My Life Behind and in Front of the Camera
His trajectory in the film industry makes people believe that his career was cut out long before birth. The reason is not far-fetched. His famous father, the late Adeyemi Josiah Afolayan popularly referred to as Ade‘ Love’ made enviable marks as a theatre
You have a stage background which dates back to your father’s days and with productions like Saro and Wakaa. We have seen the comeback of stage performance in Nigeria. Does it surprise you?
I would say yes because currently, there are about six new theatres being built in Lagos State, inaugurated by the state government. These theatres are being inaugurated primarily so that there can be a comeback of stage plays. Don’t forget that the state is trying to add value and at the same time it is a revenue generation platform so that creative people like me, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Joke Silva and others have to create a lot of contents that would run the platform. I believe with that, plays like Saro and Wakaa would continue to thrive. And of course, there would be new plays. I have been partnering Tera Kulture for some time and there are a few things we have done in the past. I have always told Mrs. Austen-Peters that we should do indigenous plays such as Efunsetan Aniwura. We have been working on it since last year. For me as an actor, this is like a comeback but doesn’t mean I want to be on stage all the time because it is time-consuming. Nevertheless, it is something that I love and I’m very passionate about. If the role is good, I want to see myself in it.
Saro has been showing across theatres in the last two years, what informed your decision to be part of it in London?
The role was proposed to me earlier this year and I saw that it was good. I read the script. I have always been part of Saro since inception. My company filmed it at the MUSON Centre when it was first shown. Coming on board as an actor, it was a surprise when I was invited. I checked my schedule and saw that it was okay. More so, Austen-Peters has been tested and trusted. Terra Kulture as a platform to a large extent has contributed immensely to arts and culture in Nigeria. So, I like to be part of it as well. I have done stage plays in the past, but I have been behind the camera in the past few years, the outing in London was very refreshing for me.
Are you planning to delve into indigenous plays in terms of directing?
Like I said before, we would be doing some indigenous plays which might be in Yoruba. We would look at books like Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmole, Aditu Olodumare, Ireke Onibudo, Irinkerindo Ninu Igbo Elegbeje, and so on. We hope to bring them back. Also, for the sake of preserving the culture in this contemporary era, we need to bring back indigenous things for the sake of our children because our culture is dying. If you go to some areas in Nigeria and even in Lagos and you show English-speaking films the turnout will be so low. If you have a wide range of audience you need to give them what they want.
Having been behind the camera for many years, how would you describe your experience as a stage actor?
It has been good. As a matter of fact, what I wanted to do from the beginning was to be behind the camera and not in front. You have talents and people will propose something to you and if you accept it you will continue to thrive in the field. But being a filmmaker, producer, director, and the content creator has added so much to my life as an individual. This is what I would continue to do for the rest of my life.
What do you think about the controversy around the production of films or videos outside of the country?
I don’t think what the Minister of Culture meant was that production should be completely done in