Encomium
BEAUTIFUL actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, a.k.a Omosexy, is one popular actress who knows what she wants and where she’s headed. The star actress, singer and mother of four lovely children is married to Matthew whom she fondly calls honey boy. She recently released an album which would be launched at Eko Hotel and Fantasyland, Victoria Island, Lagos, on September 24 and 26, 2010. The talented actress paid a courtesy visit to ENCOMIUM’s Place, in Ogba, Lagos on Thursday, September 9, 2010, where she talked about her new album, the movie, Ije, her over-flogged alleged quarrel with Genevieve Nnaji and other issues…
You are back in the limelight with the movie, Ije. What was the experience like?
The experience was great, it was really nice. It’s just like so many other movies that I have done. The first thing I thought about was why I was doing it, and I realized that this is a movie on a different pedestal, it was a good story. I was looking forward to it coming out. It was like some great movies that I have done, like Mortal Inheritance, The Prostitute and others. I was hoping that it would make its mark and define a new era in Nollywood. I am happy that it is doing so.
Ije is a good movie. Was that your first time of shooting a film outside the country?
No, that was not the first time I would be shooting a movie outside the country. I shot Faithful Love with Ramsey Nouah in London. I also did another movie in Sierra Leone alongside Genevieve, Fred Amata, Zack Orji and Olu Jacobs. So, I have shot a lot of movies outside the country, but this is the first time of shooting in Los Angeles, Hollywood.
Your long protracted quarrel with Genevieve has ended with Ije. When you heard that she would also feature in the movie, what was your reaction?
Is that a statement or a question (laughs). There was no quarrel.
Why did you say there was no quarrel, you were reported to be quarreling over who is better?
It is rumour, so keep it as that.
When you met on location, what was the feeling like?
Nothing, we’ve been seeing before we met on location. It wasn’t as if we were seeing for the first time, we’ve done some few movies together. We did a movie before called Sisters’ Love. Prior to that time, we were on location together.
So, what is your relationship like presently?
We are okay, we are cool, no problem.
If you had no quarrel, what then do you think could be responsible for the rumour?
No more comment (laughs).
Ije is an awesome film, how much were you paid for the job?
We were paid enough. It was very fulfilling. I can’t tell you figures but it was very encouraging. It was good enough.
What made you accept the script?
I saw how serious the director was in projecting Nollywood in a way that few of us had dreamt that we would love to be projected. I saw her seriousness, I saw a good script, I saw opportunities like never before. Most importantly, I saw seriousness and when I get a very serious project, a serious crew, I would naturally want to do it. I saw how serious the planning and everything was, I felt good and I wanted to be part of the project.
Your new album, So Wonderful, tell us about it.
Thank you first and foremost. My album is something that I am very passionate about. I put two years into it. I started working on it since 2008 with my producers, Paul Play started with it and most importantly Delbee worked on the project. So, I would say my major producer was Delbee. I worked with a voice trainer called Harrison, who is also an artist. I worked with people like Paul Play, Modenine, Uche of Pop Idols, Tito. So, doing the project was very real to me, it was close to my heart and I enjoyed every process of it and it’s something that I really wanted to say at this particular time. I feel very close to it, I just want to enjoy it with people who love my music, Get Busy is a great album.
How many tracks are in the album?
The album contains 12 lovely tracks.
The videos are wonderful, how did you come about the concept?
The truth of the matter is that I was actually in South Africa for so many other reasons, apart from shooting that video. But when I saw Booby Bolders and the work she was doing, I felt I needed to work with this person and luckily for me, we had good locations already. The whole planning for that video was just three days. Actually, a day because apart from the day we decided to do it, the next day was when we went into production planning. The minute we decided to do the whole thing, we just shot it and thank God it came out the way it did. It was all my concept, Sasha helped out with the costuming. We thank God for the success, I want everybody to go get the album right now.
