When it comes to comic roles, Olaniyi Afonja, popularly known as Sanyeri, knows his oyster and peels it well. This is what has endeared him to fans, who take delight in watching him in Yoruba movies. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, Afonja, who is recuperating from a leg injury sustained on set recently, speaks on how he has braved the odds to become a name on the lips of watchers of the industry, and a bit of his personal life.
At what point did you venture into acting?
I started this job in 1993. And up till 2009, I was struggling. I could feature in a movie two times in a year or even once in two years. But in 2010, I started getting more roles. I got my major break in 2011 after I did a film, titled, ‘Opakan.’
I did not know I would be successful in acting; I only ventured into it because I liked theatre. I guess God answered my prayers, which explains why I am here today. If it were to be the pursuit of wealth that pushed me into acting, I would have run away since because it was not easy.
Was there no time you became fed up?
If you are doing anything in life and there is no headway, one will start having doubts, especially when you are not determined. When you see your peers driving big cars or building houses, you will wish to be in that position. But if you are determined that the path you have chosen is your way, you need not be disturbed.
The suffering I endured was really extreme. After I finished my secondary school education, I did not have a job. So, I delved into the theatre world. Since I was not getting money from theatre, I had to learn how to repair shoes. But when I saw that being a shoe cobbler was affecting my career as an actor, I quit.
How did you acquire acting skills?
I learnt this trade from theatre practitioners. I started acting in Oyo State; Oluseyi Adeoye was my first boss, he died in 2013. I later came to Lagos where I joined another theatre group, led by Akeem Alimi.
Why did you settle for comic roles?
Only God can explain my situation. While growing up, I played around a lot in the neighbourhood and people thought I was funny. I was advised to join theatre, but I had no idea where to start from. It was a friend who introduced me to the late Adeoye. My friend is also late.
When I started, I played different roles. It was when I came to Lagos that I was advised to become a comic actor. Since I came from the village, members of my group found my accent quite different and funny.
Were your parents not against acting?
They felt I was wasting my time. Most people who were into theatre at my place were struggling. So, people thought we were wasting our time and expected us to go learn other things later. But the way of God is different from the way of man.
Can you play in English-speaking movies?
Yes, I can act English roles if given the script.
Have you ever played an English role?
I have not, but I spoke English and Yoruba language in my last movie, ‘Asiwaju.’ Mr. Ibru and I played the lead role and we all know he does not understand Yoruba language. I was injured on the set of the movie. I did a stunt and broke my leg. As we speak, I have a POP cast on my leg and I am at home. The character I was playing had to climb the roof of a house because he had some spiritual problems. When the landlord of the house realised that someone was on his roof, he called the police. To avoid being arrested, the character had to jump off the roof of the house. I broke my leg in the process.
How much money have you made from movies?
I am okay. I am not hungry and I am not a politician who is living large. People always see us as rich people, but all fingers cannot be equal in this life. Among us, we have people who are poor, rich and people who are living an average life. But acting has changed many things in me. It has changed my mode of dressing and the way I relate to people. I am more exposed.
What stops you from improving yourself?
Nothing stops me from seeking more knowledge and I have it in mind, but there is time for everything. If I go back to school now, it would affect my job and I have a family. I don’t want to rush in and rush out. I wish to have certain things at such times that if I am not in the industry for some time, I can still survive.
Is your wife into acting too?
No, she does business. I met her in 2004 at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. I took my first production, ‘Oko Eni’ there. When I sighted her, I went to her and told her what I wanted. I was not popular, so I felt that if I told her I was the producer of the film, it would give me an edge. But it made her to dislike me. It took eight months before I could convince her to date me. We got married in 2007.
What were the qualities you saw in her?
We all have what we like in people. I saw those things I like in a woman in her and I do not wish to disclose them because of the desperate ladies out there.
How do you handle female fans who want more from you?
You cannot ward off female fans because they are the ones who patronise us. How many men have time to see movies? When a woman sees a movie and it is interesting, she would influence her man to see it. So, regardless of anything, I try to be friendly with them and appreciative.
What would you love to do better given another chance?
Only God knows the end of a journey. My first passion was football and I played it well. But people discouraged me. They said no European club would want me in their team because of my facial marks. My parents also dealt with me a lot. They felt I would break my legs if I continued playing soccer.
I desired to be a musician at some point too, but music did not like me. If music liked me, I should have lived off it just like theatre. I do not wish to be a singer anymore, though I do little collaborations occasionally.
