Elvina Ibru is a singer, actress, producer, On-Air Personality, and last child of Michael Ibru. In this interview with YETUNDE OLADEINDE, she opens up on early life, inspiration, memorable experience in the sector, and things she shares in common with her late father, Olorogun Michael Ibru.
How did your career in acting begin?
It was in primary school, in Corona, Victoria Island. I was 6 years old and we were asked to do the traditional Calabar dance, which I had never done before. So, an instructor came in saying children follow me. He said, whatever I do, do. He started dancing and we all started dancing as well. The next thing he said was ‘very good, you are the best, you (pointed to me) will be the leader”, and he gave me a whistle and put me in the middle.
That was the first time I was ever on stage. After that, you know they had shows like Kiddies Junction and Tales by Moonlight on TV. Then they used to come around to primary schools to look for children with talent. Every time they came around, I got picked. That was how I started acting on TV when I was very little.
By the time I got to England at age 8, my mum booked elocution and drama lessons for me. That was when the teacher noticed that I was particularly good at Speech and drama. Really, that was how I fell in love with the stage. I would say that is how my career started, even though I was not paid back then. That was the first time I worked professionally with TV in Nigeria.
You were part of Vagina Monologues, how would you describe the experience?
The Vagina Monologues was something else. It was an amazing experience. It was so abrupt, so harsh, controversial and so relevant. It was a project that I felt that I had to be part of, in a way of becoming a mouthpiece for women. The experience was incredible. It was produced by Aunty Joke Silva. That actually was my first break in theater in Nigeria and it was Aunty J that gave me that opportunity to be in that play.
It was great performing in Lagos and Abuja. We were afraid of Abuja because we thought that Abuja might be one-sided due to the Islamic Laws and regulations with women and all that. However, we got a very warm reception and a successful show.
How easy was it fitting into your role in Bolanle Austen- Peters “Bling Lagosian’?
Getting into the role of Mopelola was easy on one hand, but hard on the other. Easy because of my background. I grew up with people like that. And, what the film depicts is very true, that is how they behave. In fact, some of them are worse than that in real life. So, that was the easy part because I already knew their behavioral pattern. But the hard part is that I am so not like Mopelola. I am the complete opposite. I am very down to earth. I play with everybody. I don’t think of myself as being better than anyone. So, in that sense it was difficult.
What are some of the other memorable moments in your acting career?
Gosh! There are so many memorable moments. I was in a movie called ‘Alter ego’ with Omotola, a couple of years ago. I played the role of a barrister and I took it because it would mean direct screen time with her. I was actually on-screen with her for about 7 to 10 minutes. At the premiere of the movie, I came on towards the end and everyone has been watching quietly, then I came on, after a particular scene someone started clapping and the director was looking around. Michelle Dede was sitting next to him, he asked her why she was clapping and she said this woman is amazing, absolutely outstanding. That was a very memorable thing for me. Such a little part, yet somebody noticed me. This is why in theatre school, we are taught that there is no small role, only a small actor. Whatever role you are given, you have to put your heart into it. Even if it is just one line. That was memorable and there was another moment in ‘ Letters to Exchange’ with Genevieve Nnaji in 2007, that movie was so much fun. There is a scene where I had to sit on her. That was memorable because I was much bigger than I am now. Sitting on tiny Genevieve was so much fun at the time. I have lots of great memories of my acting career.
What are your memories as On-Air personally with Classic FM?
Classic FM was wonderful especially considering I never had ambitions to be a radio or On-Air Personality. It just came to me on my lap and so I took it. It was a great experience; I had a great boss, a very nice man. He let me get away with a lot. I always had to leave work for a long period of time, go on tour with plays, and whatever. He was always so kind about it and very accommodating. Then my director and immediate boss, Chiko. He trained me and trained me very well because soon after I started working, I was mentoring people.
My teacher was very wonderful. Unfortunately, I had to leave because the danger was getting too much. I live in Apapa; you know we have the trailer problem in the area. My show was from 9 to 12 midnight. So, I had to be on that bridge from past midnight to about 1.am.It was becoming dangerous. That was number one and then I needed to face my acting career fully and in media, there are no excuses. You have to be at work, every day, even when there are public holidays. We weren’t given off days and I didn’t want a situation where my boss would tell me that I wasn’t performing. So, I decided that it was time to move on.
You have also worked with the BBC, how has broadcasting influenced your life?
Yes, I worked with the BBC when I was very young and it was a radio show called Song Thrill. Broadcasting has given me confidence. It helped me with my theatre and acting.
This is because when you are in broadcasting, you have to be very expressive with just your voice; nobody can see your face. So, it actually helped me with my voice patterns
It has helped me add colour to my voice, which is what you need as an actor. So, broadcasting has played a big part in my career and I am grateful for it.
Music is something that you are also passionate about, what are some of the things that you have done here?
I would say music is probably my first love, God blessed me once upon a time with the voice and I was able to do a lot.
When I came back to Nigeria, I started recording an album and that was when I lost my voice.
Before then, I had worked on loads of musical plays, western musicals and I am also a music director. I have written songs. When I first came home, it was music that I was concentrating on. I had a live band and we got very big gigs. There was a time I played for Governor Odili’s wife, at the opening of her NGO in Port Harcourt. It was filled with dignitaries and they enjoyed the show. So, I started getting a lot of o work from different governments and others. It was actually at Bright Igbinedion’s 40th birthday, that I lost my voice. The voice is back now, but it is not the same kind of voice that it was before.
What dreams did you have growing up as a child?
I grew up dreaming about just being like my mother. My mum was an incredible woman
She was beautiful, hardworking, and had seven children. She was independent and supported my father to the end. Funny enough, that was my main dream. When it comes to other types of dreams, I dreamt about being a barrister. When I was a little bit older, I wanted to become a criminal lawyer and then theatre stole my heart and that is where I ended up. Haven said that, even though I am not a child anymore, I still have big dreams.
What inspires you to do the things you do?
I am driven by passion. I am one of the lucky people that are working in the field that she loves and is trending. A lot of people go to school, get a Masters, go into business, and become something completely different. But I studied theatre and acting and showbiz are what I am doing because I love it.
What are some of the things that you share in common with your dad?
I think I have the same sense of humour like my dad. He is very witty and very funny. And thank God, he passed on his generosity to me. I am a very generous person. I like to share and give. It actually gives me the joy to give people things, if I have. I also have his work ethics. I am so much of a workaholic. My dad was a workaholic. The more work I have, the more I thrive. I hate not having something to do. We both love snails and prawns.
What are the qualities that you admire about him?
I admire everything about my dad. Except for one thing. He had humility, compassion, humanitarianism, and work ethics. Then his looks, he was so gorgeous, so handsome.
The fact that he was bilingual, he could pick up languages easily
He was funny and so charming. The only thing I didn’t admire about him was the fact that he was a polygamist. But luckily, my mum was very strong and she always told us that we had to bond with our brothers and sisters. We were not allowed to say the word half in the house. Even with the polygamy, I still enjoyed the fact that I had loads of brothers and sisters.
What are the things that you miss about him now?
I miss everything about my dad especially his humor and words of advice.
If I had any issues, he would always say something to me that would make me feel better especially my business. When I opened my company, I was always at his house and he would always have something to say to make me feel better. By the way, I called my dad, broda, and my mum, auntie. I miss him a lot, I miss his smile.
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