You have been working on the album for about two years now, what were the challenges you encountered while doing it?
It was very challenging because with music, I am totally on my own, unlike movies that people call you to act and then you go your way without knowing anything about the post production until you are probably called to come and promote the movie. But in music, you are involved from the beginning to the end, from pre-production to post production, the coming out and promoting it. It was very tedious. But it is very fulfilling because everything about your album is representing you and when you are done, people are still going to tear it into pieces, to criticize it. It was quite challenging, but I am very happy doing what I love doing and I want to use this opportunity to say thank you to my fans.
How much did the album gulp?
It gulped a lot of my money. Sometimes my husband is like, ‘can you remind me why we are doing this thing?’ It was financially tedious considering the kind of money I am putting into it and that is why I feel bad when some people ask if I am doing it because of the money I want to gain from it. If it is because of the money, I have so many other things I can invest my money on, so it’s not about money. It’s about fulfillment, the love and the passion for singing. It’s about communicating with my fans, it’s about entertaining my wonderful fans and singing with them that drive me the most. To my fans, I love you all.
How successful was your first album?
It was very successful. For every business you are doing, you must have a reason for it. My first album, first and foremost, was not for money even though I made a lot of money from it. The kind of money that I received from that album, a lot of artists who have been in the industry did not receive it for that year. I was paid off for that album, I did that album for people to know what I am going to be doing. So, for me to have some hits like Niger lo wa, Dance, Honey Boy from that album, it was such a blessing. I know people will still have to criticize me that I am not the best singer in the world, it did not sell and all that, I accept all these criticisms. I came into the industry knowing full well that I would be attacked, it’s not always easy to get acceptance when you are crossing from acting to music or from music to acting. The reaction is always very bad. It happens even in Hollywood. They always feel you are not going to be a good actor or musician. It is understandable because they’ve seen me in a particular image, it’s hard for them, it’s like change and some people don’t easily accept change. Like I always tell people, entertainment is entertainment and as an entertainer, you should be able to do everything. I am willing to work harder to satisfy my fans, I love what I am doing, I just want people who love my music, people who love me to come and enjoy the process with me.
Between acting and singing, which do you prefer?
I cannot choose. If you ask me, I would almost say acting and that is understandable because I have put 15 years into it, I am stabilized in it. But the truth of the matter is that with singing, I get just as much fulfillment, if not almost the same thing or more. Music is life on stage and that is the part I really enjoy. I enjoy performing live. If I could perform live, I know how to do it in the studio, seriously. Between you and I, I would prefer singing, I enjoy communicating on stage, I enjoy the laughter and all that happens when you are on stage.
But don’t you think your acting career is booming more than your musical career?
Naturally, it would boom more because I have put 15 years into it, people have come to know me more as an actor. But almost five years, everybody is catching on with just one album. They are already catching on with the idea that I am a singer, I didn’t even know that people would accept it so fast, I thought it was going to take me a longer time to sell the idea that I am a singer. It is happening real fast and I am very grateful for the faith that people have in me and I appreciate the fact that they see that I am actually struggling to be better, I am working hard, I thank them for their encouragement. Not seeing me as a perfect person. Assuming I started from nowhere, I won’t get much criticism. Somebody once said to me, ‘Omotola, your songs are really nice. If you were not who you are, if you were just any other person singing these songs, people would like them. But because it’s you, there is a lot of criticism on you.’ And I understand that. I really appreciate it because it makes me better and makes me want to work harder.
What is your assessment of Nollywood, especially now that the industry is going through a lot of challenges?
