ENGLISH (LANGUAGE) MOVIES IN NIGERIA ARE IGBO-ENGLISH MOVIES; ---YEMI SHOLADE

Source: nigeriafilms.com
YEMI SHOLADE
YEMI SHOLADE

He has been on the scene for 30 years and he is still very much around. Yemi Solade is an actor's actor. He is not only proud of his training, he is also concerned about low standards in the industry. The actor; who hails from Abeokuta, in Ogun State, told Samuel Olatunji that the movie industry is full of pretenders. He also spoke on his public criticism of Pete Edochie with www.nollywoodgists.com

Before you became popular have you ever had anything to do with the theatre?

I was never affiliated to any group or theatre company. But due to my inquisitive nature and, because I wanted Wole Soyinka to teach me in the university, I applied to study theatre arts. That was the propelling factor.

You seem to feature more in the Yoruba movie sector. Why have you not been prominent in English Language movies?

It is because we don't shoot English (language) movies in Nigeria. Those films you consider English are not. They are Igbo-English movies; they are bastardised forms of the English movie. They are Nigerian movies, so stop calling them English movies. Most of the actors speak awful English, so tell people to stop calling them English movies. We shoot Nigerian movies so there is nothing like English movie. Maybe you can say they are movies done in English Language, but from the sound track you would know that this is an Igbo movie. They often sing it in Igbo.

Have you ever seen a James Bond movie with a local language sound track? So, there is nothing like English movie in Nigeria. The next thing you are going to say is that Omotola Jalade is an English actress and Pete Edochie is an English actor. No, Omotola is a Yoruba actor, while Pete is an Igbo actor. For crying out loud; Ramsey Nouah, Segun Arinze, Yemi Solade, Ogogo are all Yoruba actors.

Some of your colleagues believe that the Nigerian movie actors are tribalistic

I'm not holding brief for anybody, I don't know how they feel, but at least I've told you how I feel. If I want to work with those who frequent Igbo-English movies, you would find me there, but that is not my style. I don't have that kind of problem. I think what is happening is more of nepotism than tribalism. I'm from the Yoruba race and I'm proud of it. There is nothing wrong in being a tribalist. It only becomes nepotism in a situation where you go to your village to act roles, you know only professionals can do. That is nepotism and that is the evil begrudging the industry.

Ok, if you were invited on set of such a movie, will you go?

As long as the deal is right, I will. But more importantly, I'll look at the script and if it falls into the standard of what I want to be a part of, then I give it a shot. I've got no problem with that.

Have you ever been invited?

I have done a couple of them. I did not start with Yoruba movies. I was trained in the English theatre. Home video came about less than 20 years ago and the noise started from there. You guys then hyped what should not be hyped, you praised the charlatans and the mediocre at the detriment of the professionally trained artistes. I hold journalists responsible for that, not artistes.

We thought that with the way you criticised them you will not participate in any movie done in English Language

No, I don't have anything against them. I have every right to my opinions, about happenings in my industry. I am a major player in the movie industry, I don't have problems with anyone, least those who ply this trade in English. I only start having problems when things are not going right.

Don't you think there are lapses in the Yoruba genre of the industry where you feature prominently?

There are lapses in every system. Whatever we see as lapses today, we work on them so as to get them right tomorrow.

How will you rate the movie industry in Nigeria?

Well, it is coming up, it is evolving. It is still at the tutelage stage, a system that is less than 20 years, it is still growing but we will get there.

We saw a magazine where you were quoted to have said that Pete Edochie is a quack, it is something about being a chief. Can you talk more on that?

It has nothing to do with his personality, it is about what he does. I don't have a problem with Pete Edochie, he is a chief and I am a chief too, that is about that. There are no titles in theatre. When you say Wole Soyinka, you don't need the professor. Nigerians are crazy about titles. Who the hell is a chief when it comes to acting? There is an Igwe, by the name, Maadi Kweme, he is a professor and he still goes on set. Why should anyone come with the ego of being a chief when it comes to acting? We don't recognise that, so anyone who goes with the air of I'm a king or chief is untrained. We are egocentric around here, we carry fake ego around.

When were you given a chieftaincy title?

I am the Agba Akin of Igbein township in Abeokuta. That is a big title, but it is irrelevant when it comes to the acting. You are a chief in your community not in Lagos here.

For how long have you been a chief?

About 10 years.

Why were you made a chief?

It is hereditary.

How long have you been in the movie industry?

This is my 30th year, I started in 1977. I began as a stage actor, that is where every serious actor starts; we all start from the stage. Name them: Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Kunle Bamtefa, Nobert Young, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Segun Arinze, Fred Amata and Sola Fosudo. We know ourselves. But the whole noise came when home video started and I still hold you journalists responsible for that.

Can you imagine newspapers referring to an artiste who has been around for only five years as a veteran? The lapses are not only in what people watch but what they see on the pages of newspapers. You even talk to illiterates who are actors and you launder their image unnecessarily. Then what is the essence of going to school? Didn't you go to school as a journalist? Should everyone who picks up a pen to write be referred to as a journalist?

But in the Yoruba genre of the industry, people who are not trained , also produce and direct movies

That is a wrong way of doing things. You just hijack things and give yourself titles. If one is not good in his chosen field that means he is a quack. It is sad that there is no regulatory body to stop this. I am a professional actor. I was trained in the old Ife Theatre tradition.

Do you see yourself producing or directing someday?

I am a trained director, so I'm already one. I have not produced a movie but I'll produce in due course.

What has been holding you back?

Directing home video is a different ball game. Some people direct a movie in three or four days but it should not be. So, timing and funding has been the problem. For instance, can a producer give me N500,000 to direct a movie? Is it the producer who got just N350,000 from an Idumota marketer for a complete work that will pay that kind of money? So, I would rather act, get my peanuts and go away. Whether the movie comes out or not is not my business.