KOFFI Emmanuel Ayinde Idowu is simply known on stage as Koffi. He is an entertainment impresario; a born comedian who has won many awards and uses the positive values of his calling to touch lives. Having made his debut as an undergraduate, Koffi quickly navigated through smooth and rough terrains to be where he is today. In this chat with Edozie Udeze in his office in Lagos, he shows himself as a young man totally given to handling issues that impact bountifully
on lives across ages and groups and lots more. Excerpts
AT what point in your life did it occur to you that you’d become a comedian; an entertainer?
I did not exactly project myself into becoming an entertainer. I started out quite early when I was in school, playfully. By the time school was over and I was getting paid, I said there was no point looking for another job. And it came as a natural flair. I didn’t have to force it and people kept telling me, this is your path. I got admission to study Chemistry at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State. So while still studying Chemistry I was busy mastering the rudiments of handling ceremonies in the university. I was doing Emcee for orientation programmes, faculty dinners and all that. Then a friend just told me one day, you are just wasting this talent. Why not go and join this theatre club in school and you can continue to groom your talent. I had never heard of theatre 15 then and what it was all about. So I made enquiries and heard about the audition. Then I went for the first audition. I didn’t pass; in fact I was chased out. But I made attempt a second time. And when I got there I told them that I just wanted to be part of this family. And when they heard the use of the word family, they knew that I knew what it meant to be part of something.
From there, I started as an assistant sound man to appearing on stage. They discovered that I was really an Emcee and a comedian of some sort. Then my acting skills began to blossom and then everything began to develop together, stand-up comedian, the actor, the guy that sings… I started getting paid as an Emcee… By my final year, I was no longer asking my parents for money for my up keep. I was already doing fine.
Did you end up graduating as a Chemist?
Yes, I was studying Chemistry. I graduated in Chemistry. Theatre 15 was just a club for extra-curricular activities. After lecture, I’d go there to be part of what they were doing. I’d go there for plays, for rehearsals and for all the programmes they had.
So why did you choose Koffi?
Oh, I did not choose Koffi. I was born Koffi. My mum is from Togo. So it is my name given to me by my parents. My other names are Emmanuel Ayinde. And Ayinde is quite ethnic while Emmanuel is clearly gospel. So it will place me in certain cliché. But Koffi is more global. Yes it is. And luckily for me by the time I started out, Koffi Annan was the Secretary General of the United Nations. Then it made more sense. In fact, my pop then used to complain that why don’t I use my alias from secondary school. When I was in secondary school, I had one and I didn’t know the old man knew all about that. But he did as if he didn’t know. So, when he noticed that I was becoming famous, he said why are you using Koffi? Why not Eki? And I said, oh you knew? All this while, you’d be looking at me as if you didn’t know, as if I was still a kid and stuff.
You see, as a kid I was just handy. When the TV spoilt, I would be there to make it work again. They didn’t need to go and find a technician. I’d fix it. Armed robbers came to our house and took away our amplifier but I made the tune table work all the same. I was able to connect the tune table to power the sound. I don’t know how I did it, but it worked. So, they knew how handy I was in the house. When I was going to study the science, they kicked against it. And how can you?, they queried me, when you are good with your hands. You know the Arts very well; you write very well, you also write good poems. I’d write short stories, too. I used to use my acronym, Emmanuel Koffi Idowu, Eki, to do those stuffs then. So my pop knew but I didn’t pursue it. But when he knew I was becoming famous in school, he said ah, why are you not using Eki and I said eh, so this man knew all along? I said pop, this was old school name. So I said Koffi is okay for me. People are already used to Koffi and it has come to stay.
So Koffi came out because I wanted to create a different name. Again, it was already ridicula. For you to move forward in life, you should use what works against you to forge ahead. When I was going to theatre 15, my roommates knew me as Emmanuel. But I thought that if I have to go where they will make fun of you, go, fully prepared. Then when they asked me my name, I was ready for them to laugh at me; to mock me. And then I stilled myself against it. When I now told them my name is Koffi, they said oh, it is cool; it is good. And I said to them, ‘oh una no laugh me? So the jinx was broken and from that moment, the name Koffi stuck.
What inspires your jokes?
Ah, the things around me, the things I see everyday. The people themselves; what they do, what they say and how they say the things they say. Now we are here now, and something has inspired my thought process and I then react. And again it is because I write a lot, I write all the time. So, I do comedy, music, drama; they all give me the groove that I need to do this job.
Who are your role models?
