I was the only functioning comedian in the Coal City. I didn’t relent in my effort as I had to set a standard for myself.

From Enugu, I started going for shows at the Abia State University, UNIZIK, UNN and until one day, I went for a show at UNIPORT. The positive reaction of the teeming audience that thronged the UNIPORT Sporting Complex venue of the show made me to relocate to Port Harcourt after graduating from IMT.

I had the feeling then that showbiz thrived in Port Harcourt. And it was a decision that actually paid off because it was in Port Harcourt that I hit the limelight.

Do you drink alcohol before mounting the stage?

No, I don’t take any alcohol before mounting the stage. No matter who you are, the moment you take alcohol, you are bound to mess yourself up. But whenever I ‘m not on stage, I used to drink occasionally, perhaps, one or two bottles are okay for me.

If you were not a comedian, what else would you have been doing for a living?

God has a way of doing things. I studied Fine and Applied Art. I’m a painter by profession. If was not a comedian, I might have been painting or acting professionally, and better still, I might have continued pursuing a career in music. I’m somehow blessed.

I still act, sing and also do my comic act. My album is coming out soon. I’m still painting, and in fact, I’m going to hold a solo exhibition of my recent works very soon. I can’t stop painting and I can’t drop my brush for anything.

At home,I still find time to paint. I love painting, and I don’t joke with my colours.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

From what happens while I’m on stage. Such happenings that elude the audience’s imagination. Sometimes, I bring in some elements of artistic imagination on stage, where I kind of play on colours to achieve harmony.

How often do you get negative and positive reactions from fans?

Yes, I do. I remember one time, a woman confronted me, telling me how she liked my comedy but does not like my act. On inquiry, she told me that my act reminds her of her former husband who used to be a drunk, adding that each time she watched me on stage, her mind always flashbacked on the circumstances that led to her divorcing her former husband.

Based on that confrontation, I’m planning a show that will kick off in Abuja and Lagos respectively very soon. It will be a travelling show, a kind of campaign resulting in making people to drink responsibly. I’m the face of who you are, that person you are not meant to be.

My face as a drunk on stage represents the faces of so many drunks that are not supposed to be drunks. Whenever you see a drunk, he’s always staggering and talking carelessly. The message is: don’t drink to be like Klint da Drunk. I’m a drunk personified. I’m not a drunk per see, but I’m a representation of who a drunk is.

Drunkenness is a feeling that lasts for a while. I’m the only person who’s in a better position to preach against drunkenness. That’s why I want to use my act to preach against drunkenness and its essences. The campaign will start off very soon. We are planning it big, and perhaps, before the first quarter of next year runs out, we would have kicked off the campaign.

I don’t have any regrets whatsoever for acting the drunk man on stage. It’s an act that has given me leverage over my contemporaries in the business. A drunk can walk up to you and called you names, and get away with it. But a sensible man who dares it will not be spared. That’s why each time I’m on stage, I tend to attack people who seat on the front row because a drunk by nature does not attack the people who are far from his reach but those people close to him.

Would you say acting a drunk gave you a wife?

God gave me my wife.

How?

I had known my wife for a long time. As a young man, I chased my wife, and before we become very close to each other, we were good friends. I met her while she was sojourning in Jos with her parents. Before proposing to her, I remember going on my kneel with one of my legs, and asking her to marry me. But one funny thing about us is that I was not really attracted to her then.

We were just good friends. But after so many years, I realised she was always there for me. Then, I started developing serious interest in her. I love my wife very much, and we have been married for years now.

What gift have you received from her?

God, through her, gave me a handsome boy. What can be more wonderful than that? When I met her, I thought she was a Hausa lady, without knowing that she came from the same state with me. Initially, I didn’t want to marry an Igbo woman because of my past experience with them.

Any nasty experience you have had so far?

A lot of them. Some people do not know how to express themselves. I recall an ugly incident that happened in Abuja when I went to eat in a restaurant with one of my ex-soldier friends. Unknown to me, there was this guy that was standing directly in front of me.

As soon as the food was served us, and I was about to drop the first spoon in my mouth, the guy gave me a hot slap across my forehead and the whole plate of rice splashed on my clothes. I was highly infuriated as a human being but I managed to control my temper. At that point, my ex-soldier friend could not stand the insult as he attacked the guy, beating him black and blue.

