How my Nigerian dream was blocked —Olaiya Igwe
22.Nov.2014 DISQUS_COMMENTS
Nigerian Tribune )
Ebun Oloyede, popularly has been an actor in the movie industry for over two decades. He speaks with JOAN OMIONAWELE on the challenges trailing his latest movie, ‘The Mystery of Unity’, his life and other issues. Excerpts:
How has it been in the movie industry?
It is not bad, but the professionals and practitioners are bad, they are not doing things the way they should be done.
How do you mean?
Many professionals don’t view the industry the way they should view it. We don’t produce movies the way they are being done in the western world and that is why the industry is retrogressing. They need to sanitise the industry. In my own sector, I believe that one of the things affecting us in the industry is that the films being released are too many. Also, piracy is killing us and we need to stand up quickly to do something to reduce or eradicate it totally.
So what do you think can be done to reduce piracy, it seems every actor does not understand how to tackle it?
There is no paragon of perfection except the Almighty God, but God will not come down, but if one uses his or her wisdom and grace, God will assist us, and we will get the result of what we are planning. We need to reduce the number of films being released, we also need to get in touch with the Inspector General of Police, we also need to write a petition to inform them that the pirates are killing us, we cannot take laws into our hands, we also need to write a petition to the copyright’s commission, but we must do it collectively.
Also, we need to review the law on piracy and ask the senate or House of Representatives to pass a bill concerning that.
You have dedicated over two decades of your life to a career in acting. What has been the driving force?
Only God. I say this because if God supports whatever you are doing, that relevance will never depart from you. One can’t say because he or she is a very fantastic actor, writer or producer, that is why he is still relevant without having to refer to God as his/her starting point.
What do you think your colleagues in the entertainment industry need to work on?
I want to implore everyone both in the movie and music industry to produce albums and movies that will be of benefit to the whole country and the industry as well. Their works should be a lesson to the masses and the society in general to learn from. I watched a movie entitled Sarafina which was released during the late Nelson Mandela’s incarceration in prison for 27 years. That movie showcased how Mandela fought for freedom and how South Africans equally fought for his release. After that movie went viral, Mandela got his freedom and apartheid was over, so I drew some inspiration from there and thought that if Mandela could be released because of this movie, and the crisis in South Africa reduced, I see no reason we cannot use movie to solve problems in Nigeria.
So, what are you insinuating?
I wrote a movie which I entitled ‘The Mystery of Unity’. I produced it in English all through and reproduced in Yoruba language, which means I have two versions of the movie. My intention was to get to the corridors of power to tell them the message in my movie and tell them we could use it for a good cause to sort out the crisis. Ever before I was born, there were crises and till today, there is still crisis. So I said, let me use my work as a contribution to sort out the problem. So I travelled abroad, bought the equipment and spent almost N52million to produce the film.
How were you able to get the funding?
I got the money from a friend.
But it was alleged that you are owing the casts some money.
I featured over 2,000 casts in the movie. I am not owing anybody, but when it got to the post-production stage, I have not been able to fulfil my promises and till now, I have not been able to pay some of those who worked on post-production. But I was only sponsored by my friend for the pre production and the production itself.
Now with that kind of movie, I thought my country will embrace and encourage me but they did not.
I took the movie to the minister of culture, Edem Duke, please quote me. I met him in his office, gave him the proposal and a mastercopy of the film in English language and he asked me to come back at a stipulated time. I started going there everyday for a whole week while I lodged in a hotel in Abuja, as I was being assisted by someone whom I appreciate so much-Ganiyu Solomon, a senator in Lagos State. The minister sent his Personal Assistant to tell me that I should call him.
When I called him, he refused to pick my calls till this moment. Duke put him in that position to do this work, I gave them that movie to use it in rebranding during the centenary celebration, I also asked them to pay me directly so that I could produce the movie enmasse and give it to the Christian Association of Nigeria and the other half be given to the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs. In the movie, I made everyone realise that we are all serving one God, but with different media, so one should not condemn his other mate. We must all be united to conquer the enemy.
