From his crowning as Mr. Nigeria in 2014 to clinching the first runner-up title at the world competition, Nigerian actor, Emmanuel Ikubese, has seen it all. Fully back in Nigeria, the entertainer now runs a pet project; a campaign against violence on women. He speaks to DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI on his journey into entertainment, among other issues.
HOW has life been since you emerged Mr. Nigeria?
Life has been fantastic, coming from Kenya to Nigeria trying to find my ground in the showbiz industry. It’s really been a journey, though I owe gratitude to the ‘Mr. Nigeria’ contest which gave me a platform to meet the world and become the first African to become Mr. World. Coming back, I’ve been involved with amazing projects like the Shuga series.
In fact, being part of Shuga is actually one thing that helped me with my campaign on domestic violence because I feel that if we can achieve success in Shuga while campaigning for HIV and AIDS, success can also be achieved in domestic violence. I have seen how much Shuga has helped in creating awareness and how much it has educated people. I’m trying to use the same approach for my RAW campaign. I want something that will immortalise me when I’m no more.
As one who started out in Kenya, how easy was it blending into the Nigerian entertainment circles?
It was really tough. I finished school in 2010. I was acting, hosting events and organising shows. I had a career, a very big one in Kenya. But I told myself, if I have to give up all of these to come back to Nigeria, then I have to be sure that I already have a place here. So, I come home every December to try it out and just see what is going on. But if it’s not worth it, I run back to Kenya. By 2015, Shuga was launched and by the third season, it was getting a lot of momentum as people actually got to know me. So, I decided to take advantage of that and it gave me couple of roles in movies until Mr. Nigeria came. My fear was what people would say if I didn’t win it. But I prayed about it and it came to pass.
As an actor, are you also available for other producers aside Mnet?
Yes, I’ve done a couple of movies. I have worked with Hakeem Kae Kazeem. There is another great movie coming out in December. I always choose the kind of people I work with; I don’t just jump into any movie role.
You studied International Relations but settled for showbiz…
I started my career as a model in Kenya. I did that to take the financial stress off my parents. I started modelling, worked as a DJ, and so on. I think I emulated my mum because she’s an MC. She hosts events. I learnt how to DJ while I was doing stuff with her during my holidays. I use to Disc Jockey all Nigerian music in Kenya because there is no Nigerian song in Kenya.
I did that for a while before I started organising events, performing and I eventually started making my own music. I released an album, did songs with top Kenyan artiste, and I even did a song with Timaya. Anytime Nigerian artistes are in Kenya to perform, I usually perform last. So, that’s how I met a lot of them.
Why did you choose acting over music?
I tried my music at a particular time; I spent a lot of money with the wrong people which didn’t work out. Whenever I come to Nigeria to put in my best and it’s not yielding any result, I run back to Kenya, but now I’m trying to restrategise on my music career.
What has changed about you since winning the Mr. Nigeria contest?
Nothing really has changed about me, and there’s no really a major challenge. God has been so faithful to me. I’m still Emmanuel.
How have you been able to manage stardom?
I had a rehearsal session in Kenya. At that period, they had this attention for Nigerians. And I was not just an ordinary Nigerian, I was a celebrity. I got a lot of attention there which I was able to handle. Coming here, I already knew how these things happen. One of the things people need to find, when they break into limelight is to find themselves. And once they can identify themselves, everything works out perfectly.
Asides your career, what else do you have planned?
What I need to do is what I am trying to do, and that is the Project RAW. As I said, a lot of people don’t understand what it takes to be a Mr. Nigeria and Mr. World. It is about you contributing, it’s the platform that gives you the opportunity to contribute. All the Mr. Germany, Mr. Mexico and many more, have their own contributions. It’s all about charity and how you can shed light on something that is really affecting people.
What is Project RAW all about?
It’s a campaign on domestic violence against women. We divided it into three categories; Awareness, Help and Advocacy. The Awareness is to make people, especially women, aware of the project RAW, because most women are still not aware that there are things to be put in place for victims of domestic violence, places where they can go and get help and many more. The Help is an avenue; we are aiming to have a rehabilitation home where we can have counsellors to assist victims of domestic violence by talking to them and get them back into the right shape of mind, while the ‘Advocacy’ is the campaign proper.
We intend to work with law enforcement agencies that would help bring justice to victims in the hands of perpetrators. We are also going to partner with the media who will also assist to bring it to the light of the public and we will also be organising ‘RAW Day’ across all major schools and university campuses in the country.
Why did you choose domestic violence as a cause?
It is a known fact that I have always been passionate about the issue of domestic violence. Funny enough, people usually ask me whether I have ever been in such situation. But I have actually been around people who are victims of domestic violence. I have seen a whole lot. I just felt something needs to be done.
Did you encounter such experiences while growing up with your parents or extended family?
Never! I have never seen my dad beat my mum. It has never happened. Those are the things I think we need to begin to imbibe among our friends and also teach the younger kids. I think this will really help our society. A man needs to let people know the danger of domestic violence. There are a lot of dangers in it. You can kill someone in the process and that’s the more reason the campaign has kicked off.
Are you saying the slogan ‘Run A Way’ is a way of telling women to avoid being killed?
Yes! ‘Run A Way’, for me, is more of the younger people, because if he persists in violating you, ‘run away’. Though we are trying to see how we can put things in place like it’s done abroad. Abroad, you can’t hit your wife because there are laws that guide them. We need to adopt this in our society to protect our younger ones.
Are you taking the Project RAW to Kenya?
Definitely, once we get it right and get balanced here in Nigeria, we intend to take it across African countries because domestic violence is not just in Nigeria. It’s something that affects everyone globally; within and outside Africa.
But it is believed that some ladies are very stubborn, and this usually leads to them being violated?
I agree with you. Inasmuch as men we have our own issues, ladies can be very stubborn and this can actually push a man to the end of the rope. But as a man, you should know how to control such situation. They can be very provoking, but as a man you should be in control rather than letting that situation control you. The Project RAW basically means Respect A Woman and in this campaign, the women also have roles to play. Because there are certain things that the women need to understand too.
Though, women have very strong verbal powers that trigger a lot of things out of a man, these are the things that women need to understand and begin to put to check. At the same time, we need to let a man understand that no matter what, men are supposed to be in control, and not made to hit or beat a woman. Men are meant to protect a woman. No matter what my mum does to me, you cannot slap her because of the respect I have for her. So if a man can’t do that to his mum, why will he do it to the mother of his children?
Why are you so passionate about women?
I just love women; they are amazing, beautiful beings that actually need to be protected. I have an amazing relationship with my mum and I will not tolerate it when another man tries to hit my mum. I also have a beautiful sister and I can’t imagine seeing her in such a situation. Women are very vulnerable, so it’s easy for them to lose their lives in the process.
How have you been coping with the female fans?
Basically, it is very easy for people to get distracted by female fans. I try to just maintain a balance between being friendly to people and crossing the line. I know when to be friendly; I know when not to cross the line. I try not to lose focus.
What would be your advice to young people who look up to you as a role model?
Never give up; always be ready to start small. There is no crime in aiming big but starting small means you gathering experiences from different places. Let me use myself as an example. I have done a lot of free shows; I have been to so many auditions that I wasn’t invited. Before I won Mr. Nigeria, I had tried it in my school and I didn’t win. Always keep trying and put God first.