Later, the guy muted, “you think you want to chop, you must go and get drunk first before you can chop.” I intervened and pleaded with my friend to spare the guy. The following week, I read an article about the incident where it was reported that I attacked a fan who came to greet me somewhere in Port-Harcourt, while the incident happened in Abuja.

You have tried your hands in acting and music, featuring in Nigga Raw’s first album. Why the diversion?

I am a comedian but that does not mean that I cannot do other things. I am an adventurous person and highly so. So the music and acting part of me are part of the adventure. But with acting, the type-casting discouraged me. Must I act the drunk in all movies? So I simply moved on to other things.

Would you, someday, consider being a full fledged musician?

I am working on my album, and by the time my album comes out, it’s going to be a whole new ball game.

And the drunken comic character of yours is that part of the adventurous streak?

Yes. But it has now become my unique selling point.

I’m my husband’s number one fan—Lilien, wife of Klink da Drunk

How long you have known your husband?

I have known him for about three to four years now. I’m attracted to him because of the fact that as a man, he has a very kind spirit, soft heart and above all, he’s a very good man.

At the time he approached you, what was at the back of your mind?

I can’t tell but I have always loved him as a comedian. I have always liked and admired him. He has been my best comedian ever before I actually met him. I happened to be first fan, and was looking forward to meeting him someday.

So, when I met him, I was not disappointed at all. I liked him as a person. We were actually friends before we started dating and finally got married. At the time we were dating, we did not know that we came from the same state-Enugu State, and the knowledge of it made it easy for us to agree to marry each other.

What is it that you don’t like about your husband?

I love everything about him. I’m still trying to find out what I don’t really like about him.

I am a seductress, says Sapphire

She is a former beauty queen who found her way into the make believe worlds of movies. Armed with no formal professional experience apart from being an active member of the drama society in high school, she had only her beauty and charm to boost her profile. Several times she failed auditions but one day she got lucky. Someone noticed her beauty, charms and bingo, she was launched into stardom.
Although she may not be one of the most sought after actresses in Nollywood, Sapphire Obi can hold her own against some of the best in the industry. A self acclaimed seductress, Sapphire really knows her beat and this is how she shared her story with Bridget Amaraegbu.
Enjoy!

