With decades of Nollywood experience on and off the screens, Prince Jide Kosoko remains a household name in the entertainment industry. Popular for his various facial expressions, the celebrated actor and thespian was recently featured on the Nollywood on Radio show, where he spoke about the seeming never ending battle with piracy, how he has been able to remain one of the most sought after talents till date and his recent projects. ROTIMI IGE presents excerpts.
How have you remained relevant across the Yoruba and English film industries, as well as on stage?
I don’t think I’m the one doing it. As much as I believe that an actor must be versatile and strive to remain relevant at all times, I wouldn’t say it’s all my doing. We give all glory to Almighty God for that. Whenever an opportunity comes my way, I grab it and put in my best effort. But even doing my best comes from Almighty God. So, I thank God for everything.
With piracy persisting despite streaming platforms, do you believe it can ever be eradicated?
Piracy cannot end. As much as we try to put policies in place to reduce it, piracy itself has become part of the system, whether we like it or not. In some ways, it even forces caution in certain aspects of the industry.
Piracy isn’t just about people stealing other people’s work; it also includes stealing ideas. You don’t take people’s work, and you don’t take their ideas, especially when those ideas are already in the public domain.
Piracy is everywhere, even in Europe and America. They are still battling it, but their governments recognise the importance of the entertainment industry in nation-building and the goodwill it brings to their countries. As a result, they have strong policies in place to curb piracy.
Here in Nigeria, piracy cannot be completely eradicated, but the government can help by implementing stricter laws and policies to curtail the activities of pirates. For instance, our copyright laws and the punishments for offenders are not strong enough, in my opinion. We need something stiffer, something stronger.
For example, beyond barring offenders from the entertainment industry and confiscating their equipment, they should face serious consequences, like a minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment. That kind of punishment would send a strong message and could make a real difference.
Was your children’s integration into the industry planned, or did they develop an interest through observation?
The kind of job I do, the kind of business I am in, and the profession I find myself in is a very honourable one. And because of that, why wouldn’t I want at least one of my children to be part of it?
Fortunately, it is only Shola that I didn’t force but encouraged to join. The others, intentionally and voluntarily, chose different paths. And as a father, I encourage them in whatever they decide to do.
As a Lagos prince, were you offended by the portrayal of the Eyo masquerade in ‘Gangs of Lagos’, and are you satisfied with the court’s ruling?
With all due respect to other traditions and beliefs, Eyo is different because it is not an everyday masquerade. Unfortunately, many people have bastardised its use. You see people incorporating Eyo into all sorts of ceremonies, weddings, birthdays, and other social events, forgetting that Eyo is meant to honour notable individuals who have contributed to society. It is strictly for celebration, remembrance, or mourning, not for any other purpose.
So yes, I honestly felt offended by its portrayal in ‘Gangs of Lagos’. While I understand that filmmakers have artistic license, common sense also matters. Eyo is not just any masquerade, and the traditionalists will never accept it being misrepresented in that manner.
Let me share a personal experience. I was part of ‘Elesin Oba’, the film by Biyi Bandele, where I played a colonial police sergeant. There was a scene where I witnessed a white couple, the colonial administrator and his wife, dressed in Egungun (masquerade) attire. At that moment, I questioned the director about it. But because I had already been contracted for the role and my character was meant to challenge their actions, I proceeded.
However, after the film was released, I faced backlash from different Egungun societies, not just in Lagos but across the country. That’s when I realised that, regardless of my role in the film, I should have refused to participate in that particular scene. I took responsibility. I apologised to those who felt offended because, even though I wasn’t the writer or director, I was still part of the project.
I have personally witnessed an Egungun, dressed in full costume, enter another man’s house and have an affair with his wife. I was the one who settled the dispute. Now, imagine if such a scenario were to be depicted in a movie. Some people might get the wrong idea and start justifying such behaviour, thinking, oh, since no one questions an Egungun, I can do the same.
This is the same issue I have with ‘Gangs of Lagos’. A film can influence people’s perceptions and actions, and as creatives, we must be mindful of how we portray cultural symbols.
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What motivated you to embark on ‘Esugbayi Eleko’?
