Posted by By CINDY ALISI and BISI OLALEYE on
Many lovers of home movies and the theatre call him Ajirebi. But today, Mr Kayode Olaseinde, actor, comedian and a popular face in the TV comedy series, Papa Ajasco and Family, is better known as Mr. James.
Many lovers of home movies and the theatre call him Ajirebi. But today, Mr Kayode Olaseinde, actor, comedian and a popular face in the TV comedy series, Papa Ajasco and Family, is better known as Mr. James.
While he is Ajirebi, the semi-literate old man, to the Yoruba movie lovers, Olaseinde is now Pa James, the crafty, yet notorious and funny old man in Papa Ajasco and Family. In both ways, Olaseinde makes people laugh. But inside of him, there is a missing link, which he has many regrets for. And that is his failure to complete his secondary education.
But Olaseinde, a father of three, and the first child of his parents, has been able to use his talents to cover up his inadequaces. He has been able to achieve this feat as an actor.
He believes that what is most important in life is to achieve one's dreams whichever way one goes about it.
In a recent chat with Daily Sun at his Ipaja's residence in Lagos, Olaseinde explained why he has been mostly associated with Wale Adenuga productions. He also spoke on his marital life, his philosophy of life and his many regrets:
Background
My name is Kayode Olaseinde. I was born on May 15, 1957 in Lagos. I attended St. Patrick Primary School before my parents thought of moving me to my hometown in Kwara because of the belief that if I was brought up in Lagos, I might become wayward.
I then started primary school again in 1966 in Patako (Kwara State) at Evangelical Church of West Africa, Sudan Interior Mission School (ECWA SIM).
On completion of primary seven in 1971, I sat for common entrance examinations, passed it and was later taken to Oke-Ede Grammar School, which was seven miles from my hometown, but there was no money to further my education. My parents loved education but there was no financial strength to support me. I now had to opt out of school, then I became a homeboy to so many families. I also did some menial jobs. And being the eldest of the three children, I saw my parents also struggling to put me back into school. It was about three years later that I told them not to bother since it looked like the more they struggled, the wider the gap and my siblings were there to cater for.
How I started acting
That is a very tough one, but I will tell you. Since 1965 when I was in primary school, I loved acting. But in 1978, during FESTAC ‘77, I joined Olanrewaju Ali Theatre Group. Though the leader of the group is late now, he was popularly known as Lion Power.
The group was a travelling theatre and we did some television plays too. I was actually among the first talents discovered at NTA 10, in those days. It also joined Black Wahab, whose leader is also late. It was there that I came about my stage name Ajirebi. I remembered that my first play as Ajirebi was entitled Mo ti K'owo Soke (my hands are raised)
Most memorable play
That was Enu Ope which I produced myself in 2000. And I am also praying that I should not just limit myself to only one movie, but that God should give me the grace to produce more.
Comic style
From the beginning, I like to play comedy, and most of the time, I translate pop music into comedy. I did that of Yellow Man in those days, where he sang a song and I changed it to (Maje Tuwo… meaning I will eat Tuwo, (laughter). So, I can say that I have flair for it. Talent is something that you can not buy with money. If you are good, you are good. And people always tell me that my comedy is natural.
Enu-Ope
My movie was a tragi-comedy. It means that no matter how good you are, you will still be faced with some challenges but that the good Lord will always be there to rescue such people. It was very challenging for me because it was my first personal work.
Most of my comedies are natural. And they are like adding salt to sweeten the taste of a stew. In fact, whenever I am given a comic role in movies, many people enjoy it.
Nollywood
Well, I like it when our artistes are used. No producer from there has come for me, and I cannot start lobbying for a role at my age. My people have an adage that says, "What befits a man, is what befits him". And my belief is that they go to those artistes that are more popular.
Screen/stage shows
I have over 50 home videos to date. And my stage plays are also uncountable. Some of them include Omorayele, Ti Oluwa Nile, Part Three, and most of the movies produced by Ogogo and Yinka Quadri.
Movies that brought me to limelight
It was a film by Dr. Makinde. The man now lives abroad. I cannot readily recollect the title now. Abija also featured in it and became popular.
But nowadays, whenever we are recording for Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP), I do not like going for other jobs. I might be delayed there, so I prefer doing one job at a time.
You know in the Yoruba circle, and I have studied people, that many prefer to "use and dump" artistes especially when they see a new act. And I now decide to stay on my own, since many of them do not like paying artiste's fees. And they know that Ajirebi as a person will demand for artiste's fee. And that was why they started spreading the rumours that I have now become arrogant since I now work for WAP.
But God knows that I am not proud, but my family comes first; I have to put food on their table, their school bills have to be paid. I used to do those kind of ‘thank-you" jobs before, but ‘our people" have shown me the other side of life. Though, few that know my worth still call me for roles.
Pa James
(Laugh) Pa James is a foolish character. He is the most foolish of the four characters created by WAP. Pa James is so naďve and behaves stupidly most times.
Inspiration
God is the one that inspires me.
Role models
I have Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala) and late Ojo Ladipo (Baba Mero). These people were the ones that I cherished their comedy. They are so real, when you listen to their comedy they are quite natural.
Marriage and acting
Well, to start with, I have just a wife. And the trust and understanding is there. Our marriage has produced three children.
Of course, despite the fact that I laugh, my children know when I am very serious, when I am annoyed. And they always keep to my rules.
Challenges
I have faced many challenges. The major one is money- the essence for which we are in business. And I am not that kind of person that is envious, especially when my co-artistes buy their cars. And I thank God for what he has done for me so far. Although what made me look as if I am still crawling is simply because I need to try all my best to see my children through school. I am proud of them, I didn't attend secondary school and my children have made up for me.
Regrets
I thank God that what God has destined me for is what I am doing. I did not go to school because my parents were very poor. My father did not have money but he used to love vocabularies. Even, in my comic roles, I still use some of his jaw-breaking English vocabularies to create relief. But I know that all my children will complete their education. Any child who refuses to complete his education is not mine.
Randy actor?
Me ke? I am, in fact, the most foolish. I don't even know how to "toast" a lady anymore. My wife trusts me on that. Even this belief is not always true, people just make assumptions, which can not be proved.
Advise to up and coming artistes
They should be ready to make sacrifice. Money should not be the first thing. Money will come later when the person has become popular. But many up and coming artistes are so materialistic. And I know that what we suffered in those days, in terms of humiliation, among other things, they won't be able to withstand it.
Awards
The awards that I have received are local ones. I have six awards like that, but that of Fame and Thema, I am yet to clinch one. Although, my son-Samuel (a kid actor) has collected and that makes me an award winner. We have jointly shared the glory.