Only a few people are true legends of the Nollywood and Olu Jacobs is one of them. In this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, he speaks about his growing up in a peaceful Kano, disobeying his father to pursue acting, temptation from women as an accomplished actor, among other issues.
I’ll rather switch off my phone, than answer strange woman’s call while with my wife – Olu Jacobs
How would you describe grow- ing up in Kano?
People tend to forget. When we were in Kano, we could find accommodation easily even though you did not build yours. You could still live where you wanted to live. We lived in a place called New Town. There is the Old Town and New Town, just like the Mainland and the Island. But people living in the New Town were all southerners, Christians and Muslims and we never had problems. Schools were built in a way that when you saw one, you’ve seen the others. If you wanted to play football, you just needed to move from your field to another and the whole crowd would be there. Living in Kano was less of a stress; you could go anywhere you like. You could hardly get lost even as a stranger.
Can you speak Hausa well?
I did not learn how to speak Hausa while I was in Kano, but I later picked up a few ones.
Were you troublesome as a kid?
When I was young, I discovered that whenever I was angry I should not be near anybody. You would be amazed that I could carry anything whenever I was angry. So if anyone annoyed me, I would just walk away and that saved me from being damaged or damaging others.
How were you able to convince your parents at a time acting wasn’t attractive?
My father was not pleased that I wanted to become an actor. He was a prolific dancer and drummer, so he understood what it meant to be an entertainer. But instead of him to accept my wish, he was against it. Being a master drummer was a hobby for him and he did not understand that acting was what I really wanted to do.
I told my mother to talk to him and I even threatened her that if he didn’t concede to my request, I would run away. When I later got a passport form for England, I needed him to endorse it but he tore it. He did not want me to go anywhere. It was my uncle, his brother, that told me to get another passport form and he eventually endorsed it for me.
Your father must have been very angry when he found out…
I was told that when my father eventually knew, he went crazy. When my letter arrived from England and he saw it was from me, he dropped it. He saw a packet in it and when he opened that, it was his favourite brand of tobacco, St. Bruno. At that time, many people could not afford it. He then asked my mother who sent it to him. I was told he was very pleased with the tobacco, especially after he took a sniff.
By the time I got back to Nigeria, he was dead; he was old. I felt terrible that I did not reunite with him because I was his favourite child. When I learnt of his death in England, there was nothing I could do. The pain was there and I was angry with everything that denied me the access to my parents because I had to choose. Even though I chose something that I was proud of, it would have been wonderful for them to be alive.
While over there, was there any time you felt like quitting?
No, there was no time but I had to get a support job at a time. I worked as a quality control officer. When I wanted to resign my job for an audition, my boss queried if I had gotten the job. I said no and they encouraged me not to resign. I told them I needed to go. I went for the audition and I did not get the job. They reached me to know if I had the job and I said no. I was asked to resume back immediately and they gave me freedom to go for auditions whenever I needed to. I had a good relationship with my boss and his wife.
Whenever I am with my wife and a strange woman is calling constantly, I could just switch off my phone. It could be for the rest of the day; it does not matter. You may say what if I miss important calls? Having peace of mind is better than important jobs
How did you make a name in Nigeria?
I was already in the face of people even before I came to Nigeria. I had done Ribena and Binatone adverts, which were quite popular. So. I was already popular before I appeared on the scene.
You’ve been married for more than 30 years; was there no time you were tempted to cheat on your wife?
If you want peace on earth given to all men and women, you would look away whenever you see a lady because there is always another lady at the end of the road. If that is your practice, it is good and it is healthy. But since English is not our language here, it is easily misunderstood. When I see a lady in England, I could tell her she is absolutely beautiful and she would reply with a smile and move on. There is nothing else attached to it; you might not meet or see her again. You do not even exchange numbers. Appreciating women’s beauty makes them happy and happiness is not sexual. But in Nigeria, once you say good afternoon to a lady, even before saying she is pretty, she looks at you with disgust.
There was a recent picture of you and your wife that shook the internet. Did you expect the reactions it generated?
I didn’t know about the picture until it came out. I know my wife understands it but I have never used Instagram. I do not know even how to do it. It is a struggle to make use of the phone to connect with people, but I have no choice because I must be reached and I must reach people too.
Don’t you feel jealous when men get too close to your wife?
No, you have to give them room and you should also talk to somebody else, a woman. When she sees that, she would be worried. Before you know it, she would be asking questions. Whenever I am with her and a strange woman is calling constantly, I could just switch off my phone. It could be for the rest of the day; it does not matter.
How about missing important calls?
What important calls? Having peace of mind is better than important jobs. If they really want you, they would come back or get you through somebody else.
Why did you renew your marriage vow in 2011 after 25 years?
Why not? We wanted to say things to each other and some people just happened to be there. It what on a birthday, Pat Utomi did it. I didn’t know he was the one coming because I was looking away when they sneaked him in.
What is the most challenging role you’ve had to play?
All movies have their own toughness. But I approach my work the same way I approach others. When I get a script, I read and then find out who the person is.
But of all my works, ‘Onome,’ is dear to me. I liked the human angle to it. I met her in a restaurant; we didn’t go there to have a meal. When armed robbers attacked, she did not just help me hide but hid my money too. She later gave it to me when I went back to ask. I was moved; I asked questions and wanted to help her. She was like a walking disaster; all she did ended badly. They had beaten my brother many times, he did not die, but they beat her own brother and he died. He didn’t just sustain wounds like others. Human angle stories are the best because one person or the other would be able to relate to it.
Were you opportune to act with the late Ogunde?
Unfortunately we did not act together but we talked. There was a documentary BBC did, which I was part of. That was the first time we met. We also met at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, where he was showing his movie.
