Nigerian Movie Star Profile
Jide Kosoko
Q:For
some years now, we?ve known Jide
Kosoko as an actor. Can you tell us how you started your acting career?
Well, I think the whole world ought to have known how I started because I?ve
been granting interviews on that for quite a long time now. However, I will
quickly brief you. I started way back in 1964, when I was just 10 years old
and that was the year I also had my first television appearance in a
production titled Makanjuola, produced by Ifelodun Travelling Theatre, which
had me as a member. It happened that one of our tenants, Dele Toyibo, (he?s
still alive) an elderly person and a member of Ifelodun Travelling Theatre
wanted to have a production on television- LTV Bar Beach. They needed a boy
of my age then to play (the lead role of) a character called Alabi. So they
invited children of my age, we were auditioned and I won the role. Since
then, I?ve always been into acting. I formed my own group?Jide Kosoko
Theatre in 1972.
Q: You rank among the few actors that started acting very early. How will
you compare the industry then to what we have now?
When I actually started we didn?t have videos. There were no movies in
Nigeria at all. The one we had then was the television thing, in fact, more
of stage performance and my orientation is more of stage performance. If you
want to compare what happened then and now, you will see there are a lot of
changes. When I started, we were only on black and white. A few homes had
television. That was the period when you saw people watching a particular
production through the window of any home-You?re just going and when it?s
time for that production you just go to any house and stay by their window
to watch.
Q: We heard you have a problem with the Video Club owners Association of
Nigeria (VCOAN) and that the association has placed a ban on you. How true
is that?
You should know that it?s an exaggeration that a producer of my calibre is
being banned. Banned by who? You see, I must also tell you that the issue is
being resolved. I don?t want to say much on that.
Q: What really was the problem?
Well... They were not happy that I initiated the formation of a rival video
club association.
Q: Are you contesting for the President of the Association of Nigeria
Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP)?
Insha Allah, I will contest for the position of the President of ANTP and I
know that by God?s grace I will win .
Q: What about the strong opposition from people like Dele Odule?
I?ve always told people and I know what I?m saying, Dele Odule is my brother
and I know he can?t contest against me.
Q: So what are your plans for the association?
I will tell you just one, and that is, I will work hard to ensure that there
is an enabling environment for members of the association to practice their
profession, which means I will collaborate with other associations and
government agencies, stakeholders and players in the industry.
Q: If voted into office where will you start from?
I will ensure there is unity among members, it?s paramount in my mind. I
will abide by all professional ethics, ensure that my members imbibe the
ethics of the profession, so that we can jointly move the association
forward.
Q: What is your impression about the formation of YMPF?
I don?t see them as factions, I will rather say they have brilliant ideas
and they feel there is need for the associations to move faster than what is
happening now. Personally, I have discussed with some of them and I know
what they are saying. They are members of the association, they don?t need
to form a faction and I have advised them that all they need is to bring
their ideas before the association for proper scrutiny.
Q: Let me just take you back again, Dele Odule has said that he is very
optimistic of winning this ANTP election. Are you scared?
Dele Odule as a member of the association is entitled to express his
opinion, his wish to seek people?s votes for any position in the
association. He has the education and age on his side, so he?s entitled. But
what I?m telling you is this; first and foremost, apart from being an actor
and a member, he?s a Yoruba man, and ANTP cherishes quite a lot of things
that you cannot run away from. And of course being a Yoruba man, there are
some other things we will also take into consideration. It is against the
tradition of we the Yoruba for a young man to challenge his brother in
public. So I say Dele cannot contest against me.
Q: There is this notion that the English movie industry is doing far
better than the Yoruba?s. How far is this true?
Do you also believe that? When you say they are doing better, in what area
are you talking about? Do you know that a good film is determined by the
quality of the equipment used, the prop, the costume and to crown it all the
story line, complemented by the artistes invited to narrate the story line.
These are the things that make a good movie. So, I don?t know which of them
you?re talking about. If the English movies cherish glamour, the Yoruba film
industry cherishes good story line, and all these factors are what you can
say contribute to the quality of a movie.
Q: Generally, how will you assess the Nigerian movie industry?
Brilliant future, very bright. We have come to stay, the industry as a whole
and that?s why most of the time I hate answering questions that border on
division among the English and Yoruba actors and actresses. You are entitled
to produce a Yoruba or English film, nobody is restricting anybody from
doing this or that. You can appreciate our effort, you can see that Nigeria
has been considered as the third largest producer of home videos. We are
improving on the quality of our productions on a daily basis and as such, we
are happy.
Besides, we have a listening government. Obasanjo?s government is the only
one that has ever shown interest in the film industry. With government
participation now and little contribution, you will see that we will grow
up.
I?m happy that most of the things that have happened took place when I?m
still alive. We now have the Motion Pictures Practitioners Council. We have
a standing committee already and this body will definitely unite all
existing associations in the industry. We will speak with one voice and this
will go a long way to stabilise the industry.
Q: What do you think is the main problem facing the movie industry for
now?
Lack of funding is the bane of the industry. We have proved to the world
that we have the talent. But with investors like banks and other financial
institutions funding the industry, it will move forward.
Q: You combine acting with modelling, which of them is more lucrative?
I hate people calling me a model. As a star which people say, I only endorse
products. In other words, I?m bigger than that product. I should not be seen
as part of the product I am advertising, I only endorse it.
Q: Tell us your most challenging moments.
I have challenging moments all the time. All my productions are challenging,
because I will want to make sure that I satisfy my numerous fans. But my
most challenging moment is when I fight for my people for a particular
reason. I fought with the Censors Board, but I don?t want to go into too
much of that now.
Q: What about your most embarrassing moment?
That comes almost all the time. When you see all these area boys, especially
when you don?t have any money with you to give them, it could be
embarrassing, you know.
Q: A lot of actresses complain about producers demanding for sex before
giving them roles. Is it true?
That is very bad. I have never done it before and if there are producers
doing it I will say it is very bad. Though some people may not see it as
something bad, as they feel it happens in every industry. Personnel managers
do it to their staff. Teachers do it to their students, politicians do it
among their people, government officials do it, journalists do it. But they
are all professional abuse on the ethics of their professions. And as I had
said earlier, it is not good. But frankly speaking, as a producer, even if
your intention is not to give her a role because you want to have sex with
her, you can come across somebody you love, is it not possible? It now
depends on who that actress is. If she?s not complaining that she slept in
your office to get a role, it?s nothing. But honestly, I find it difficult
to believe that producers demand for sex before giving out roles. It?s
funny.
Q: What are you working on for now?
You know, for the past two years, I have not released any film. I am
currently working on the release of one of my films.
Q: Apart from the ANTP presidential race, what other things are in the
pipeline?
Of course, before the year runs out, I intend to launch my foundation-Jide
Kosoko Foundation. One of my films will also be launched in London and
America by August. I won't disclose the title for now. The Jide Kosoko
Foundation will be an avenue to encourage upcoming artistes and also use the
same forum to propagate important programmes, using the work of art to
re-echo the existence of HIV/AIDS, child abuse and som that are of national
and international interest.
Some of Kosoko's movies
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