Tell us about your sojourn into the world of make believe ….
Really, I would say I’ve been acting since I was a kid because I still remember those good old days at St Bridget’s Primary School, Aba in Abia State , where I was the Drama Lord of my school (drama president). And in high school, I continued doing drama because I’m this kind of person who loves attention.
My school mates used to call me “Tuza Queen”, you know I like showing off myself, even when you don’t want to see me.
I won’t really say that I made up my mind to start acting, nor did I ever have plans for the industry. I just found myself in it. So, whenever there was an audition, I’‘d just go and with my ‘Tuza queen’ nature, I’d surely be noticed, even if I wasn’t chosen.
I’ve always admired somebody like Genevieve Nnaji. Permit me to say that she was always inspiring me. Each time I watch her movies, I tell myself that I want to be like her, and I love her.
Do you have any personal relationship with her?
No, but I met her once and told her, ‘I love you’ and she said she loves me too.
Apart from soap operas, how many movies have you done?
I’ve done a lot of movies but have not really played any major role. In Church Prostitute, I played the role of Oge Okoye’s younger sister. And in Unrefined Gold, I played the role of an adviser to the daughter of a senator. In My Final Will, I played the role of a lesbian and a lot of people said it was awesome.
There’s another one titled Singles and Married. I was a boyfriend snatcher. I snatched Rita Dominic’s boyfriend. I was also in Abuja Connection and so many others.
So, what was it like playing the role of a lesbian?
(Laughing). I won’t say I interpreted very well because I’m a lesbian. I had to do exactly what I had on the script. As an actor, you should be able to interpret any role very well. You should be able to wear any role you’ve accepted to do like a burden and also follow your director’s instructions strictly. An actor has to be flexible at all times with every script he/she has accepted.
How do you feel when you watch that movie?
(Laughing). I laugh each time I watch that movie and just wish I could get another role that will be worse. I’m one person that wants to explore different characters and roles, whether they are good or bad. You know it’s only when you play bad roles that you can really know how good you are. Playing a good girl role is never challenging from my own point of view.
When you watch that movie with your boyfriend, what does he tell you?
He keeps asking if I’m truly not a lesbian to have interpreted that role the way I did because I had to kiss and smooch a fellow girl. But I’m sure he’s convinced that I’m not one of them.
How often do you get movie roles?
As long as I go for auditions. Most times, it’s my Tuzaqueen nature that gets me the role, and I’m happy.
I’ll say I’m very lucky with movie roles and auditions. At this point, I want to say a big thank you to Fidelis Duker. I respect him so much and I’m really very grateful for the role in Girls Next Door. I’ll continue praying for him and his family.
When you don’t get any role for say six months, how do you feel?
I don’t feel bad. Before I got to this stage, I would naturally feel bad. I would feel like I’m not doing enough. But right now, it’s not all about the quantity of movie roles I get. What bothers me today is the quality of the movies I do. It’s possible for you to do just one quality movie in a year that will make all the difference. Right now, I am working on my own project which I am very sure will make so much difference because it won’t be all about acting but making sure that people are impacted in a lot of ways.
I am not trying to say that all the movies that’s been produced is junk but there are some movies I wouldn’t want to be associated with. I really want to be associated with quality movies, even if it means doing only one movie in a year.
Which producers’ movies do you give kudos to?
I give kudos to Simony Productions. He does quality movies though I’ve not acted in any of his movies. I was supposed to be in Boys Court produced by him but I travelled to Ghana for another job at that time. Each time I go to pick movies, I look out for his productions. I’m not saying other producers have not done well but he’s an exception.
I want to also use this opportunity to tell our indigenous producers to groom the up and coming acts so that viewers can have varieties to choose from. When you go to buy a movie today, all you see is Mercy Johnson, Ini Edo, Genevieve, Tonto Dike and a few others.
I am not saying that these people are not good. I love them but viewers want to see new faces in the industry. So the producers and marketers should make effort to groom the up and coming acts. I equally think it’s very good for the industry.
Another issue is that the up and coming actors should improve themselves. Sometimes, up and coming acts appear so boring that the producers find it very difficult to use them. I want to advise the up and coming actors to groom themselves and be able to fit into Genevieve’s shoes, believe in yourself.
Of all your movies, which one made you famous?
Hahaha, I no fit think before I say it. I give it to Girls Next Door. And I’ll remain grateful to Fidelis and his wife because even some of his crew in the production of Girls Next Door didn’t believe I could deliver. But he did.
In Girls Next Door, you played a seductive role. Was that the real Sapphire in action or just the script?
(Laughing). I don’t know how to tell lies because I believe you can’t give what you don’t have. I’m a very ‘honey person’. When you call somebody a honey person, it means body too dey sweet the person. That is me and I don’t owe anybody apologies for that.
If I’m not a real seductive person, there’s no way I would have played that role perfectly. Yes, you could say it was written out on the script but you have to put in yourself to do it well. That doesn’t make me wayward in anyway. I have a Christian background but that doesn’t take away the real me. I’m not trying to sell sex but I’m a very honey and sweet person.
What would you consider negative and positive effect of acting?
One of the positive effects of acting is it opens doors. When you’re known, you get endorsements here and there, which is the most fascinating part of it. You could travel around and nobody questions you. But the negative side is that you lose your privacy completely.
People poke their noses into your affairs so much and some even go as far as searching out your past and background, especially when you have a horrible past. And when these things go on the pages of newspapers, it devastates you emotionally. Some pressmen even cook up stories about you and the stigma is just too much to bear.
Have you had any embarrassing moment as an actress?
I don’t think so. For now, all I get are commendations and compliments.
What were some of the challenges on your way to the top?
It’s been terrible, especially when you have a dad who suddenly goes broke immediately you got your letter of admission to the University and you just couldn’t go. You just sit there and watch your mates passing out of school and there’s nothing you can do about it. I just got admission into the University for the session. I don’t want to believe that was what led me into acting.
But in life, certain things happen that make you discover who you are, and make find out those things you have that can work for you and make you stand out. So, it’s really been challenging. I had to stay with my grandmother.
How was it when your dad’s account turned red?
I know that some other young people would have gone into drugs or prostitution when they’re faced with issues like this. But I just couldn’t do any of those things. Not because I loved God so much. But because I love my body so much.
Even though I wasn’t in the University, I did all I could do to measure up with my friends who were in school. And I didn’t allow it to bother me because I knew my dad would have seen me through any level if he didn’t go bankrupt.
I want to also say that money or good roles don’t come by sleeping with men. Sleeping with producers and directors can only give you a role after which he moves on to the next catch and you’re old fashioned. My word of advice for all young people is that we should always try to allow our ability to speak for us.
Which actors are you comfortable with on set?
I’ll mention Rita Dominic because she’s cool. The day we went on set, she walked up to me and said, ‘ good day’ and I was like shey dem be say this girl is arrogant but she wasn’t. She’s humble and lively. Then for the guys, I’ll give it to Tony Umez.
How does Sapphire handle male advances?
I see men’s advances from the angle that they appreciate what they see. So, I don’t act stupid when they do that. Basically, all I do is appreciate them too.
Is this beauty walking down the aisle soon?
(Laughing) I have a sweet relationship right now and what we share is worth keeping forever. As soon as he is ready, I won’t say no.

