Top Yoruba actor, Adebayo Salami (a.k.a Oga Bello) may have seen it all in acting, production and directing. However, our Contributing Editor, IFECHI OKOH, took him up recently, on an in-depth and breath-taking close-up, on his career and all other issues his fans have been itching to know about. Savour it!

Why did you embrace acting among other specializations?

From the onset, acting has been part of me. Aside from my natural love for it, I had to embrace it formally because of my passion for it which actually made it impossible for me to go for other specializations. Moreover, the talent is there to make the best use of it for acting. Along the line, I acquired the skill formally and this helped me to burst loose, placing me at another level where my star began to shine, exposing me to the society. My other dispositions which people, especially my fans don’t know of is the fact that I write scripts, direct and produce. It is really funny and interesting. I think with the acquisition of knowledge and functioning as director and producer, I am a consummate movie maker.

I directed a couple of good movies which I also produced to confirm my disposition as a consummate professional.

Who discovered you?

In all honesty, I discovered myself because I remembered that when I was young, I use to watch one pretty, popular Yoruba actor, Ayinla Olumegbon, on stage. I must confess that I derived serious inspiration watching him. I was so much in love with his virility that I re-enact them in the bathroom anytime I got in. But unfortunately, I was living in face me I face you compound. As a result, there was usually a long queue anytime I came to have my bath. Despite such queue, I still managed to take my time, re-enact the parts and scenes I saw in Olumegbon.

Naturally, the impatient ones usually scream at me right in the bathroom, maintaining that I have wasted enough of their time. By the time I come out, they attack me verbally and insult me. Stunningly, I hardly react to their tantrums which I later developed pretty thick skin against. This funny scenario continued until I have to overcome it and the trouble stopped with time.

Who are your role models?

Well, all the influence that I had that time was that of my godfather, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, a one–time Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Works and Housing whom I was his Personal Assistant (PA), between 1970-74. Aside from him as my godfather, I had a role model, late Architect Solade, the father of my colleague, Yemi Solade.

What was your experience like within the first five years in Nollywood?

Okay! That is talking of the period 1964 – 1969, I can still remember vividly that in the beginning, I was not getting any financial reward and I was not troubled too. To me, I was just acting for the fun of it, enjoying myself. It was more of a hobby than anything else. During this period, I spent my personal money. Can you believe this? I was so passionate about the business that I did not consider spending my personal money to mean anything.

How did you face the challenges that period?

The most pronounced was that of my parent’s refusal to encourage me to go into the theatre business. As at that time, those in show business were seen and treated as beggars, drop-outs and never-do-wells in the society. So my parents saw my interest as something to drag the family’s name in the mud. They did all they could do frustrate my efforts. Could you believe while my parents held firm unto their belief, my grandmother showed understanding, pity and support for my choice of career. She did not stop there. The old woman did all humanly possible to educate and discourage my parents who stood their ground for a long while. However, I was lucky at last when my parents formally gave the go-ahead. I want to state here categorically that it was not only my grandmother’s effort. My uncle too, gave her his full support in the fight for me to realize my age-long ambition in life. I thank God that before my father died; he realized his mistake because I made the family proud as an actor of repute.

What was the movie that gave you the breakthrough as an actor?

I remember in 1970, there was a competition packaged by Lagos State, it was known as Lagos State Festival of Arts. I took part in the drama competition and I came tops. From that moment, my luck has been shinning. The play which opened the floodgate was titled “Ogbogbenuga,” literarily meaning “wisdom uplifted me.” I was actually overwhelmed by this. For the first time ever, Nigeria biggest newspaper then, Daily Times, did a story on me. It was incredible! I consolidated this with my appearance on the television show: “Bar Beach Show,” produced by Oladele Bank Olemoh and presented by Art Alade, the father of Dare Art Alade. This programme really helped to further popularize me as an up and coming actor or entertainer. From the Bar Beach show, I continued my foray with the travelling theatre, doing stage performance which later metamorphosed into the cinema, now known today as movies. Then, we shot on celluloid under the leadership of Ojo Ladipo whom I took over from as a result of his death in October 1978.

What were the factors that made Oga Bello the brand that he is today?

There are four factors: hard work, discipline, honesty, and tolerance; all these traits have combined to give me the kind of image I am enjoying in the society till date and I thank Allah who made it so.

What were the attributes that made you to stand out from other Nollywoood actors?

Aside from being focused, I tried to put in my best as an actor. This, I may have perfected and also reaped the best result from because of my undying desire for research to improve on whatever roles I have been given. I have also been pretty alive to opportunities, ensuring that I don’t miss them. I am used to grabbing them and bettering myself as an actor. This has really been helping me exclusively in no small measure. Could you believe I learn from situations people may ordinarily overlook? The same goes from the youngest person. This is so because I strongly believe that nobody is a repository of knowledge. Creativity can emanate from anybody or situation. That is my candid submission. As an actor, I have since learnt how to deliver my lines in the most refreshingly different manner or style.

How did you feel when you received your first payment as an actor?

To start with, I did not go into theatre business with the sole aim of making money. So, I never expected any form of payment. Hence, the first payment I got, shocked and left me speechless. It was really incredible! From that moment, it dawned on me for good that I can make money from what I have been doing for a hobby. I remember that my first payment was not more than 2 shillings, 6 pence in the days of pound, shilling and pence. It was such a big amount of money then. You can equate it with our N100,000.00 of today.

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