"I Hate Being Called A Yoruba Actress" -Nollywood Actress, Binta Ayo Mogaji
introduction in Nigeria's movie industry. The actress who is
fondly referred to as Igbanladogi,a name she got from her
role in Late Toba Opaleye's chart busting film titled
'IGBALADOGI' years back, in this interview speaks about
her career and other sundry issues.
What have you been up to lately?
My acting is still moving on. I am still the same old Ayo
Mogaji. I am still working and not yet tired. After my movie
"Jombo" in 2006, I have not produced any other movie. I
have stopped producing because the market is not
encouraging, so I am just a working actress. If you can pay
for my job, I work with you. I just returned back to the
country. I am moving in and out of Nigeria by virtue of
marriage. My husband is British and it seems like everyone
knows about that. He's Dr. Ayodele Oduleye, a
psychotherapist and British by birth. He lives there. I just
came back from USA where I went to anchor a show.
You went off the scene at a time, why?
There was never a time I went off the scene.
The only issue was I decided to limit some of my activities, because I can't
get lesser pay or do anything substandard. This is the only
career I have got so if you are under paying me or not
being reasonable with your offer, I move out of your job. I
didn't go anywhere; I was still in the country, I was still
working. As we are talking right now, this year they have
released several such as "Igba'bajo," "Towotomo,"
"Moberu," Arinzo 1&2. Just at the tail end of last year,
they released "Moberu." While I was in the US, they
released a couple of movies like "Mama Insurance." So
there has never been one time I rested on my oars. I also
featured in soap operas like "Tarima." I also used to do
"Nowhere to be Found." What I'm saying is that even when
I am not in the country, you see me on your TV screen
every now and then.
You've been around for many years. Do you have any plan
to retire at all?
I love acting and this is the only thing I have done most of
my life. I have been an actor even before home video came.
People paid to see me perform on stage. We started on
stage when the commercial viability of the acting business
was not as it is now in Nigeria. Therefore, we had to do
quite a lot of things to sustain ourselves. We were into
radio; we were also into TV play. TV was very popular back
then. I was on "Village Headmaster," "Anter Theatre,"
"Koko Close" and quite a number of other TV programmes.
My major TV plays then were in "Koko Close," "Village
Headmaster" and "Den Set." There were a lot of other
series, which I acted in but I can't remember them all
anymore. We were not getting paid so much, but there was
job satisfaction. We were quite happy with what we were
doing. At that time, if you were a regular TV actor you
were very lucky because some money would come out of it
at the end of the month. So, without being immodest, I have
been a household name before the advent of home video.
So this is what I love. There is no age limit to acting.
You said marriage makes you travel more often now?
I am a house wife where I am coming from, and this is
where my career is. Like I said, I don't live in the US; I just
try to shuffle both. If anyone needs me to do a job for them
they pay for my ticket and all that comes with the job.
You play comical roles more often nowadays, why?
I play according to the character role I am given. There is a
director that would tell you this is how he wants his script
played like I did in "Igba'Bajo." That was how they wanted
their character to be played out. I want to believe that they
specifically picked me for that character because they know
I can give them what they want. My character in
"Towotomo" and "Arinzo" was not comical though. There
are several movies in which I didn't act comical roles. I play
my part according to what you want me to do.
Considering your status in the industry, how do you feel
when you are being asked to act the role of a house maid?
I don't have to play the lead role. If I act as a maid, that
does not bother me, as long as I act my role and get my
professional fee. I just believe most of them know that Ayo
Mogaji would interpret the role given to her.
Most actors fight for the lead role. What do you have to say
about that?
Well, I don't know about them, I can only speak for myself.
You said earlier that the last time you produced was in
2006, why?
Not that I have stopped producing. I have produced just
once and I produced the film to make a statement.
When do you intend producing another movie?
I don't intend producing anyone anytime soon. Everybody is
a producer right now and I don't want to join the
bandwagon. What prompted me to produce the movie and
make it a standard one is because there is a lot of gate
crashing in the industry. No one knows and understands
what the criterion of a producer is and what qualifies you to
be a producer. I am an actor right now and when the time
comes for me to be a producer I will produce.
How do you feel when you are addressed as a Yoruba
actress?
I will never accept such because I am an actress not a
Yoruba actress. If you call yourself an actress, you should
be able to interpret any role being given to you in as much
as you understand the language. I will use the word
Nollywood actress for me rather than being referred to as a
Yoruba actress, because I do act both in the English and
Yoruba industry. So, I feel so sad when you say Ayo Mogaji
is a Yoruba actress.
What's your most memorable day as an actress?
The day I had a show at the percropatric theatre. The title
of the play was "Offensive," an American play written by
Hubert Wilson. I played a role in it. There was a particular
scene which was very emotional. The play was directed by
Chuck Mike. It was a collective artiste play.
After I played
that highly emotional role, the then American Ambassador
came back stage with a can of Sprite and asked me, "Are
you alright" and he handed me the Sprite.
That was a long
time ago, but it was the most memorable day of my career.
That Ambassador name was Princeton Rillyman. I had to cry
in that role and the whole crowd cried with me.
Immediately I finished playing that role and took a bow
from the stage, the American Ambassador came to meet me
back stage. I mean, it meant so much to me then.
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