I Never Knew I Was Dating A Fraudster - Lizy Anjorin

Lizy Anjorin, actress, producer and business lady, today debuts her new multi-million movie, Gold. She takes Adunola Fasuyi through her experience as an actress and the journey so far. Excerpts:

Tell us about the movie, Gold ?
The movie GOLD is the story of my life. In that film, I played up the terrible experience I had in the hands of my ex-boyfriend, what it cost me and how I was able to survive it. It is a movie to watch, because both men and women have a lot to learn from it.

 

Even parents will learn from it. You see, most times when young women fall into the hands of evil guys, it could be as a result of pressure from the parents on marriage, especially when the child is the only child like me. The movie is very inspirational, touching and educative. In fact, there is a woman we shot a scene in her house, when she read the story line, she burst into tears because she said Gold was exactly talking about her, that is, it is just the story of her life too. So, the movie is a nice one and I purposely did it to tell a story and teach some lessons. It is a true life story.

How much did it cost you to produce this movie?
Gold is a N5 million production. In fact, I spent more than that, but I just want to peg it at N5 million. It is not a wishy-washy movie, but produced to a standard class. I featured prominent stars in the movie and all my crew members were well paid. Besides, we also used state-of-the-art technology in producing this movie. I wrote and produced it all alone. It cost me a lot, but I thank God for the eventual success of the work.
What are you doing against your movie being pirated?
My sister, what can I do than to pray to God? That piracy thing is a very serious one and unfortunately our government is not acting as expected. But, if government will take my advice on how to fight piracy, I will suggest that they introduce Sharia laws in fighting the scourge. They should cut off the hands of any pirate caught in the act; by the time three or four pirates’ hands are cut off, others will desist.
How has the experience been like, I mean acting?
Acting is nice, very interesting. It is a good profession which, to me, every family must endeavour to produce, at least, one actor or actress. Every family should try and produce a celebrity, because being a celebrity is very sweet though the challenges that come with it can, at times, far outweigh the sweetness and popularity attached to it. The negative aspect can be worse than HIV.
Can you talk about some of your sad experiences on the job?
When I had problem with my ex-boyfriend, it was really sad. I never knew I was dating a fraudster; he stole my car, money, gold and in conjunction with his mother and a journalist friend still lied and rubbished my name in the press. It was hell! Do you know that when he published that libelous story, I was indoors for five good months? I could not go out because of the shame, the stigma and even my mother could not go out or go to church. My sister, it was hell! The negative aspect of being a celebrity, particularly when a story about you is not true, is worse than the fame and glamour of being a celebrity and even worse than AIDS. In fact, I never really knew the meaning of being a star until that incident and the publications came out.
The saddest part was that, I didn’t get any support from my colleagues in the industry, rather they helped to spread the fake story the more. Only Sikira Sindodo stood by me by calling to check on my welfare. It is really bad. I want to charge our members in the industry to eschew envy, jealousy, battle for supremacy and embrace love, support for one another because that is how the industry can move ahead. However, I thank God today. The case is still in court and the guy is in custody until judgment, because he had jumped bail twice.
Why didn’t you get support? Could it be because you are a lone ranger?
My sister, it is all envy and jealousy. Yes, I am a lone ranger and I like it that way because ladies have problems; if they don’t gossip they will fight — fight for respect or backbite. I don’t like all these attitudes; so, I prefer to move with guys who will rather advise you. They say I parole alone, but I prefer it like that. They envy me because of my substance, but they don’t know what I do to make money. It is not just acting that I do. I am into business as well. In fact, I have been doing business right from primary school. So, they see me driving this car or that car and they get jealous or feel I am doing aristo runs and I am not carrying them along. I am the only actress that entered the industry with a car and they all know that; so, I don’t understand the envy.
