“Igbo Filmmakers Are Not Professionals”- Funsho Adeolu

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Funsho Adeolu is not one to be toyed with, especially concerning professionalism.

Nigerian Entertainment Today met with the 45-year-old actor at a movie location in Ikorodu, and he spoke candidly on why he has been absent from English movies, and why Yoruba movies and actors are not in the spotlight like their English counterparts.

Excerpts:

Let us start with your assessment of the Nigerian movie industry.

There has been a lot of improvement. At the moment, we don’t have a control agency, [which] is why we see some very funny things on TV, but when I started acting, the kind of cameras we used and technical know how we had was nothing near what we have now. We use very high-tech cameras now, the latest cameras they use overseas. We are progressing.

Is the industry lucrative?

It is very lucrative, [and] that is why everybody is coming in. The fact that it is lucrative is the reason there are so many people in the industry, and that has resulted in the lack of control in the movie world. These people wouldn’t have come in if there was no money.

You started out with soap operas but have not done those lately. Why is that?

After starring in Palace, then Super Story and later Family Ties, it will be difficult for me just to do anything lesser. If good work comes, I’ll be there. When the era of soap operas started, there weren’t many on the TV, but now we have so many soaps on TV, appearing in all of them would only make me lose my worth.

Why have you been absent in English movies these days?

When I started out, I always had an eye for professionalism and respect for the profession. I have always had an eye for perfection in everything I do. I like to be in the midst of people that are professionals. Even at that time, when I was in English [movies], I never worked with anybody apart from Tunji Bamishigbin, Jimi Odumosu, Tade Ogidan, and the likes. During that period, I got offers from others but I always declined.

Why?

Because they were not professionals. Theirs (Igbo filmmakers) is usually a case of somebody who started as a production assistant and in a year, claims to be a director. I had a standard and used to refuse their offers, but when it got to a point, all the people I mentioned (Tunji Bamishigbin, Jimi Odumosu and Tade Ogidan) left movies for soaps, and as an actor by profession, I had to eat. Antar Laniyan was the one that advised me to try Yoruba movies.

Is it true that there is a disparity between Yoruba and English speaking actors and why is this so?

Maybe because of the standards these days for Yoruba actors, naturally, there is bound to be a small complex, and as it is over there, if you do not showcase yourself, nobody will see or think you can do anything. Some people who saw me on Family Ties were surprised, forgetting I was a major character in Wale Adenuga’s Super Story. If a Yoruba actor doesn’t try to show him or herself in any English speaking movie or soap, nobody will know they can speak English, but we have more read people in the Yoruba movie industry more than English.

Are there English actors you admire?

I admire Olu Jacobs and his wife [Joke Silva], Bimbo Manuel, RMD, Genevieve, Ramsey Noah. The Yoruba [actors] Yomi Fash Lanso, Antar Laniyan, Funke Akindele, and Fathia Balogun. We have a lot of them, but if I mention too many people, I’ll step on toes.

Of all the movies you have ever acted in, which has been the most memorable?

Iyan Ogun Odun, and that is because of the role I played. I couldn’t have done it for money but for acting, I’ll do anything apart from getting naked and having sex on set.

What would have been your reaction, should that have happened to you in real life?

I’drun away. Far away from everybody, I wouldn’t even try to look at her because if I did, I would have forgiven her.

It has been eight years since you got married, how has the journey been so far?

In my home, there’s real love, and that is why I’m saying there’s no love; a lot of people don’t know what love is. These days, a lot of people don’t get married because of the love, they do it because they have to be married or because of the wealth involved or the person is pregnant and the marriage, forced. Mine has been great because I got married to my friend, we dated for eight years and it has been awesome till date.

20 COMMENTS

  1. You’re a fucking tribalist. Notice that you only see anything good in yoruba directors and actors. Go and suck your own dick beacuse nollywood with igbo movie makers has become a multibillion dollar global icon. You’re of no relevance boy…

  2. Egbn funsho you have said it all, these so call ibo firm makers some of them are not well granded in firm production. the likes of olu jacob and the wife as you mention are the best to associate with among the so call igbo firm makers because of there professionalism they had paraded,Bros you are too much carry on

  3. Very lazy tribe were ar they wen d ibos single handedly bot over lagos, nd yorubas now made tenant in dia own land, only noise makin tribe nd oportunist true niger delta oil but a time is coming wen oil will be irelevant nd i knw hw dis lazy tribes will survive without montly alocation

    • See you mumu, I am not yoruba, but in Nigeria sincerely speaking the most hard working among the 3 major ethnic group is the YORUBA, they are the most educated, it is them you see dominating auto mechanic, the furniture making business, the commercial transport business the service sector for those ones that are educated.