I won’t lie to you. It took me a while to begin to have role models. I didn’t see anybody as a role model until I became an entertainer or a celebrity of some sort. But in my later years after having looked at the humility of Tu-face, Alibaba, and how they have remained humble.. Then I said, how has this other person been doing something so great? How has this person become so great from something as simple as what we used to play with? Things like mimicry and character. How did Wizzkid get to this point and so on and so forth? Then I started getting inspiration from some of these people now and not when I was starting out. I didn’t look up to any man. I looked up to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, because no man then can say I depended on him to be where I am today in this entertainment industry. No one. I didn’t exactly lobby anyone. For me now, people look at me and say ah; but I say, I am not God. They say ah, Koffi we don’t see you so often and everywhere. And I say these are not my projections. I work. When I was small we were told do your best and leave the rest. Now we’ve grown so much older and so much in a hurry. How did we get to this level? We are not being simple enough; we are not being contented with what we have already. Everybody is busy pursuing one thing or the other. What we are pursuing, I can’t see it. We are greedy. But the principles with which I was brought up say, do the right things and the rest will fall in place. It is still the same principles because I need to hand this over to my children, so that they can learn those principles from me.
As I am now, my primary occupation is how to be a father, a family man, then entertainment follows. It is God, family, entertainment in that order. Before, it used to be God and entertainment. But today the order has changed. It is God, family and entertainment. I can be happy with my family without money, but I cannot have all the money and not have a family and be happy. It is not possible. Saturday I was home with my family dancing with my daughter. There was no job and my wife was happy taking pictures father and daughter dancing! If I die before she gets married, yes I have danced that dance with her and she will never forget. That memory will always come. Those are the invaluable things of life.
What are the challenges so far?
None. Yes, none. It is what you perceive that you see. If you think something is a challenge then it is a challenge. All along, I have been scandal-free. People would ask me; why? I don’t go where I shouldn’t go or be with the sort of people I shouldn’t be with. I don’t go where I am not wanted or pursue what I do not need. What I want may not be what I need. Our greatest need may be financial. But if you plan yourself very well, you’d know that when it is time, it is time. All my projects, I fund them myself. No sponsors
So challenges may come when I have a project to do and I do not have money. Then I’ll wait. Yes, I’ll wait. Other problems are the ones that come with the trade. Doctors have their problems so also do lawyers, journalists and so on. To be a vulcanizer, you know your problem. So as an entertainer you know what goes with your trade and you are prepared to face them and move on ahead.
For me it is all glory to God and I am grateful. God has been talking to me, saying, times have been changing, change with time.
Intellectual property, being funny and the brightest person is no longer working. Some other elements are working. Social media, and other jargons. But you must not follow the jargon part of it. Be smart about it. Someone tried to malign my image online. But after I ignored it for a while, it fizzled out. I didn’t reply to it or even did something to counter it and so it ended like that. If I had replied or fired back it would have gone more places. The guy was to have his wedding; he is a friend and he wanted me to be there. He gave me N100,000 when I charge between N750,000 to One Million naira. When I got there, by 11.30a.m he delayed me for close to five hours. After taking pictures with some people there and cracking up a little and he had not appeared, I left for another show. He did not honour our agreed time and when he now called me around 4p.m and asked where I was, I said ah, by now? Our time was 12noon. If we had put pen to paper, you have violated me, I told him so. Ordinarily, as he persisted I’d have asked for his account detail to return the money.
How do you relax?
Ah, I relax by working (laughs). Now I am relaxing as we are running this interview. I relax with music. But in the process of listening to that music I am working. That’s how it works for me. I am not a sit-back kind of guy. I don’t go out so often. I am an introvert. My bedroom is my comfort place. And then for me writing helps me to relax too.
What’s your style?
Ha! It is what works for you. For you now what you are wearing is your style. And for me too, it is what I wear that is my style. If it works for you, it is okay. This cap you are wearing with the frame are good on you. It is your style. Then someone would say, I like that guy’s style. He won’t say I like everybody’s style. No. This is so because you’ve been known with it for a long time. For me, what works for me as Koffi is good for me. I like casual clothing except when I am going to work. And when I am going to work, dressed corporate and all that I’d like to represent the brand I am working on. I have never gone for a job under-dressed. It only happened to me once. That was the last time and it will not happen again. Therefore style for me is someone looking at you and would like to be like you. That’s style and to me that’s really what style represents.
Where is your favourite holiday destination?
Ah, ah, No, it has to be London. London makes me feel at home because I like the British man’s way of life. He is often very calm. He is not in a hurry. They live very modest life. They don’t behave like Americans. Americans are loud. But in Britain, you can stay in a Briton’s neighbouhood without noise. When I am in London, I don’t go to Naija London, I go to Southwest London where you have peace and calm. People don’t know when am in London because I don’t go there to hustle but to rest.
What food do you love most?
Ah, of late it has become semovita yes, semo. I never used to have a favorite dish. It used to be plantain once in a while. Then semo and ewedu actually. Ewedu is magical and people do not even know. If you eat something that makes you happy, your inner self will glow. As long as it makes you happy no matter what people are saying it is your life.
What do you cherish most in your wardrobe?
It used to be my frame. Then I stopped wearing frames. I used to wear caps a lot. I valued them most then. When other comedians started wearing caps like Koffi, I stopped. Now what I value most in my wardrobe is my wedding ring. I cherish it a lot. It is my most prized possession. Yes it is.
