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| Kate & Benedict |
The Nigerian
movie industry also known as Nollywood is unarguably one of the biggest
employers of labour in Nigeria right now. It is also rated the second biggest
film producing nation globally.
Despite these
glowing attributes, Nollywood also has its own fair share of controversies and
scandals.
Recently, our
correspondent caught up with one of the leading actors, Benedict Johnson and
took him up on several issues, especially those revolving around his private
and public lives.
My name is
Benedict Johnson Obiaku. I’m from Imo State, Isu to be precise. I’m from a
family of nine, the fourth born and also the fourth boy. The boys came first.
Mum and dad are late.
How was growing up for you?
Well my growing
up was kind of mixed because I grew up in different places. My primary and
secondary schools were in Warri, Delta State, while my university was in Abia
State. I studied Mass Communication in Abia State University. I am currently an
actor.
When and how did you start acting?
I started acting
in 2002. What actually brought me to Lagos was music. Someone invited me to
Lagos to help me with my music career. But when I came to Lagos, it was a
different story because the guy was not forthcoming with anything. It was quite
disappointing. So I was just in my brother’s house doing nothing. A friend came
one day to tell me there were auditioning for a movie going on somewhere and
asked if I was interested. I decided to go with him basically to while away
time and look around. When we got to the audition venue, I was just sitting on
my own, very shy to mix up when the director spotted me and asked if I wasn’t
there for the auditioning. I said no but he asked me to come and read all the
same. When I did, the panel members were all impressed and commented my good
command of English. That was how 1 was casted for a role in that movie and
that began my sojourn into Nollywood. From there I started going from one
audition to the other and getting roles.
So is it right to say that boredom pushed you into acting?
Did you have any flair for acting prior to this time?
Well if you ask
me, I’ll say we are all actors in this life. Everyone is an actor one way or
the other, but when you are now trained, you become a professional actor. While
growing up, I was a mixture of so many characters. I was a very stubborn boy
while growing, so asking me to portray a stubborn person in a movie didn’t need
much hard work from me. I only had to exhibit what was already in me.
Basically, I wouldn’t really say boredom. I just believe that is how God wants
it.
Can you remember your very first movie and your most
challenging role?
Yeah, my very
first movie was Genesis of Love. The movie starred Stephanie Okereke, Emeka
Enyiocha and Desmond Elliot. I was casted as Emeka Enyiocha’s twin brother and
we were fighting for the love of Stephanie. The movie that brought me to
limelight I could say was Stolen Bible. Another one was One Chance, where I
played a character called Idumota. And there was Forty Days and Forty Nights.
As a matter of fact, the producer of that movie called me recently to get ready
because they will be shooting the
continuation of it due to demand from people. Another very challenging one was
a movie entitled Painful World, where I played the role of an epileptic
patient.
So is there any female actress you have a crush on?
[Laughs] Well, I
won’t say crush but I have some female actresses I get along with quite well.
Like Ini Edo, Kate Henshaw, Chika Ike and Mercy Johnson, they are my close
friends.
Well that brings us to the question of if you dated Mercy
Johnson truly as claimed by many of your colleagues and the media.
Please not
again. Well, I will say no. She’s just a very close friend.
How close are you?
You know we
share the same name Johnson. Then we did a whole lot of movies together, and we
were very close to each other. I know her siblings, she knows mine too. Just
friends. Again, she’s married now so it won’t be nice discussing our past
dealings together.
So which female actress have you dated before?
[Laughing] Why
are you doing this to me? You want to cause trouble right? Is that why you left
Nollywood to join journalism? Please Maureen don’t dig deep.
Just kindly answer the question, it won’t hurt.
[Laughing] I’ve
dated Kate Henshaw in the past. Are you satisfied now? Pls, don’t ask me for
details, because I wouldn’t want to say more on our affair.
So what is your marital status?
I am married. I
have a family. I have two beautiful daughters. They live in America with their
mother.
Apart from acting, what else do you do?
