Adebayo Salami is popularly known as ‘Oga Bello’, the character who dishes out orders with commanding tones to his workers, either at home or at the office, in Nigerian soaps. But unlike the ‘Oga Bello’ in movies, the man is quite accommodating, loving, humble and humorous. When AJIBADE ALABI cornered him for a chat at his Ikorodu, Lagos home, his grandchildren were seen playing around him, as he spoke about his journey into the world of entertainment, the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) saga, and other lingering issues.
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You have come a long way from where it all began;can you tell us how it started?
Like you said, it has been a long journey, but I thank Allah for his mercies. I started 47 years ago, when I was just 12 years old,with a group, the Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group, led by Ojo ladipo. Before then I had worked with? the federal Commissioner for Works (at least, that was what it was back then) in Lagos as a library assistant. I was also a personal assistant to the minister, unlike now when they are known as commissioners in the state, but that was when I left school. I was still having time for theatre, I was still acting, because I loved anything that has to do with the arts.
Then we used to do all sorts of plays. We had oniwere during the Ramadan period, then we formed a group, and we started going from street to street – that was on Randle in Lagos Island.? We also had the angere festival, during the Ileya festival. Also, there was this festival we always had during the Easter period; it was a Brazilian culture, so it was called Eboyi.
However, one play that made me join the Ojo Ladipo theatre group was ‘Village Doctor’. When I finally joined the group, Ladipo made me his second in command, and when he died in 1978, I? took up the mantle of leadership of the group.
Who were your contemporaries then?
There were many of them. We had them in every group, though some of them left to form their own group, and fell apart sometime after. Presently, some are dead. Others are alive, though. We still have people like Lanre Hassan I mean Iya Awero, we have Sunday Omobolanle? Aluwe, and many others.
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As a young actor, then, did you have role models?
Herbert Ogunde and Ayinla Olumegbon were my mentors then. I remember when we used to go to watch him (Ogunde) perform. These were the people who inspired my acting. Then, I looked forward to being like them in the future.
Have you ever regretted being an actor, so far?
I have never regretted being an actor. I thank Almighty Allah for everything.
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What is the difference between stage play and television?
There are lots of differences. For instance, presently, there is no discipline, unlike when we used to have stage plays. Discipline is one of the things the present entertainment industry lacks. Then, if you were to attend a show or rehearsal, and you ran a minute late you would be fined. That is unlike now when the time for reporting to location could be fixed for 2 p.m and actors will be seen walking in majestically at about 4 or 5 p.m. I remember, during my time, I was fined 10? shillings for coming late for a play, and I had to pay, because I was to play the role of babalawo – in a play titled Bayebayeni. It was meant to be my first appearance, so I paid the fine before I could be allowed to go on stage. That was a show nobody paid us for, unlike today when they are being paid a lot of money. It? is bad that artistes do not keep to time again, though we are trying to curtail that.
Another thing is that today, they are not really tested for depth and quality. Unlike now when you have directors, there were no directors for stage plays, you were thrown raw onto the stage.
Your tenure as the president of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) was successful,but what do you think about the present controversy, that has evolved two factional presidents?
My position is this: I want to see the end of the crisis, because I have discovered that some people are benefiting from the whole thing. True, during my time we had crises, but they were well managed. The ANTP is not the first association to be embroiled in crisis, but managing it properly will really be to our advantage. I have been trying to appeal to both parties to do everything in their power to settle the issue amicably. It is to all about rivalry and envy.
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As one of the leaders, have you spoken to any of the aggrieved parties?
Yes, I have done that. Recently, the director-general of the National Tourism Development Corporation,Otunba Runsewe, also waded into it. Unfortunately, nothing changed, due to the stubbornness of the candidate. We are waiting to see what will happen, but unless we sit down together, there will still be no way forward.
I don’t know what went wrong, but all I can say is that they have injected too much politics into the association.
But some of them alleged that your influence ensured your children were offered roles in movies?
I do not know about that, but all what I can say is that they are all talented actors and deserve whatever roles they are offered. I do not influence any role for my children. When Femi Adebayo acted in Tade Ogidan’s ‘owo blow,’? directed by Tade Ogidan himself, where he played the role of small Ogogo, I never knew he went for the audition. In fact, it was when he scaled the audition and was given the role that Tade Ogidan later learnt he was my son. He went ahead to win the THEMA Best Upcoming Actor, without my knowledge. The thing is, if they are not talented they would not have gone far in their chosen careers.
While producing, if I discover that Femi or any of my sons cannot fit into a role the way I want, I will not use them, rather, I may call Funsho Adeolu ,Muyiwa Ademola or Yomi Fash-Laso to replace them. For me, business and sentiments don’t mix.
Despite all the fight by your association and other bodies in the film industry? against piracy. It is popular, as CDs are displayed in major markets like Oshodi, Mushin, Idumota, Agege, Iyana Ipaja etc. What is your association doing to curb this?
The problem of piracy is beyond us; I think government should do something about it, because though we have tried all we could, our efforts have been brought to nothing by these people who are bent on destroying us with their wicked business.? Piracy is wicked business, yet the government is failing to make it a priority to fight it. It is more annoying, considering that this industry reduces unemployment in the country. It is true that piracy is all over the world, but we want it to be reduced in Nigeria.
Some viewers are of the opinion that Yoruba movies lack quality, except a few by Tunde kelani, ‘Eti keta’ by Saidi Balogun and a few more?
Well, we have junks in every aspect of the profession, even in journalism, your profession. But those ones are few. Consider my films; are they junk? The fact that some Yoruba movies lack quality does not necessarily mean that all Yoruba films lack quality.
What are you working on now?
Presently, I am working on ‘Ayitale’ and ‘Ironla’. Just these two.