In this interview by Femi OGUNTAYO, veteran actor, dramatist and script writer, Jimoh Aliu, reveals his plans to commemorate his 85th birthday with a launch of his ‘Epic Docudrama’ and also shares some of his challenging moments in life as well as when he lost three children in three days. Excerpts:
What should we expect from your upcoming event, Jimoh Aliu Epic Docudrama?
First and foremost, I want to seek for the support and assistance of every lover of good projects. All the traditional rulers, chiefs, the clergy and well to do people all over the world to assist me considering the age I have attained in life which I never believed I could attain. I am not handicapped in any way because of my age and I have decided to continue to promote the culture and tradition of the Yoruba people. There is no way I can do this without the assistance and support of all these people.
Commissioners for culture, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, the traditional rulers, who are custodians of our culture and traditions, that wine and dine in it, who God has sent me to preach to and promote the culture and tradition he gave to us, which I have been doing for the past 60 years, should all rise in support of this project. I have received over 250 awards in doing this, both in and outside Nigeria, talking about London, Saudi Arabia, America and several countries of the world. In recognition of my roles, the Federal Government confered on me the honour of a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR); Culture Ambassador, Professor of Theatre Arts and so on.
So, all these I have mentioned above are the reasons why I must acknowledge God’s faithfulness, because this name Jimoh Aliu has bestowed upon me a great responsibility which I must protect. This is the reason why I have decided that on the celebration of my 85th birthday, people who think Jimoh Aliu is either too old, handicapped or dead will come and see that same Jimoh Aliu (Aworo).
I have done a similar programme in Ekiti and Lagos states but the reason why I have brought it to Ibadan is because Ibadan is one of the outstanding places in the cultural, traditional and political lives of the Yoruba people. So, I am calling on all my people from Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos states and every other place to come and honour me on this day. It is going to be a day of peace and unity for all theatre practitioners in Nigeria. Be you ANTP, TAMPAM, cultural ambassadors or performing artistes. So, that day you should expect notable Fuji musicians like Wasiu Ayinde, Osupa, Adewale Ayuba, Obesere and so on.
I must salute Kabiyesi, the Ooni of Ife, who has promised to be there that day also. In fact, he picked the date and also mandated that Jogor Event Centre is booked for that event. The Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan, Ewi Ado, Owa Oye of Okemesi will all be there. Many traditional rulers who I cannot readily mention will be there that day.
So, are we expecting a stage play, screenplay, music, dance or drama that day?
I do not want to reveal all that will be experienced that day so as to make it valuable, but people should expect the unexpected. They should come and see the best of Jimoh Aliu, who is still in action and has not retired.
It is hard to believe you are close to 90 years because you still look strong and agile, what is the secret behind this?
Whatever one does without God’s consent will be in futility. I do not know what I have done to deserve this type of health and well-being from the Almighty God. So, in all, I must say it is God, because whether you use ‘medicine’ or anything, one day you will die. I cannot even imagine it myself that I am that old, because I still exercise and if you watch me while I train my apprentices during dance lessons, you will be amazed.
As you celebrate, what day would you describe as your best moment in life?
Hmm… that question is a very complicated one. Complicated because there are a lot of beautiful moments in my life and I do not even know which one to pick as my best. Was it when my film called ‘Agbaarin’ premiered at the Cultural Centre? All the governors were present there that day. Was it the day I was conferred with the honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in Abuja? That I was honoured alongside the ‘who is who’ in this country like Dangote and the likes and I was like, who am I?
Was it the day I was invited for an interview at BBC London for ‘Good Morning Africa’ show and the chair I was to sit on was checked and cross examined to make sure everything was intact for me to sit? Was it the day my movie was launched at the School of Pharmacy in London or the day I was at Mecca and I was made the patron of the Yoruba community there? So I cannot even pick a particular one out of all these lovely moments as my best moment to believe that an ordinary me could attain such heights. I have been to Mecca about 9 different times; all my wives have also been there.
Which is the most challenging moment you will not forget in a hurry?
It was the day I just finished working on a movie at the location and the movie had not been released – optical, some people ganged up against me and the project was stolen and up till today I can’t find it. I did it in conjunction with the Oyo State government then.
Who were those who stole the project?
I cannot say, but I know they are those who were jealous of my progress then, my enemies, who never wanted me to grow. In fact, they went to lie to Ogunde that I was working on a project and that if that movie was released I would send them out of market. They did not know that they could not come between me and Baba Ogunde.
What is the title of this movie?
The title is ‘Agbaarin’. It was in 1991 or 1992, I did it in conjunction with the then Oyo State government, but the movie was eventually reproduced with the help of General Tunji Olurin. The first one we did was never found, I and Baba Adebayo Faleti tried all we could but all to no avail. The governor of Lagos State then, Mike Okhai Ahigbe sent some people to the airport because of this issue to look around, all to no avail, it was already stolen and burnt.
But I do not let these weigh me down because I realised the type of human being I am. I show too much kindness and there are a lot of disappointments I have gotten from very close people that I have helped in one way or the other. I have had an ungrateful wife; I have been disappointed by my own child, friends, alfas, and herbalists. So, I am used to it and I don’t get angry or disappointed anymore. That is why I have never had hypertension, in two to three days I have lost three children and I accepted it as God’s doing because I did not use my children.
The Nigeria (Yoruba) movie industry today, would you say they are on the right direction compared to your days?
There are a lot of differences, because during our time, we never knew so much money could be made from it. We were doing it because of the passion for the profession. But it has now become a quick way to make money by newcomers; they are now after the money not the passion. Then, when we produce a movie, three to four years, we would not produce anymore movie, we will work with that one movie we released and we were able to sell our movies. But nowadays, one person can release like four movies in a week and in a month you will have about 20 to 30 movies. Those buying the movies, won’t they get tired or eat?
Another thing is that everyone wants to be a boss on of own. Once they get famous and people start telling them they are the ones the viewers want to see, they will want to be on their own and leave their bosses. I was an apprentice under Akin Ogungbe for years even when my own brother, Kola Ogunmola was there, I did not leave Ogungbe. I wanted to join my brother, Kola Ogunmola, my brother told me to stay with Ogungbe and I was with him.
In the promotion of our culture and tradition can you score the Nollywood movie industry today?
No! They are no more promoting our culture. During our own time, we dared not say we wanted to use the toilet or bathroom in a movie; we dared not kiss or sleep on each other on set. Before we get to those scenes, we would have cut that side off, everything has changed now. There are some scenes that our parents do not allow their kids to watch in our movies anymore.
They are no more promoting our culture and tradition and now promote the culture of the white people and even more than the whites themselves.
Don’t you think it is civilisation that has made things that way?
Civilisation should not make us forget our culture and tradition. We should not help others promote their culture by neglecting our own. Our children learn more from what they watch on TV these days, more reason why we must ensure that we use our movies to promote our culture and traditions, the way we dress, we greet and relate with our elders.
Your advice to the present Nollywood stars and the upcoming ones?
Well, my advice is that they should get closer to God. They should not look for the downfall of their colleagues; they should not backbite and bring down their colleagues. If you bring down your colleagues today, a day will definitely come that you will also be brought down. If I had done that, I will not be getting the regards and honour I am getting today. Sometimes when I go around and people rush at me I always wonder, because it has been long since I did Aworo and the love is still there.