I am an indigene of Ogun State and my brother, Rueben Abati who is a spokesman of the President, we both hail from Kenta in Abeokuta, He read theatre arts as his discipline, so he should know better than other people. I took another mastercopy of the movie, as well as a proposal to him, he took it from me when he came to Abeokuta for his mother’s burial, we sat down in his sitting room and discussed, and said I should call him when he gets to Abuja, but when he got to Abuja, he did not pick calls until after a month. Right from that moment, till today, he did not pick my calls again. That is someone who is supposed to know better and guide the country. The only feedback I got was people’s prayers from pastors and Muslim Clerics.
What were you expecting? Money?
I expected the prayers, but many clerics kept asking me if I took it to the federal government and I said I did, and they said I did not have to sell the movie, that the federal government needed to pay me for the orientation I gave the public through the message. Please don’t get me wrong, I do not blame the president, but I believe in my heart that he was not informed about the movie. I see no reaseon why he would not want to be a part of the project as it has something to do with the Country’s unity and security.
Why did you not take the new movie to the cinemas for a movie premiere?
People have bastardised the concept in the country. The standard cinemas will take 70 per cent of the proceeds while you will take 30 per cent, that is slavery and I don’t want to be part of it.
Now that you did not go through the cinemas, did you get your money back?
That’s where I am going, I released the movie on September 8, and it got pirated September 9, I was really discouraged.
So no one encouraged you?
Not that. I want to really commend Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. He sent a panel from the Lagos state film censors board, they saw the movie and gave the governor a good feedback. He commended me and that inspired me
Did he compensate you financially?
Yes, He gave me money, which was substantial, but with due respect, I can’t say how much. Governor Aregbesola also did the same thing in Osun State. Most leaders have subordinates who block people from them, so I am not blaming the President, because, he may not even know that my movie exists. But I want the whole nation to know that I gave it to the people who are supposed to know how to assist the country. I did not envisage that Boko Haram will become this dangerous when I directed the movie in 2008.
How many years did it take you to shoot the movie?
About four years. I started from the Ooni’s palace in Ile Ife, Osun State. I made use of 250 police Officers, I got the permission from the Inspector General of Police back then.
What do you think about your colleagues going into politics.
If the politicians do what they ought to do, entertainers wouldn’t have to go into politics. But they aren’t doing their jobs, hence people also want to go and join them and get their own things done since they aren’t being represented well.
Why are Yoruba actors and actresses poorly paid compared to their counterparts in the English version of Nollywood.
You cannot say they are poorly paid, because you do not know my account balance. It’s the way you sit down for a picture that you will meet yourself. So it’s the way you present yourself that you will be addressed. If you invite me for a movie and I don’t agree with the amount you are offering me, I will leave. I can’t say anything because I don’t know what they have in their accounts.
How did acting really start for you?
I started on the job many years ago with my boss, Musibau Shodimu, who is late now. I formed my group in 1979
How did the name Igwe get to your name?
I was invited by students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. They wrote a letter and said I was qualified to be the king of theatre and movies in Nigeria. I travelled down to Ife for that award. There were thousands of people in the hall that day and till today, there has been no argument on it because till today, I am using my works to prove that I am the king.
So you are trying to say you are the best Actor in Nigeria...
I will not say I am the best actor in Nigeria. But it was not only one point of acting that was the criteria that they used to judge who the king of theatre was.
Most actors are polygamous in nature, why is this so?
I don’t want to say anything on anybody’s home because everyone is entitled to do what they feel like doing.
So how many wives do you have?
I have only one wife. These things happen in other sectors, so why only actors?
Don’t you think you all are meant to be role models since you are in the eye of the public?
The politicians should be the role models. In fact, we are all role models in our fields, you as my interviewer, are a role model too, so we alone should not be addressed as models
There was a story about your wife to be who came on stage to cause a scene because she got news of your concubine... did you eventually marry her?
Well...we did not get married, but she has a baby for me.
Why didn’t you marry her?
It was not related to that incident, but I would say it was an act of God.
What are your last words to Nigerians?
I want to particularly tell people not to look down on us. After I went to Abuja to submit my film which could be of help to the country. Jonathan was shown a movie produced by one actress and premiered the movie privately. It is whatever they give the president that he will view. I believe he wasn’t shown my movie entitled The Mystery of Unity.