      A yoruba man does not regard any job or task as inferior for him to accomplish or do and that’s why they lead in terms of productivity in Nigeria. So when you call a yoruba man lazy which one are you referring to ?

      Because I know the Igbo man is always in a rush to make some millions, drive a second latest model Hunda Accord just because he wants to show off, or open a prostitute joint in the name of a night club ? In my opinion the igbo actors are in a rush to make the money at all cost and that’s why even the scene of their movies could be very conflicting, between either focusing on traditional igbo movies or modern and civilized movie scene.

  4. I will always say this, without the ibos most things we are enjoying now wouldn’t have been here. Please you guys should always try and credits us and stop the bad words. Without us there wouldn’t have been film making in nigeria, so if you can better it do it and stop talking. God bless the three wise men from the east. Pete edochie, nkem owo, mr ibu. God bless Nigeria!

  5. We don’t ve to give reply to some ppl’s comments, if anybody comment dat wot funsho adeolu said is tribalistic, den d person is not very much alrite. Its all wot we see and watch, atimes I had imagined wea dis English movie directors comes 4rm. They lack knowledge. Am not d type dat watch nollywood movies, but if I want to watch nigerian movies, I prefer Yoruba or Hausa movies Dan watching rubbish. This is reality, I knw of one igbo woman, she hate watching igbo English movies. She loves Yoruba movies.

  6. Honestly without criticism, this guy made. A statement and mentioned his guidelines I.e the do’s and don’t that has kept him moving. The headline is just a teaser which makes reader want to know more about the information. Also u must read meaning of a content before judging or leave a response. Anyway @funsho keep the good work.

  7. yoroba people and their jealousy against the Igbos it is high time they realize that the level of grace and blessings of God upon the Igbos and theirs are not de same this young so called filmmaker is envy against IGBO FILMMAKERS you know our people says a small boy that is pushing a rabbit if the rabbit ran beyond his ability to get the rabbit i mean to catch the rabbit the small boy will stop and say the rabbit carry shit and is smelling shit all over the body this is the problem of this man speaking here the so called yoroba filmmaker speaking he refuse to understand that he is not in the same category with that of English filmmakers what can he offer there noting he is now using stupid excuse note that if your professionalism does not show locally is it internationally it will show?

  8. please you people should read my first comment you will know the true answer to funsho statement youroba people are always looking for an opportunity to criticize everything the igbos stand for the reason is because we have gone beyond them in every area of life we progress more than them our men are 200% handsome than their men our women are 400% beautiful than their women we eat good food than them we ride good cars than them we live in a good house than them we live in a good environment than them we take care of our wife than them we take care of our children than them we look clean than them we have money than them we also have education presently than them we are also brilliant than them we always come first in everything that has to do with life before them our children in primary and secondary schools comes first than their children we are close to God more than them they are always at our back they also depend on us here in Lagos and Nigeria just look at what is happening here like i told you that they are all looking for an opportunity to criticize the igbos always it is because we have gone beyond what they could catch all of them here are supporting funsho because too tribalism they are too sentimental in everything they are selfish they want everything for them self but they are not getting it our people says that market do not know if one person do not come to market

  9. Good professional actor with racism (tribalism) as attribute. He is not professional then if the (Ibo film makers) couldoffer him opportunity without thinking like him, then he must have tribalism as scare in his heart and mind.

  10. If you feel u are that good, why not take the job and show them how it is done rather than opening your big mouth. The yoruba movies you so fancy, are they better off. Please we are in nigeria, learn to tolerate the work of other tribes.

  11. @ Aham, it is not your fault by saying Ibos are landlords and Yorubas are tenants in their own land, it is our hospitality and be friendly that give you the opportunity, very soon you bitch will go back to your bush in ibo land. Ask your idiot elders what happen during the civil war. That is why ibo will never smell the post of Presidency in Nigeria due to your arrogance and stupidity, TRIBE OF BABOON

  12. I solidly support Ugo’s commentary, Funsho Adeolu is realy a professional bigot, let him teach igbos if he has the technical know-how. He will die in jealousy, he is jst being tribalistic. Afterall no one knows him in the movie world. Nollywood exists today as a result of immense contribution from the igbos. Sarcastic professional.

