Actress and movie producer, Kemi Afolabi, left the shores of Nigeria four years ago to get married. Now back in the country, the mother of one who has been seen in different movie locations, says she is fully geared up for the industry.
In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUKANMI, the graduate of Law from University of Lagos speaks on sundry issues
DO you have a personal project you are working on at the moment?
No, I don’t have a personal project at hand but I hope to shoot an epic movie before the end of the year. Meanwhile, I have a new movie which will hit the market soon. We just finished the postproduction. It has been work all through, apart from the fact that I have to work for other people.
So far, you have continued to remain relevant. What would you say is your selling point?
Well, I didn’t know I have been relevant. I give God the glory. Whatever you know how to do best, you should just put more strength and be more focus. You should be able to do more that is expected of you. When I get a script, I always want to see what I can do to improve on that script given to me, I mean my own addition towards getting a good result rather than, just what the producer wants. Basically, it is God and my own uniqueness, knowing what I want for myself.
Have you been in a situation where you had to change the entire script of a producer?
No, I don’t have to change the script. But I can always add my own knowledge. We both might be thinking of the same thing but one idea might just be better. If I get a script and I see that I can make it better I just give the producer my opinion. But if the producer insists that is the way he wants it and I see that it is not going to add any value to the viewers, I can just drop such script. I stand as a role model and if I cannot add any value to people’s lives, then there is no point acting in the first place.
Have you ever had to accept a script just for the money?
(Laughs) I don’t think so. Money is always secondary. My primary objective is always adding value and impact to my environment. You cannot just act just for the sake of being an actress. For me, the answer is no. I don’t know about others. Yes, money pays the bills and I don’t have any other thing I am doing. But still it is not all about the money. There are some scripts you will accept and at the end of the day, it will end up not adding value to you yourself.
You are one of the few Yoruba acts who run a website. What is the idea behind this?
Well, it is just for my fans to get to know me. I can’t get across to everyone. I just came back from Ilorin to shoot a movie and now I am in Ibadan for another. I will be in Lagos after this for another movie. That is the only place where my fans and loved ones can get to read and know me apart from the junk journalists write about us. Fine, I am not a controversial actress but sometimes you cannot do without people writing false information about you. The page is built for people to get to know more about me and what I do.
How have you succeeded in staying away from controversies?
Basically, I believe that everything has to do with the kind of orientation you have. The fact that I am into entertainment does not mean that I have to throw my upbringing into the dustbin. It is not easy. I am sure that those who are controversial do not just want to be. I just don’t know how they come across such things. For me, I try as much as possible to do away with things that I don’t need. I try as much as possible to stay away from trouble, unnecessary cheap popularity. I just don’t go to places, so that I could be notice. You know sometimes you just try your best, which might not be enough. But I think it’s been working for me. And I am not an outgoing person; I am an introvert if I can put it that way. So far, so good, I thank God. A part of me is religious, so I know my onions and know what I want.
What was it like delving into movie production as an actress?
The first thing that came to mind when I wanted to do my first production was that people call you for jobs and tell you what they want. The best thing is to call those who know about it, like the script writers. You tell them you have a story that educates people. In my first movie, I talked about cancer of the blood, young girls and the kind of quick money they want and the consequences they face at the end. What I did was to call on my senior colleagues, those that are real producers and told them my idea. I was told how to go about the production and getting it across the marketers. So it is about determination. Recently people have been talking about the way they pirate our movies, they suffer so much. This is my job with all the stress. Then some people just come up from nowhere and pick up the CD and pirate it into as many copies as they want. If you are really determined that you want to get your message across, then you don’t let that stop you. For my second movie which I shot in England and Nigeria, the marketers were not interested in the money I invested on it. I had to let them know that it is a message I am trying to get across and not the profit.
Are you saying you are too comfortable and not in need of money?
(Laughs) what are you talking about? Of course I need the money. I was away in England for about four years during which I got married and had my daughter. My husband takes care of some of my family and other stuff too. We are both young, trying to make it. So in any little way I can assist, I do. We all need money, I need to fuel my car, and sometimes I need to pay my driver. What I am just saying is that, it goes beyond the money. It is the passion, and when you have passion for something, you need to do it, comes what may.
Don’t you feel you would fare better in the English genre?
If I get invited, I will do it. I just feel I know where I am. I have done a few sitcoms with AK Media. Yes, I am educated, I went to school. I started with the Yoruba sector. So far, so good, I am fine where I am. If I get script, I will give them what they want. I am ready to take up challenges.
How convenient is it for you having a family abroad and working here?
It is not an easy task at all. Combining being a mother, wife and being a career woman, God has just always been my strength. Having an understanding partner who knows my job makes it easy. He encourages me, he shares in my stories, he shares in my pains, he knows all about what I do. When there is love and understanding in a relationship, the rest is just minor. I have a friend, father and a brother for a husband. It’s been easy for me with God but that is not to say that we do not have our misunderstanding. Having to stay more than the days expected on location is one challenge. Another one has to do with picking up my daughter for a weekend family outing and I am not there. So there have been hiccups but we have always conquered.
Would you stay in an abusive marriage because you are a celebrity?
No, I won’t. Like I say to people, there are always tell tale signs right from when you are courting. There is no point staying when you are not compatible. I won’t stay. Life is just too short, if you are not happy, get out of the relationship. There is no point forcing it. I am happy, that is why I am staying there. If I am not happy, I won’t stay, because I am not going to live my life for anybody. It is my life at the end of the day and I will be the one to carry my cross.
Why don’t you expose your body like some of your colleague?
One thing I would say is that, going nude in movies does not come with the job now. What you need as an actress is your inspiration and delivery. That is the way you are able to get across to your fans. Nobody is going to tell me I have to wear pant and bra. It does not come with the job. Acting goes beyond that, to me it is your expression and how you are able to get across to those who look up to you. It is a thing of the mind and the choice we make. If it comes to the character where you have to act the prostitute, we have the corporate prostitutes who do not expose their body because that is what they do. Naturally I don’t like wearing a lot of things on my body when I am home. But that does not take me to the movie set and start exposing my body. Not because I am married. Sometimes you need to show some flesh, like when you are acting the role where you have to seduce a man. But everything has to be moderate. For me I won’t go to the extreme. I work on my reaction and bringing my best out.
When you are not busy, what do you do?
Most times, I get out of the country. It could be one of the African countries, just to relax. Because of the love I have for this job, when I am here, that is what I use to relax.
