Tayo Faniran can be described as a fiery force of nature, whose first chance at fame was snatched from modeling, after which he flew the Nigerian flag high at the Big Brother Africa Season 9. In a tell-all interview with ASSISTANT EDITOR GBENGA BADA, this multifaceted talent from Oyo town in Oyo State opens up on his reality TV persona, revealing a journey of self-funded evolution, a deep embrace of his Yoruba roots, and a commanding presence in Nollywood.
I know there are many parts to Tayo Faniran, tell us how it all started for you in the world of entertainment?
I grew up in Oyo. That’s one thing that must be written down. Everybody must always remember that I grew up in Oyo. I’ve said it all my life on the biggest platforms. At every opportunity I get, I am an original Oyo boy. I did not see Lagos until I turned 18. I’m a typical Oyo boy.
I had a dream to become a star, of who I want to be today and where I still want to get. Then, it wasn’t that easy, now there’s now social media. Where I’m from, if you are not a medical doctor, accountant, or lawyer, you are considered to be wasting your time.
When I wanted to follow my passion, it was a new thing. Nobody from where I’m from has done what I did. But I knew where I was going, and at the right time, God started opening the right doors for me.
I was in Nigeria when I had the opportunity to go to South Africa to model. I got there in 2008, and by 2009, I was on the fashion runway. AT the time, when you enter the plane, you open a magazine, I’m there. But I always want to be bigger. If I see a platform that is bigger than where I am, I would go for it, until I’m able to conquer it.
With Big Brother Africa, I started auditioning since 2009, but I only got in year 2014. And when the opportunity came, I made sure I grabbed it. So, glory be to God, and for my originality.
I got the good looks from home. My mom’s a teacher; dad is a civil servant; so I was not supposed to be too interested in Yoruba. But personally, I would sit with my grandmother. I met my father’s father, my father’s mother; my mom’s mom is still alive. When all these elders come around and sit together talking, I would sit down, listen and ask questions.
So, because of the way my journey has gone: international model in South Africa, Big Brother Africa; when people see me now, they don’t know where in the world they could place me – whether I’m an American or something more. Back then, they didn’t want to be speaking Yoruba; they thought they were too fresh. I’ve always held on to it.
In South Africa, all my friends knew. I’d sit them down; I’d be giving them proverbs back to back, because that’s who I am.
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I give God the glory that today, our films like Labake Olododo are making waves; I don’t just take projects. I’m trying to make a statement. I’m trying to prove a point. Labake Olododo is a statement.
There’s also Anikulapo coming. When you people watch me in Anikulapo, you will be seeing my ancestors. I’ve always had it in me; so when opportunities like this come for me to showcase it, I find it, and it comes naturally for me.
Do you think holding on to your heritage helped in securing some of your big roles in the film industry?
No, actually. Gangs of Lagos did. Someone like Bro Kunle Afolayan is my senior. When I was going for Big Brother Africa, I was only supposed to tell family, people I’m related to, that I’d been selected to represent the country. People weren’t supposed to know. I was only allowed to tell maybe five family members.
I told Bro Kunle because he has always been a god of filmmaking. At that time, he was someone I wanted to impress. I wanted to say, ‘Yeah, I can work with you, I know what you’re doing.’ When that happened, I was so proud to tell him, “Bro, I’m doing this.” That’s how close we’ve been.
I’ve always been in his face, but the opportunity didn’t come. He knew my style. He used to talk about my fashion. If I went to him and talked about me, he’d say, “Fashion.” Because everybody knows I’m a wicked fashion designer. They’d say “fashion,” but I’d say, “No, I’m an actor. I’m made for the screen. This is my calling.”
But Gangs of Lagos did it. Bro Kunle knew I am versed about our culture. In the industry, when I was in the Big Brother house, you’re not allowed to speak Yoruba or your native language. But I’m used to it, and they knew. During the interview process, they met us, they’re psychologists. They knew I couldn’t talk without speaking my language. I would say an adage and interpret it in English.
I didn’t gossip with anyone; there was nobody who understood my language anyway. But I kept remembering, “Remember the child of whom you are.”
Gangs of Lagos came, thanks to Jade Osiberu. The character I played is the kind of character many actors who’ve been around for years are still praying for. But God wanted to make a statement.
Nino’s character and I have a lot in common, except the gun and violence part. But it felt like God wanted to present me to the world, a brand-new person. When Gangs of Lagos came, I had been preparing, physically, spiritually, psychologically, and emotionally. I’m very skillful when it comes to recognising opportunities and slaying them. There’s no opportunity you give me that I won’t grab. If I see the potential, I’ll squeeze it for all it is worth, even if I have to stay up for a month without sleep and suffer. If I’ll profit from it, I’ll go all in.