Monday 24 November 2014
How Nigeria killed Olaiya's dream !
How my Nigerian dream was blocked —Olaiya Igwe
22.Nov.2014 DISQUS_COMMENTS
Nigerian Tribune )
Ebun Oloyede, popularly has been an actor in the movie industry for over two decades. He speaks with JOAN OMIONAWELE on the challenges trailing his latest movie, ‘The Mystery of Unity’, his life and other issues. Excerpts:
How has it been in the movie industry?
It is not bad, but the professionals and practitioners are bad, they are not doing things the way they should be done.
How do you mean?
Many professionals don’t view the industry the way they should view it. We don’t produce movies the way they are being done in the western world and that is why the industry is retrogressing. They need to sanitise the industry. In my own sector, I believe that one of the things affecting us in the industry is that the films being released are too many. Also, piracy is killing us and we need to stand up quickly to do something to reduce or eradicate it totally.
So what do you think can be done to reduce piracy, it seems every actor does not understand how to tackle it?
There is no paragon of perfection except the Almighty God, but God will not come down, but if one uses his or her wisdom and grace, God will assist us, and we will get the result of what we are planning. We need to reduce the number of films being released, we also need to get in touch with the Inspector General of Police, we also need to write a petition to inform them that the pirates are killing us, we cannot take laws into our hands, we also need to write a petition to the copyright’s commission, but we must do it collectively.
Also, we need to review the law on piracy and ask the senate or House of Representatives to pass a bill concerning that.
You have dedicated over two decades of your life to a career in acting. What has been the driving force?
Only God. I say this because if God supports whatever you are doing, that relevance will never depart from you. One can’t say because he or she is a very fantastic actor, writer or producer, that is why he is still relevant without having to refer to God as his/her starting point.
What do you think your colleagues in the entertainment industry need to work on?
I want to implore everyone both in the movie and music industry to produce albums and movies that will be of benefit to the whole country and the industry as well. Their works should be a lesson to the masses and the society in general to learn from. I watched a movie entitled Sarafina which was released during the late Nelson Mandela’s incarceration in prison for 27 years. That movie showcased how Mandela fought for freedom and how South Africans equally fought for his release. After that movie went viral, Mandela got his freedom and apartheid was over, so I drew some inspiration from there and thought that if Mandela could be released because of this movie, and the crisis in South Africa reduced, I see no reason we cannot use movie to solve problems in Nigeria.
So, what are you insinuating?
I wrote a movie which I entitled ‘The Mystery of Unity’. I produced it in English all through and reproduced in Yoruba language, which means I have two versions of the movie. My intention was to get to the corridors of power to tell them the message in my movie and tell them we could use it for a good cause to sort out the crisis. Ever before I was born, there were crises and till today, there is still crisis. So I said, let me use my work as a contribution to sort out the problem. So I travelled abroad, bought the equipment and spent almost N52million to produce the film.
How were you able to get the funding?
I got the money from a friend.
But it was alleged that you are owing the casts some money.
I featured over 2,000 casts in the movie. I am not owing anybody, but when it got to the post-production stage, I have not been able to fulfil my promises and till now, I have not been able to pay some of those who worked on post-production. But I was only sponsored by my friend for the pre production and the production itself.
Now with that kind of movie, I thought my country will embrace and encourage me but they did not.
I took the movie to the minister of culture, Edem Duke, please quote me. I met him in his office, gave him the proposal and a mastercopy of the film in English language and he asked me to come back at a stipulated time. I started going there everyday for a whole week while I lodged in a hotel in Abuja, as I was being assisted by someone whom I appreciate so much-Ganiyu Solomon, a senator in Lagos State. The minister sent his Personal Assistant to tell me that I should call him.
When I called him, he refused to pick my calls till this moment. Duke put him in that position to do this work, I gave them that movie to use it in rebranding during the centenary celebration, I also asked them to pay me directly so that I could produce the movie enmasse and give it to the Christian Association of Nigeria and the other half be given to the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs. In the movie, I made everyone realise that we are all serving one God, but with different media, so one should not condemn his other mate. We must all be united to conquer the enemy.
