Omoye Arewa, as she is fondly called by lovers of her plays, is a movie producer, actress and TV presenter. She is a graduate of History from the University of Ado-Ekiti (Now Ekiti State University). Arewa, in this interview by FEMI OGUNTAYO, speaks about her fast-rising career and the challenges that come with it. Excerpts:
What is new with Arewa Omoye?
I have a new project which will be in the market soon. As a TV presenter, I am also working on a new TV programme where I am going to partner with some notable TV stations and comedians. These are still cooking. Also, as a scriptwriter, I am working on some other stories. I am also into events management.
If you are to describe your journey through the Nigerian movie industry so far, how would you describe it?
It hasn’t been easy. If anybody tells you, ‘join the industry today, you will make it big’, he’s lying, because it is not easy. I have been in the industry for a long time, if I want to count professionally now, it will be 10 or 12 years, combined with school and all, because I was acting while I was in school. So, I have been fully dedicated to acting since I finished from school and I can tell you, it is not easy, especially when you are the decent type. If you are proud of yourself and have strong self-esteem, it will always be difficult for you at all levels and that is the way I do my thing. I have friends in the industry who are both senior and junior colleagues, who believe in what I do and call me for jobs. But 80 per cent, especially in the last few years now, majorly I have been concentrating on my own project, simply because I am not ready to submit to some things, and they are not also ready to allow me. So, it is frustrating, but in all, I give God all the glory.
Do you think you have been able to make a mark in the industry since you started?
Oh, yes. But the dreams continue, because I have not even gotten to where I want to be. With my passion and dedication to this career, I believe I can gain more grounds and make more mark too.
What are the challenges you faced or still facing on the job?
Whether you are rich or poor, talented or not, you face challenges in this industry. For me, my challenge has mainly been the fact that I am a female. No matter how good you are, they would still want to ‘test’ you or ‘get from you’, and mostly it is always sexually. So, the major reason why I do my own productions a lot is the sexual part. Trust me, if anybody tells you it doesn’t happen; it is a lie. But I think it is not just in the movie industry alone, I think it is a challenge people in my gender face. The movie industry is a male-dominated industry.
For anyone to assist or help you in the industry, they would look for what they would get in return, which most times will be sleeping with one. The challenges are still there but now, having been in the industry for a long time, I know how to go around it and avoid all these challenges and submitting to that thing.
It is so easy for you to become a star if you are not bothered about who you are or what people will say and if you are not thinking about your family. If you are someone who doesn’t care about your self-esteem, it is so easy for you to grow and become a star so easily. But if you do things the right way and stand your ground, it will take you a long time and people will be wondering, ‘but others are making it, how come you are not?’ They won’t know what you are facing and how different you are trying to be. Being a female and the sexual harassment thing are major challenges for me. If you remove those, a lot of people will be ready to help and showcase you because they know you are talented. Another thing is money; if you are not ready to put down your body, you should be ready to spend money. They don’t care where you get the money from, just bring your money. Though, there are still some good people in the industry who will believe in you and are ready to help you.
Do you think the industry is easier to navigate for single ladies than the married ones or it doesn’t really matter?
Naturally, it is not easy both for the single and the married, old or young. But as a single woman, there would be situations where it would be easy on you, there are some easier ways a single lady can go about things than a married woman. I am not saying as a single lady, you can be sleeping around and as a married woman you can’t sleep around. We know singles that are decent and we know married women who still do things. What I am just saying is that there are some places you can easily maneuver or go to as a single lady and will not have any effect on you but as a married woman, you no longer think about yourself alone, you think about your man, your children. So it is not easy.
As a single lady, once they call you for any movie, in a twinkle of an eye, you are there, but as a married woman, you have to talk to your husband about it and if he doesn’t give you the permission, you might not go. So, those are the things that make it difficult for a married woman. As a single lady, you can drop your phone number with anyone because you are single, but as a married woman, you won’t want to drop your contact anyhow because you don’t want to wake up the following morning to a message or picture you don’t like which can affect your marriage if your husband sees it. So, to be honest, most times, it is easier for single actors or actresses.
How well do you play romantic roles in movies?
(Laughs) I am so pathetic when it comes to romantic scenes. I am not good at all, trust me. In fact, if not for professionalism, you will want to cast me out that this girl is not kissing, she is just turning her head. The director will just be like, Arewa well-done, is that how to kiss? But at the end of the day, I talk to the actor I will be acting with, I would have read my script earlier, and talk to the actor that ‘I am sorry, I am not good in this’. In fact, apart from my partner, I don’t find it easy kissing because I see it as an intimate thing and it takes a lot of feelings for me to kiss. Yes, I am an actress, it should be ‘make-belief’, but we all have our weaknesses, I think that is mine. Romantic scenes are not really my thing. Other things like lying on the bed and making love under the duvet, I can still act that but really kissing and touching my sensitive parts are not allowed.
What is your husband’s disposition to you playing such roles?
My husband doesn’t really care. It has never been up for discussion between us before and probably because he met me as an actress, he knows what I can do and what I can’t do. It all boils down to trust.
What are the greatest moments of your acting career?
That would be my producing eight movies in a year because so far, it has been unbeatable. That has given me a lot of recognitions. Last year also, I won a lot of the awards I was nominated for. Those are great moments for me.
What about your most embarrassing moments?
That would be going to places where you think people won’t know you but still they would recognise you. There was a time a fan saw me at a mall in Ibadan and while I was trying to pay for the stuff I bought, they didn’t have enough money to give me as my change. So, they said they don’t have change and I said they have to look for it. One of the cashiers just snapped at me and said I shouldn’t abuse them because they know I have a sharp tongue and that is how I used to abuse my mother. I felt embarrassed and I was like, do you even know me? And she said don’t we see you in the movies? Then I laughed and said ‘that was just in the movies and I am not like that in real life’. So, things like that are embarrassing.
Some words for your fans.
Without you guys, there is nobody like Arewa Omoye. You all are my support system and anytime you all see me outside you can come for a hug. I don’t have a sharp tongue o, I am actually gentle (laugh). Thank you all.
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