So, is any guy on board now?
No, no, no! I really want to take my time this time around. I believe now that all guys out there are like my ex. Honestly, I am taking my time. Besides, most guys in Nigeria now are gold diggers; they don’t want to work but want to live on women.
Plans for marriage?
I am not even thinking about that now. That was what my parents wanted and landed me in the hands of the fraudster. That is not in my plan for now. But if you ask me, I don’t mind being wife number 22 as long as there is money and peace.
Can you tell us about your background?
I am Elizabeth Anjorin, a.k.a. Iyawo Ojo kan. I hail from Badagry in Lagos State and my mum is from Yewa in Ogun State. On my educational background, I go school well o, contrary to the impression that people have about operators in the movie industry. I went to primary school in Lagos State, secondary school at Iyana Ipaja in Lagos, College of Education, Kaduna, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro where I read Banking & Finance, and then to Olabisi Onabanjo University where I studied Transport Planning & Management. So, I have NCE, OND and a degree.
You are well read. So, how did you find yourself in acting? Was it by accident or design?
It was through God and a friend. I will say it was designed by God. While growing up, I was very vocal, and I had always wanted to be a lawyer or an artist because I draw very well. I remember when I was in primary school, nobody could steal my locker because I would always draw and design my locker distinctively. I even went for an exhibition in arts in secondary school and I won. I have this artistic talent. But as I grew older, I fell in love with acting and I admire stars, even models, and I told myself that I would become a star. So, while in the Polytechnic, I started modelling; later, I went for training in acting. All these I was doing alongside schooling. I didn’t pass by this job like some others, I learnt it. I went for three years training in acting at a registered acting school called Sam Aye Production Arts & Theatre School in Abeokuta. So, I was shuttling between schooling, acting, training and doing business while in school.
What kind of business were you into then?
I do buying and selling. I sell bags, shoes, jewelry and so on. Initially, I never thought of taking acting as a profession. I wanted to be a producer or director, but I realised I could be the star I have always dreamed of. I must be seen; I must be on stage or the TV. I saw a kind of supremacy and affluence around being a star; so, I admired that and went for it.
So, was it the popularity attached to acting that geared you into the profession?
Well, not exactly, but it’s part of it. I appreciate good things.
You mean after school you went into full acting? You never worked with your certificate?
No, I never worked with my certificate. I graduated from school, finished my training as an actress and started acting

Kunle Afolayan Relocates To Ghana

Remember him? He played “Arese Jabata” in the Mainframe Film “Saworo Ide”, Kunle Afolayan, the dude that owned and played the lead role in “Irapada” has authoritatively relocated from his Ogundana Street, Ikeja office to Ghana.

A visit to the office showed the place in under lock and key as the guy has moved temporarily to Ghana for the premier of his latest effort “Figurine”. The film that has been receiving commendation is at the moment said to be gracing the big screens in most cities in Ghana. Only God and close associates know when Kunle will re-open his Lagos office.

Has Jenifer Eliogu's Marriage Crashed?

The story of broken homes in the country movie industry is becoming worrisome, especially among the female folks of the third largest movie market in the world.

Not long ago, the marriage of beautiful Monilisa Chinnda hit the rocks. Few weeks after. Lola Alao’s once happy home ended up on the pages of newspapers. If the story that is coming out from the home of he robust Nollywood actress, Jenifer Eliogu is anything to go by, it will be another imminent crash.

The story is that the international businessman husband of Jenifer has deserted her and two kids. Sources revealed that the man has finally relocated to Switzerland, where he’s accused to having s Swiss wife already waiting for him. Though the details of what went wrong are not known, but you can be rest assured that we will feed you on the happenings from time to time.