I am an indigene of Ogun State and my brother, Rueben Abati who is a spokesman of the President, we both hail from Kenta in Abeokuta, He read theatre arts as his discipline, so he should know better than other people. I took another mastercopy of the movie, as well as a proposal to him, he took it from me when he came to Abeokuta for his mother’s burial, we sat down in his sitting room and discussed, and said I should call him when he gets to Abuja, but when he got to Abuja, he did not pick calls until after a month. Right from that moment, till today, he did not pick my calls again. That is someone who is supposed to know better and guide the country. The only feedback I got was people’s prayers from pastors and Muslim Clerics.
What were you expecting? Money?
I expected the prayers, but many clerics kept asking me if I took it to the federal government and I said I did, and they said I did not have to sell the movie, that the federal government needed to pay me for the orientation I gave the public through the message. Please don’t get me wrong, I do not blame the president, but I believe in my heart that he was not informed about the movie. I see no reaseon why he would not want to be a part of the project as it has something to do with the Country’s unity and security.
Why did you not take the new movie to the cinemas for a movie premiere?
People have bastardised the concept in the country. The standard cinemas will take 70 per cent of the proceeds while you will take 30 per cent, that is slavery and I don’t want to be part of it.
Now that you did not go through the cinemas, did you get your money back?
That’s where I am going, I released the movie on September 8, and it got pirated September 9, I was really discouraged.
So no one encouraged you?
Not that. I want to really commend Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. He sent a panel from the Lagos state film censors board, they saw the movie and gave the governor a good feedback. He commended me and that inspired me
Did he compensate you financially?
Yes, He gave me money, which was substantial, but with due respect, I can’t say how much. Governor Aregbesola also did the same thing in Osun State. Most leaders have subordinates who block people from them, so I am not blaming the President, because, he may not even know that my movie exists. But I want the whole nation to know that I gave it to the people who are supposed to know how to assist the country. I did not envisage that Boko Haram will become this dangerous when I directed the movie in 2008.
How many years did it take you to shoot the movie?
About four years. I started from the Ooni’s palace in Ile Ife, Osun State. I made use of 250 police Officers, I got the permission from the Inspector General of Police back then.
What do you think about your colleagues going into politics.
If the politicians do what they ought to do, entertainers wouldn’t have to go into politics. But they aren’t doing their jobs, hence people also want to go and join them and get their own things done since they aren’t being represented well.
Why are Yoruba actors and actresses poorly paid compared to their counterparts in the English version of Nollywood.
You cannot say they are poorly paid, because you do not know my account balance. It’s the way you sit down for a picture that you will meet yourself. So it’s the way you present yourself that you will be addressed. If you invite me for a movie and I don’t agree with the amount you are offering me, I will leave. I can’t say anything because I don’t know what they have in their accounts.
How did acting really start for you?
I started on the job many years ago with my boss, Musibau Shodimu, who is late now. I formed my group in 1979
How did the name Igwe get to your name?
I was invited by students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. They wrote a letter and said I was qualified to be the king of theatre and movies in Nigeria. I travelled down to Ife for that award. There were thousands of people in the hall that day and till today, there has been no argument on it because till today, I am using my works to prove that I am the king.
So you are trying to say you are the best Actor in Nigeria...
I will not say I am the best actor in Nigeria. But it was not only one point of acting that was the criteria that they used to judge who the king of theatre was.
Most actors are polygamous in nature, why is this so?
I don’t want to say anything on anybody’s home because everyone is entitled to do what they feel like doing.
So how many wives do you have?
I have only one wife. These things happen in other sectors, so why only actors?
Don’t you think you all are meant to be role models since you are in the eye of the public?
The politicians should be the role models. In fact, we are all role models in our fields, you as my interviewer, are a role model too, so we alone should not be addressed as models
There was a story about your wife to be who came on stage to cause a scene because she got news of your concubine... did you eventually marry her?
Well...we did not get married, but she has a baby for me.
Why didn’t you marry her?
It was not related to that incident, but I would say it was an act of God.
What are your last words to Nigerians?
I want to particularly tell people not to look down on us. After I went to Abuja to submit my film which could be of help to the country. Jonathan was shown a movie produced by one actress and premiered the movie privately. It is whatever they give the president that he will view. I believe he wasn’t shown my movie entitled The Mystery of Unity.
