Away from the industry for some time, Lawrence Lurrenz Onuzulike says that he is back with groundbreaking innovations in the form of an online blog called Nollywoodgossip which has over a million readers. Recently, he also launched a publication called ‘Nollywood Angels Magazines’. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUKANMI, he talks about what his life as a writer, musician, actor, humanitarian and an activist among other issues.
FOR how long have you been an entertainer? Professionally I would say since 1997 but I had been doing movies with Zeb Ejiro while in secondary school. That was before AGN was formed. I was there the day the Association was formed by Ifeanyi Ejike in Surulere but I was just a secondary school boy then. Back then, I was into rap, hip-hop gospel music. It was not accepted then because people thought it was odd to rap about God.
They felt it was a sin. That didn’t discourage me because we had a group in school in Apata Memorial High School where the three of us do shows for the school. Today it is accepted because you can do anything about God now. That was how entertainment started for me, but I was not paid any money. I have been in the industry since 1992 doing behind the scene stuff. My first movie was 2006 where I featured in Escape directed by Jerry Amilo.
Why did you leave Nigeria when you had so much passion for entertainment?
I got a birthday gift from my father at the age of 19 to go and work with Mother Teresa in India. Doing charity works has seen me travel far and wide across the globe. That includes working closely with late Mother Theresa at the Missionary of Charity, Calcutta, India, between 1996 and 1997.
When I finished there, I was travelled around Asia, then to Thailand where I met a group called Clypso and we became friends. That was how I started making my first money and we performed together for six months.
What type of music do you do now?
I do Afro Hip-Hop, Afro Dance and Afro Pop. My new album is titled Dance Africa. All the songs will be African dance music.
What are you doing now that you are back home?
I recently launched a fun book into the Nigerian market. It is a book of fun games and trivia, packaged as a way of educating lovers of Nigerian movies. The book contains puzzles, trivia questions, crosswords, and word searches which test readers’ knowledge of the Nigerian stars and movies while at the same time learning more about the entire industry.
There is also Nollywoodgossip Magazine; this project aims to inculcate the culture of reading among lovers of Nigerian movies. I was thinking of another way to get Nollywood practitioners to earn extra income apart from the usual production of films, and at the same time thinking of how to bring back reading culture among Nigerians. That was how the idea of the book came to mind. And I am already working on the second volume of the book.
Presently, what is the reach of Nollywood Angels?
It cuts across several countries because I can’t remember the country that I have not been to. It is all about the happenings in Nigeria movies, Nollywood. Every young Tanzanian and South African girl watches Nollywood movies and wants to be in them so the publication is for young actors, models, musicians. Some of the artistes featured in the magazine are not Nigerians. Because we are doing something big in this country and everybody wants to be part of it.
Would you say you are more accepted at home than abroad?
I am well known as a writer in Sweden. For some reason, I decided to project myself more as an author than an artiste. It is not that my family does not like what I do; they see what most entertainers do as irresponsible, especially when it comes to drugs and street life. I was sent to the best school and that is the reason I am living the straight life that I am living today. They made sure that I project myself as an author and publisher.
What is the life of an actor, musician turned publisher like?
I started writing when I was about eight years old and I authored a book titled Mother. I have been into writing for a long time and I also studied Creative Writing from Mastersbiro in Manchester. I have written for a whole lot of newspapers and magazines around Europe and America before I started publishing my own magazine. The transition is not so difficult because I have been a part of it. It was easy for me to train writers.
Though there were hiccups because I was doing something new, because of my experience it was easier for me to put things right. I also have an online magazine called NollywoodGossip and I have four hundred million monthly readers. It is one of the best read in Africa. Bringing out the magazine on the street was much easier because we already had people ready to buy.
What about movie production?
I started movie production many years ago. And have done some movies too.
What are you presently working on?
Right now I am working on three projects; a soap with Zeb Ejiro titled Classique, the next edition of Nollywood Angels Magazine is also in progress, as well as the preparation for the video of my new single titled Inabu.
How do you intend to manage your business home and abroad?
I have an office in Europe and Nigeria. So for the past three to four years now, I have been shuttling between worlds. That is not the only thing I do. I have a record label with artistes on it. I have a soap showing on the satellite television titled Prada.
How do you feel being fulfilled without a family of your own?
My dad worked very hard when I was little. I was born into an Anglican family but we have a close family friend attending a Catholic Church. I used to go worship with them. That was how I knew about mother Theresa and I kept telling my dad that I wanted to see her. They told me it is like saying I want to see the Pope but my dad kept telling me that I was too young.
My father was the first person ever to import George that women tie from India. He was familiar with India and that was where Mother Theresa lived. On my 19th birthday, he just drove me to the airport where someone was waiting for us and he told me he was taking me somewhere. I was surprised, and then from there I was driven to Lagos, given my passport and off to India. All these were planned without my knowledge. My father worked hard to make his children’s dreams come true. I want to work hard too so that when I finally have a family, I want to make my wife’s dreams and that of my children come true too.
Having worked with Mother Theresa, why didn’t you opt for priesthood?
Mother Theresa helped so many people and it changed a lot of things in my life. That was what made me decide to have a project of my own. It is called Children Africa. We also have a website and when you go there, you will be amazed at what we are doing. Some years ago we went to some hospitals across Africa and paid some hospital bills for kids so that they can go home and spend Christmas with their parents. We give money to parents to start petty businesses to pay school fees for their children. Over four thousand kids benefited from this project.
This year, we started what we call Notebooks for All Children (NBAC). We go to schools to give quality notebooks to aids education. In Lagos, the government gives free textbooks but you have to buy notebooks. I learnt all this from Mother Theresa; it is about being a priest, but helping people.
Being one who travels a lot, how do you plan to remain relevant in Nollywood?
I plan to remain relevant through groundbreaking projects. Nollywood is not only about acting and producing movies. I keep creating new ways to earn income in the industry. For instance, my book, Know your Nollywood was the first of its kind. Then came our magazine which promotes and educates up comers; another first of its kind. That doesn’t mean that I won’t be acting and producing too.
What are some of the movies that you have featured in?
Most of the time, the working title is always different from what the movie is given when it eventually hits the market. But I know about Prada on DSTV, A cry for Husband, Escape from South, Worst of Friends, Dirty Games among others.
Presently where do you reside?
I have a house in Lekki, another in Asaba, and Europe so I shuttle between these places that I mentioned.
Any plans to finally put more focus on movies?
From last year, I can say I have put more focus on movies. I shot a number of movies last year. They will be released later this year.
Who are the people you have worked with?
I’ve worked with almost everybody in the industry one way or the other; Zeb Ejiro, Chico Ejiro, Pete Edochie, Segun Arinze, Mercy Johnson, Ngozi Ezeonu, Tricia Esiegbe just to mention a few.
What is your relationship with Zeb? He seems to be your only pal in the industry.
Zeb is like a father to me in the industry.
Who is Lurrenzo?
My name is Lawrence Lurrenz Onuzulike; I started as a musician professionally with the name Lurrenz. But today people call me Lurrenzo and gradually the name just got stuck. I am also an actor; producer and I also have a record label too.
