For the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award Best Comedy Act, Samuel Ajibola, his character, Spiff, in the television series, ‘The Johnsons,’ had nothing to do with special kids.
He told The Point that he just decided to put together things he had seen for the purpose of comedy. According to him, Spiff is not mentally retarded but funny.
He explained further, “I just created those things; it does not mean Spiff is a retarded being. Because he is not intelligent does not mean he has no right moments. At times, when everyone is wrong, he is right. When everyone said Jenifer (a character in ‘The Johnsons’) wasn’t pregnant, he kept saying she was and he was right at the end of the day.”
Before he was called to the podium to pick his award as the best comedy act, he said he knew he would win. According to him, it was based on votes and it was there on the AMCA website for all to see. On March 1, for the voting categories, they already had an idea of the winners.
Between Saturday when AMVCA took place and now, calls and work-related meetings Ajibola have had to attend have increased tremendously. He stated that he knew it was natural for more people to want to be associated with him, but not this fast.
He narrated,“Of course, everything has changed. It is just natural in this industry that once you win an award of such magnitude, things will not be the same for you again. Everyone will want to associate themselves with you and build projects around you, but one has to be careful as well because all eyes are on you than ever before. Since Saturday, I have been getting different calls and going to different meetings.”
He is aware that most people think he is best fitted for a comic role. And to him, there is always the possibility of being stereotyped if one is doing well in one area. He added, “But before I started playing comic roles, I have started drama. Even recently, I have done a drama that had nothing to do with comedy. Since ‘The Johnsons’ is on a big platform and well followed, people tend to stereotype me. I know how to play comic roles very well but I also know how to play drama well. After some periods of underground work, the comic actor plans to drop a comedy web series, ‘Dele Issues,’ today. The episodes will be released twice every month – the second and last Friday of every month.
Speaking about the series, Ajibola said, “The idea behind ‘Dele Issues’ is quite simple. He is an ordinary guy who encounters extraordinary situations from time to time. He is sometimes forced to make rather awkward decisions through his ordeals. He is a character everyone out there can relate with regardless of their social class. It’s definitely something to watch out for.”
