Talent, Not Certificate Makes Actor - KUNLE AFOD

Among the few fore-most actors whose names ring bell and command respect in the industry is Kunle Afod. The Nollywood actor and filmmaker is at all dimensions a good director and skillful producer who has myriad of award-winning movies to his credit. Afod in his recent talks to the gallery shares it all with people about a number of obstacles baffling his ambition in the movie industry.

YOU are an actor, producer and director. But which of these creative endeavours do you enjoy most?

Every year, I decide on what I want to be known for.
For an instance, last year, I was more of an actor; this year, I am more of a director and two years ago, I was more of a producer. Actually, if you are good at studying the industry you operate in, you will understand that they sometimes give more applause to actors. So, if you can’t beat them, you join them. Also, the applause sometimes goes to the directors. Having said this, in the Yoruba movie industry, they accord producers a great deal of respect because they make the actors. I really want to be known for everything I am good at.

So, you are, more or less, saying that you are good at the three.

Yes, I am good at the three. I thank my God for singling me out among my peers to be able to combine the three and even do them well. I know some colleagues who are good at combining only two out of the three in some cases and I also know of some other colleagues who can do all. For instance, Yomi Fash is a good actor and a good director, but he’s not a producer; Bayo Tijani is a good director and a good producer, but he is not a good actor; Muyiwa is also a good director, a good producer and good actor and Antar Laniyan is a good director, a good producer and a good actor. But when he plays the major role and directing, it sometimes affects him. So, I give God all the glory.

You said you swap roles every year; so, what role are you playing this year?

I am more of a comedian this year. Since mid- last year up on till now, most of my jobs have been comedy roles.

So, why did you switch to comedy?

I know that I’m a bit comical in nature and people feel I can deliver. Well, so far, I’ve been trying my best.

Which of the three would you say is the most profitable?

Being an actor, I would say, is more profitable. I know you are wondering why a lot of actors double as producers. Yes, it is because if you don’t produce, they will not use you sometimes. It is not every actor who has the opportunity of being a marketable actor. So, if you are not a marketable actor in some little ways, you will be affected. For instance, if I want to shoot my movie, I will go for those who are good and marketable than those who are only good but are not marketable. So, before you get there, you have to prove yourself with your own production. That’s why most people want to use their own productions to tell the world that they are also good at some areas. That is why I also act for people to know what I am capable of doing.

Could you mention some of the marketable actors in the industry?

I won’t be able to do that. I have a lot of colleagues, both senior and younger ones, who are marketable actors. But I can’t mention everybody’s name; otherwise, some people will be offended.

Having been involved in the three, which will you describe as the most challenging?

Being a producer is more challenging because it entails all. If I’m going to act, I believe I have the raw talent; so, it is just going to the set to give what I’ve got. If I want to direct, I do more, so as to understand the script. You will be there before the actors and you will leave after the actors. But for the producer, you will get the director, the actors and crew members together. So, playing the role of the producer is more challenging because you will want your production to be good.

For the benefit of your fans who might want to know, how did you come into the movie industry?

This is a long story o! I started acting when I was very little in the church- that was amateur acting. But professionally, I started in 1986 when I did my first major TV project in Jos. It was a network programme called Telefest. I also acted in my school for the school project.  That was a major one; and since 1990, it has been practically this profession.

You have stayed relevant in the industry, despite the influx of younger ones. What would you say is responsible for this?

Well, it’s written in the Bible that let the younger ones come (E je ki omo kekere wa). I grew up to understand that you need to work with the younger ones. When they grow up, they will respect you and remember you. If you think back like 14 years ago when we did a movie called Ija Omode and Ewe Orun, the two movies were mainly on kids. Those kids were in probably primary two, three, four, five and six then. One of them, AK-1, is even a music director now. At the moment, I am shooting a movie on kids alone; there is no adult in that movie. If these kids grow up, they will remember me.

Is that your staying power?

Yes, I love kids. Besides, you have to know what’s in vogue and you have to be consistent.

How does Kunle Afod unwind?
I do unwind, seriously. Most of the time I work and play. In my neighbourhood, they know me so well. I club; I’m a street boy. You mix up; you take some bottles and enjoy myself.

How do you handle female advances, especially from budding actresses?
When we started, some people decided to play some kinds of roles that would want to make the females to admire them. It is not all actors that females admire. I have a school, where I train people and this is the 14th or 15th year that I’ve been doing that. It is called Legacy School of Performing Art. So, I’ve been building people. Mostly, 10 years ago, I was basically training crew members and directors.

Today, I have a number of them in the Yoruba movie industry. About three years ago, I started training actors. It’s not until we blow our horns. It’s not until we make too much noise, but I thank God today that when I look back, I feel happy. But to answer your question, when a budding female actress comes to me, I refer her to my school. I’m a very strict person. If you have a talent and you do not want to progress with your talent, why will you want to come into acting? I want to bring out the best in you. So, forget the fact that you admire me, just bring your talent on. When they realise that I’m different from what they see on scene, they adjust. I’m a different person from who you see on screen. I’m very strict.

Could you talk briefly about your background?

I’m from Ibadan in Oyo State, but I grew up with my mum. I lived in different places. I had my early education in FESTAC, Lagos. I later left FESTAC to complete my primary school education in Owo. Thereafter, I left Owo for Command Secondary School, Jos. So, that was how I grew up. I didn’t go to the university or polytechnic. I do tell people, but they don’t believe it. It is good to go to school, but I tell people that, in this profession, it is talent and not your certificate that singles you out.

There is a strong representation of the Yoruba movie industry at this year’s AMAA. What would you say is responsible for this?
We’ve been coming every year, actually. But you know, this time around, the Yoruba movie industry is undergoing some kind of rebranding. We have three different organisations now: ANTP, TAMPAN and the Movie Ambassadors. I belong to The Movie Ambassadors. Saheed Balogun is the President, while Aisha Ibrahim is the Vice President. Some people like Orisabunmi, Funke Adesiyan, Sola Kosoko, represented TAMPAN at the event.

What are the motives behind these associations?
Having more associations is going to help. Look at the English movie industry, you will see them as one, Nollywood, but it is a lie. They have different guilds and different associations. Some people will represent those guilds. So, there will be different training and exposure for them. If you are under one umbrella, it is only what they see that you will see. If you are under different umbrellas, there will be competition, which will bring about growth.

So, you believe there is growth already now that you have different associations?
Yes, the industry is growing. For instance, we, The Movie Ambassadors, believe there ought not to be any difference between the English and Yoruba actors. But there is a lot of gap currently. We don’t want that gap; we want to bridge the gap. That is why it is the educated ones and the young ones who are mostly part of us because they believe in our idea. Ego and complex have been affecting us.

We started this industry, but they’ve hijacked it from us. They celebrated Nollywood at 20, but Hubert Ogunde died over 20 years ago. So, what are we celebrating? But it’s not their fault! It is our fault because we failed to do what we were supposed to do. Now, we want to move with them; let’s bridge the gap. Let’s see what they see; let’s hear what they hear and let’s operate the way they operate. When we go on the same level, they will run back to us. If you’re doing English movies, your English can never be better than the British. So, you are still not doing English films. You are doing English-Igbo films. So, it is better you represent your culture. That is why Indian movies are respected worldwide. If we come to the same level and start representing our people, they will respect us.