    • @Adeniyi my dear useless Adeniyi i once live at ogun state all 6 state in western region are not developed except Lagos in all YOUR state it is only the capitals that have little development other places are field up with mode houses everywhere go to igbo land that you are talking about you can’t find any mode house ASK YOUR BROTHERS WHO RESIDE IN ENUGU AND IMO STATE THEY WILL YOU HOW FAST WE HAVE GROWN now let me make it clear to you about the civil war that you are talking ABOUT remember countries LIKE RUSSIA,GREAT BRITAIN,UNITED STATE OF AMERICA,GERMANY,and many other EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FAULT THE FIGHT FOR YOU AGAINST THE IGBO WHO STOOD ALONE AND IF NOT THAT OUR BROTHERS SOUTH-SOUTH PEOPLE BETRAYED US BY CLOSING WHERE OUR FOOD WAS COMING FROM WE WOULD HAVE WON THAT FIGHT SO SHOT UP AND CLOSE UR MOUTH ONE ON ONE WITH YOU AND IGBO WITHOUT ANYONE SUPPORT IGBOS WILL DEFEAT YOU AND YOU KNOW IT MY HAPPINESS IS THAT ALL THOSE COUNTRIES THAT FAULT FOR YOU HAVE REGRETTED ALL THEIR ACTIONS FIGHTING AGAINST THE IGBOS THEY ARE ALL ON OUR SIDE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WHAT THEY LOOKING FOR IS IN OUR PLACE YOU TALK ABOUT LIVING LAGOS FOR YOU IF WE LIVE LAGOS AND GO TO OUR PLACE WITHIN ONE YEAR HUNGER WILL TURN TO MILITARY MEN KILLING YOU ALL WITH GUNS IN THEIR HANDS BECAUSE WE MAKE THE MONEY HERE MAKE SURE WE ALSO ROTATE IT TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN FEEL IT SO SHUT UP YOUR MOUTH YOU PEOPLE ARE TOO JEALOUS

  13. AHAM AM BY YOUR SIDE SAY IT THE WAY IT IS TELL @Adeniyi AND HIS STUPID YOURBA SUPPORTERS THAT IT WAS PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH THAT FOUGHT THE WAR NOT THE YOURBAS TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN STAND US WHEN IT COMES TO WAR AGAINST THEM THEY ARE THE MOST LAZY PEOPLE I HAVE EVER SEEN ON EARTH WHICH OTHER CITY IS MORE WE THE IGBO ARE THE ONES THAT OWNS NIGERIA NOLLYWOOD WE STARTED IT WHERE WHERE THE YOURBAS IN THE DAYS OF THINGS FALL APART WHAT IS THE THE YOURBAS SHOWING US ON THEIR MOVIES IS THEIR VOODOO POWER AND JUJU MAGIC WHAT AGAIN DO THEY ACT THAT IS MAKING THAT STUPID YOURBA ACTOR THAT I DONT EVEN KNOW HIS NAME I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE IN NIGERIA MOVIES SO HE SHOULD SHUT UP AND SLEEP

  14. Mr Funsho,
    You are a good example of a very bad Nigerian. A true to type trabalist. Look at your list of movie actors all yorubas. Those unprofessionals according to you with their crude cameras and little education according to you, created Nollywood the pride of Africa and delight of the world. You can’t change that. Mr professionalism, Education has no value if it can’t be trtanslated into ordinary life and values. A group started this movie, but because of their hatred for other tribes they denied themsalve the pride place in movie history. Late Gani a great Nigeria said the Igbos are a tribe with unparrallel hard work speaking against their maginalism. 1994 whem seven out of eleven players on the world cup pitch were igbos the world were dazzled. Hardwok eem? 60% of houses, hotel and plazas are owned by Ibos so who is the Nigerian? Apologies and blessed memories to Sir Ogunsaya and Adekunle Fajuyi. Olu jacobs is all over as Igwe in Igbo movies undisturbed. Can yorubas stand anybody not yoruba in their own? Can’t you now see that the jeralousy and hatred is now directly proportional to their blessings. God help us. Amen.

  15. my words are mine never insult any body,sincerely igbo should b encourage nt discourage ,but d only problem with igbo film makers is dat d claim doing english film,it should circular it is dominated by only igbos,even in shooting it should b done all over d country bcos u can keep acting in 1 area & make sences.look @ hausa film which is a circular film but some tym d shoot in lagos calabar abuja ,it only 4 hausa & those wo understand it. So thete should b more professionalism d film indus. So it wil attracked more pple.4get about dat man 9ja stuff we lyk quick money him 2 lyyk am.as 4 aham dd civil war d americans ,& it alied did not assist us dis is wat we study last semester wen 9ja went d american 4 assist d refused my frnd so go & read d history of ur country v.well b4 u express ur seif in national issie.tanx.