I try to
diversify. I do other businesses that can enable me take care of my problems.
Whenever I travel to the United States, I try to see what and what I can buy to
sell in Nigeria especially cars. I buy cars and give to car dealers to sell for
me.
If not acting, what do you think you would have been doing?
I would have
loved to be a football coach because I love football so much. While I was in
school, I played football. I mean serious football. I represented my school
those days.
Going back to Nollywood now, you’ve been there for about 12
years, how will you rate it?
I think
Nollywood is progressing because if you look back, you will realize that this
whole thing started like child’s play. But see where we are now. Before now,
actors were tagged never do wells. I’ve realized one thing from my travelling
around the world, Nollywood is recognized all over the world. So far you know
things about Africa, you must know about Nollywood. Not just Africans but
Asians, even Jamaicans. I was somewhere in New Jersey and I met a Jamaican guy
that told me how his mother loves watching Nigerian movies and how she likes my
movies. I was marveled. When the mother eventually came she was shouting in
Patois how she had watched and loved me in movies especially Forty Days In The
Wilderness.
Our movies have
travelled far and wide. Everywhere all over the world they know Nigeria’s
culture through our movies. This is why I think the Government should come in
to support Nollywood. Because people all over the world can only know about
Nigeria through our movies that they watch even without coming to Nigeria. Just
like most Nigerians have not travelled to the US but know so much about the
country through their movies. I sincerely feel Government should look very deep
into the Nigerian movie industry, there is a whole lot for Government to tap
from. This industry is capable of changing the mindset of people about Nigeria.
There’s so much joblessness in Nigeria now, the youths can be ably employed and
empowered through Nollywood. All they need do is put so many infrastructures on
ground.
There is this
other angle. If you are an actor, you can never be an armed robber or be
involved in something shady because you are already exposed to the world. As an
actor your life and movement are somehow in the public domain. If our youths
who are interested are gainfully employed in Nollywood, they will find it
difficult to engage in crimes and other social vices. The Government needs to
put in more money in Nollywood.
Do you have plans of producing or directing your own movies?
Well, currently
I really don’t have any plans of directing movies. But in two months time, I’ll
be travelling out to study film making for about six months. I want to go
deeper into movie making. I’m going to where they have more professionals to
teach me more. And in future I intend to give back. You know when you are
acting alone, you are earning money for yourself but when you produce you are
paying people so it’s kind of giving back. As a matter of fact, there is one I
shot in the US but not yet released. So I’m still working on how to push it
into the market.
There was this scandal about you being a gay in the past?
[Laughs] People
that know me well are aware I am not a gay. So when I hear such things I just
laugh. I disgust that. Even in the bible gay was the main reason God destroyed
Sodom and Gomorrah so why would I be involved in such thing? I am a Christian.
Gay is one sin that God cannot forgive easily. Why on earth would I leave a
woman that God have perfectly made for a man and indulge in sexual acts with a
man like me? I really don’t know what prompted that nonsense rumour but it
never hurt me because I was not gay and I’m still not one.
What is your philosophy of life?
Live and let
live. I like good people around me.
Are there things you think people don’t know about you that
you want them to know through this medium?
I am a very
simple and down to earth person. Very jovial, I like mixing with people. I have
a whole lot of friends and I keep my friends. People might watch my movies and
think I might be difficult to interact with. The truth is that I am a very
friendly and accommodating person.
Are you a Christian?
Yes I am a very
good Christian. I don’t joke with God. I am someone that fears God. In fact, if
there is anywhere you can catch me, it is in the house of God. I make sure I go
to the house of God three to four times in a week.
Any words for your fans?
I want to tell
them to believe in God because nothing is impossible with Him. Also have
courage and trust in yourself.
Some people
coming into the movie industry especially the ladies must not believe that you
have to sleep your way to the top. If you are talented, there are good people
who will give you jobs based on merit. If you come into the movie industry
believing in God and yourself and also knowing you have something to offer then
you can make it.
Culled: EE
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