I give God the glory that Gangs of Lagos happened to me. That’s why now, when people are preparing for a project, they reach out to me ahead of time. I’m getting the respect of a senior actor, even though I haven’t done 50 or 100 movies. But that’s how God orchestrated my journey.
Gangs of Lagos opened the door. Now the films are coming and I have done Ada Omo Daddy, Labake Olododo, and now there’s Anikulapo. I also have another project; I’m waiting for the director to announce the official release date. I can’t say more now, but I’ve heard, many films are coming.
At what point did you discover your ability to act and passion for the screen?
A child who will be sharp shows it early in speech. I’ve always been a performer, in school, in church. I would act, preach in front of the congregation, and I was in the choir. Everyone who’s met me, whether in school or in life, can testify that I’ve always been a stand-out guy. I’ve always been a star.
I knew I had it. But I started with modelling because that came first. I got to South Africa, and I already had a modelling agency. So I started with fashion shows, making money. By 2010, I was already sending cars from America to Nigeria. All my tattoos, my cars, these things just come from how I see life.
I knew I would act. In 2012, I enrolled in the New York Acting Academy. As a professional model in South Africa, your agency would advise you to take acting classes. I couldn’t afford it at the time, so I didn’t take it. But today, if I were to go back for that audition, I’d outshine the other models, because now I’m an actor. I didn’t know it then. Going to learn acting didn’t make sense to me then. But now it’s clear.
Acting is something that lives inside you. Even if you go for an audition, what you don’t have can’t come out of you. They’ll see what’s in you. It took me years to discover it. Last year I was in America. I was grooving, but you should’ve seen me rehearsing. The real acting is what you need to see.
It is a common belief that entertainers now enhance their body to attract or achieve an aim. What is your take on this?
I’m guilty. I did my teeth because they’re so white. It’s luxury, veneers, it’s gemstones. This is my own grooving. When some people go clubbing, I go shopping. I did my beard too because I had a low beard line. I’m also an artist, I drew all my tattoos. I’ve changed my cars’ colours more than five times each. I just look at something and think, “How will this look in a different colour? But I’m used to it, it’s a passion. A lot of things will change you in this life. You either change your mindset or go crazy. Take BBL, for example. When it first came out, I didn’t like it. I didn’t understand it. But today, I get why it makes sense.
I never thought I had a problem with my teeth. I was always known for my beautiful smile, it was part of my weapon. But today, when I see my old teeth, I think, “Is this what I’ve been using all this while?”
Certain things don’t make sense to you until you can afford them. Back then, if I had thought about them too much, I might have gone crazy. But when you can afford them, you might just think, “Okay.” If you’re bald today, you can have hair tomorrow. No need for fasting or vigil. I’m proof. I did my hair in Turkey for Legend Hair. I’m their ambassador for life. My teeth, too. I wasn’t shy to show it. It’s not because I wasn’t fine or because God didn’t create me well. I have peace of mind. I can do anything I feel like doing. I just tell people I enhanced myself so they don’t feel God didn’t do well for them.
Interesting, but can you tell me more about your confidence?
Everything in life can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you look at it. All these things started with me standing in front of the mirror, thinking, “What if?” As a model, I did professional modelling. Modelling in South Africa is like modelling in New York. Our agencies are international. We had models coming from America, Jamaica, Brazil, and Canada for seasons, maybe three months. So when I competed, it wasn’t just with African models, I competed with models from all over the world.
That’s why my confidence is over-dose. I’ve made money with my hair, my toenails. I’ve gone for auditions with over 300 men. You’d look around and feel like going home because there’s nothing to take home. But I had bills. I had to grow. I’d look at people, admire what they had, but I put more effort into what I had. I kept working and growing.
When it comes to competition, nobody should go there with me. I don’t compete with anyone. When I show up, I’m smiling, playful, and free. But I’m a model, a South African-trained model. I lived in a model house. I auditioned with men from Brazil, Jamaica, Angola, and Cameroon. If you see the men from Angola and Congo, they are impressive. But I didn’t compare myself once, twice, or three times, it was constant.
When I went for Big Brother Africa, I was younger then. Now, I’m a businessman, chill, friendly, everything. But back then, I didn’t hear anything else. You couldn’t talk to me. That was my Gen Z era. I can’t be that way again. Now, I try to bring myself down. So when anyone tries to bring out that ego or competitive side of me, it’s dangerous. You don’t want to go there.
When you started talking about my bio, my head was swelling. I did all of that, and a lot more that can’t even be mentioned. I remember sacrificing, trekking to auditions, and still pushing through.
You just said now you’re calm, but you used to be very vocal. What happened?
I can’t speak up for the people anymore. A bird that flies across the sky doesn’t stay in one place. I’m not Jesus, we’ll all enjoy this life together.