Right now, the focus is on documenting historical stories, and if you look critically, there haven’t been many films about Lagos’ rich history. ‘Esugbayi Eleko’ is perhaps the first of its kind. That was my main motivation: if I participate in productions that highlight other cultures and traditions, why not do the same for mine? Especially when some people ignorantly claim that Lagos is “no man’s land.”
Lagos has always been open to everyone. People from different backgrounds come here, contribute, and help the state grow, which is great. But that does not erase the fact that Lagos has indigenous people with a rich history. Even among us, the indigenes, there are internal differences. That’s why I made it my mission to showcase Lagos’ heritage. I saw ‘Esugbayi Eleko’ as the perfect entry point.
Yes, I have over 200 powerful historical stories I could work on, including Kosoko, which is a much bigger project. But I had to start somewhere, and this is my starting point. Even though it’s just the beginning, it’s still a major project in its own right.
Why wasn’t your successful stage play ‘Ogun Awoyaya’ adapted into your first epic film?
Yes, ‘Ogun Awoyaya’ was well received, and many thought I would adapt it into my first epic film. However, as a filmmaker, I constantly seek new challenges and fresh ways to tell stories.
While ‘Ogun Awoyaya’ remains an important project for me, I felt that turning it into a film right away might be too predictable. I wanted to explore other historical narratives that would leave a lasting impact. So, I decided to take a different direction with ‘Esugbayi Eleko’. But don’t worry, ‘Ogun Awoyaya’ is still on my list, and when the time is right, I’ll bring it to the big screen in a way that does it justice.
Looking back, would you make different choices regarding Nollywood or polygamy?
I love my job so much that I doubt I could easily do anything else. Nollywood has been a huge part of my life, and despite its challenges, I have no regrets about choosing this path. If I had the chance to go back, I would still be an actor, but I would approach my career with more strategy and planning. If you don’t take opportunities, others will. I’m proud of the industry I’ve helped build over the years.
As for polygamy, it’s a complex issue. I have been blessed with multiple wives and children, and by God’s grace, there is unity in my family. That has made the experience fulfilling for me. However, I acknowledge that polygamy is not for everyone. If I were to go back, would I still choose it? Honestly, I don’t know. While it has worked for me, the ideal remains one man, one wife.
What can audiences expect from ‘Esugbayi Eleko’, and will it be a cinema release?
Yes, ‘Esugbayi Eleko’ is a cinema movie. It tells the story of Oba Esugbayi Eleko of Lagos, a ruler who stood with his people and confronted the colonial government. He opposed unfair taxation, the poor treatment of Lagosians, and the exploitation by the colonial authorities. With the support of notable figures like Herbert Macaulay and Alimat Perewu, he fought for justice and the rights of his people.
This is not just a historical film, it is a story of courage, leadership, and resistance. It is an important part of Lagos’ history, and I believe audiences will appreciate its significance.
Will you campaign for the president again if he seeks a second term?
As long as he is still governing, he is still on course. I have my reasons for supporting him, and I still strongly believe that he will achieve the goals that made me follow him in the first place.
Yes, governance is not as easy as one might think, especially for those who truly understand it. As a human being, there have been moments when I question certain decisions made by our president. But because I am genuinely interested in the stability of this country, I take the time to study and understand those decisions instead of jumping to conclusions.
If my research convinces me that these decisions are part of a process leading to greater achievements, then why not? I will continue to believe that the best is yet to come.
Right now, we shouldn’t be talking about 2027. What matters is what we are doing today. There’s no doubt that things are tough in the country at the moment; everyone can see that. But I believe that some of these challenges are part of a process, and things will only start improving after certain actions are taken. That is my strong belief.
At the end of the day, only a foolish person wouldn’t want the best for themselves. And let me be clear, I am not biased. I strongly believe that no one aspires to become the president of a country without the intention of achieving something significant.
No leader takes on such a role just to fail or be ridiculed. However, the political system we practice in this country can be challenging, often making it difficult to implement certain objectives. But that doesn’t mean one should stop striving to achieve the best possible outcome. That’s my belief.
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