Posted by By MATHEW DIKE, Ado-Ekiti on
Jimoh Aliu a.k.a Aworo is an actor, singer, producer, director, location designer and make-up artiste.
Jimoh Aliu a.k.a Aworo is an actor, singer, producer, director, location designer and make-up artiste. The veteran actor, who attended primary school for only six months was honoured with a National Merit Award of Member of Federal Republic (MFR) in December 2005. Born in mysterious circumstances, the theatre artiste told Daily Sun that the first day a razor blade touched his dreadlocks was memorable because maggots came out of different part of his head, causing teachers and school pupils to run away from him.
The actor also said he was once a cart pusher and bricklayer in Lagos and he married all the eight women in his theatre Group. He also reminisced on the day one of his wives delivered triplets on a tour and had to abandon them because he had no money to take care to them.
Although, enlisted in the Nigeria Army, the actor never touched a gun but entertained soldiers at the war front. The artiste, who celebrated his 70th birthday last November in Ado, narrated how he established Jimoh Aliu Alarinjo Foundation with the help of his bosom friends including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), who is also his company's solicitor.
Background
I am a native of Okemesi Ekiti. I was born in 1936 into a Muslim home. The name of my father is Aliu Fakoya. He was an Ifa Priest. Because of the nature of his job, he took me from one town to another. We lived in Ijebu-Ode, Ifo, Odogbolu, Sagamu, Lagos and so on. I did not know that one day I would build a house of my own because my father did not leave a piece of land, also my mother. My dad left no property behind for me but gave me something worth more than gold. He gave me his blessings. He also advised me not to make money through dubious means and encouraged me that I shall prosper and tour the world. He gave me the name Jimoh Aliu.
Harem and Children
I married eight wives. I divorced three because they misbehaved. I have twelve children and thirty-two grand children. All my wives belong to my drama group. I married all the female members in my group. All my children are members of the group. They are all disciplined because I am a disciplined man. The talent God gave me, he also gave to my children. All my children have dreadlocks like me. I believe God had made us special creatures.
Education and my dreadlocks
I attended St. Peter Catholic Primary School, Okemesi. I was stopped from going to school after I fell ill. I started to vomit blood at the school because a teacher attempted to shave my dreadlocks. He only used a razor blade to shave a small portion of it and something strange happened. My head began to bring out maggots. It was so strange. They called my father and he told them that if I continued to attend school, I would die. Before that time, out of four children, my mother had lost two. My father told the teachers then that I am a special creature and that razors are taboo to me. So, I did not cut my dreadlocks until 1995. Then, they were so long that they touched my bottom. That was after I did the necessary sacrifice.
My oddysey
When I was in Lagos in the 1950s, I was a cart pusher in Jankara market. At Oyingbo, Idumota, Iddo and Baba Olosa in Mushin, people who came to buy planks were my customers. After that, I began to carry cement for building contractors at building sites. I used part of my money to watch films at Pen Cinema, Casino Cinema at Ebute Metta, Lagos between 1955 and 1956. The films inspired me to go into acting. I used to mimic actors like Johnny Walker, Mondu, Sergeant Scan, and so on. I started thinking that if I learnt bricklaying job, I would earn more money.
I learnt the job and understood how to build house. Later on, I met the man that later became my master, Akin Ogungbe, who owned a drama group. I told myself oh! This is what I used to watch in films and I could do it too. So, I joined Akin Ogungbe Threatre Group in 1958 and in 1961, I went on tour with the company. I formed my own drama troupe in 1966. I later took my group to the Nigeria Army after I enlisted.
Acting at the war front
I joined the Nigerian Army in 1967. The superior officers identified my talent as a dramatist and encouraged me. So, they gave me vehicle to tour certain areas to make the soldiers happy. During the war, I toured Benin, Agbor, Umunede, Ughelli, Kwale, Asaba, Owerri, Abakiliki, Ihiala, Nkalagu, down to Ikot Ekepe, Eket etc.
The performance were so many. My rank was just Warrant Officer I (WOI). It was not possible for my group to go to the war front where it was hot in order not to distract the attention of the soldiers. Any town the military captured, you would see Jimoh Aliu performing for the battalion left behind to protect the area. After the war, there was no free feeding again, so I went back to the 2nd Division and told the G.O.C., Col. Oluleye, that I wanted to leave. He gave me two vehicles to convey all my belongings from different parts of the country. So, I resigned from Military in 1973.
Works
I have produced more than 25 films and featured in over 13films produced by other people. The films I produced include: Arugbo Soge, Fesojaiye, Oju Enimala, Three Jolly Friends, Atoka, Maboreje, Afopina, Fopomoyo, Egun Eleegun, Ekun Meran, etc. I have done television drama such as: Igbo Olodumare, Arelu, Irinkerindo ninu Igbo Elegbeje among others.
Jimoh Aliu Alarinjo Foundation/ Biography
I established Jimoh Aliu Alarinjo Foundation in appreciation of the blessings of God upon my life. I want other people to benefit from me too. The foundation will help youths to develop their talents. I have already started building the structure.
When it is ready, dignitaries like Wole Soyinka and other famous scholars and professsionals will come there to deliver lecture and participate in symposia. It will be an international thing because people will come from other countries to teach our people. My biography, Jimoh Aliu, The Living Legend was encouraged by my close friends. The book will inspire the youths to work harder in life. It contains stories of my life on stage and those who had at one time or the other played major roles in my plays and people who have contributed immensely to the culture and traditions of Africa.