It’s really very sad when people tell me this, because this is a Nollywood that was almost like my baby. I was there when it started blossoming, we watched it to a point when it was really blossoming. So, to get to this point where almost everybody is saying Nollywood is not blossoming, it is very painful and very hard to hear. But unfortunately, this whole thing started from the bans. In 2005, when they decided to start playing with viewers’ mind, when they started the ban thing, that was when Nollywood started dropping. It was a very bad decision, it was one of the worst things that ever happened to Nollywood. So, a lot of artists started doing other things, people who have done this thing with all their life started losing interest. Same thing with the viewers, a lot of viewers stopped watching movies when the ban thing started and since then things have been very hard for Nollywood to stabilize again. Unfortunately, instead of us coming together to see how to solve the problems, the leaders are not thinking about that. Thank God for Segun Arinze, he is trying to tackle the Nollywood/Ghollywood problem, but he still needs to work harder. He needs to team up with wonderful people with good ideas in the industry to bring out the best. No man is an island, this problem is affecting all of us, I would really want him to team up with Emeka Ike, who is also an intellectual to bring their colleagues together, we also need to have rules and regulations because the industry is like a free game, when you tell them that its of no use bringing new artists into our midst, they will tell you that you are saying it because you have already made your name, that’s why you don’t want new ones to come in. But the question is, why are we bringing new artists when the ones that are there are not even well taken care of? We need to have a system that will take care of new artists. Even my daughter wants to act, but what is the point of working when you don’t get royalties, no insurance, no welfare package, you are being abused in all aspects. People whom you expect to know how to treat an artist don’t even know, even the artist don’t know that when you do a production, you are supposed to promote that production because there is no orientation, people don’t know their rights and obligations.
Your husband was sacked from Arik Airline. How were you able to cope with your children?
He did not lose his job, he wasn’t sacked, he resigned. There was miscommunication somewhere. He did not lose his job, he resigned and that is his personal issue. So, I don’t want to talk about it. He deserves his privacy, he is not a public person, but I have to correct that and like every other human being, there are sometimes you choose to leave a job for whatever reasons. I can’t discuss his personal issues with you. But let it be put on record that he did not lose his job.
Now that he has another job with Air Nigeria, how does this make you feel?
Seriously, I don’t want to talk about it. Everybody who knows pilots will tell you that it is not a big deal. Pilots leave jobs every day, they leave and enter another place, another new job. It is a very close industry, it is their industry, they know how they do their things. As I am speaking with you, some pilots are resigning, they are joining other new companies. Probably to make more money or whatever, it is not a job that everybody or just anybody can do, they are highly demanded everywhere, they know how they do their thing, I don’t know much about their industry and I don’t want to talk about it.
What impact did it have on you and the children?
Absolutely, no stress at all. We are career people and should I say we have invested well? (laughs). So, no stress at all.
What stands you out from other actresses?
I don’t know, you tell me (laughs). I really don’t know, why fans would want to defend me in their own way, and other people’s fans too would want to defend them in their own way. But I think we are all unique in our own different ways. There are no two people that are the same and I think that is the beauty of human beings. We are all different just as our fingers are not equal. What you think is a disadvantage could be an advantage. It just depends on how you use it. Alec Wek, you will look at her and say oh, this girl is not fine, but she is one of the most expensive models in the world today because she chose not to see what you are seeing, she chose to use it to her advantage. So, it depends on you. Whatever you see as disadvantage is actually an advantage.
You have been long on the screen, what has been sustaining you?
God. When I say it, people think it is generic but it is truly God. What other reasons would it have been? I am not the most intelligent, I am not the finest, I am not the most favoured, some people have cliques, I don’t have any clique. It is just God, He has made me to work harder, He has also touched me to keep going, you meet a lot of obstacles, people will say a lot of bad things to hurt you, people will lie against you even Jesus who had no sin was lied against and he was eventually nailed to the cross. How much more we mortals who move and live in sin? But I am not a negative person, I don’t stay around negativity, I believe I am a moving train, I move on and if you stand in my front, I crush you. I don’t look back in anything, I don’t regret whatever I do, I learn from my mistakes because I believe there is only one life to live and that life goes forward.
You are a mother of four, how do you juggle motherhood with your career?
I do all things by His grace, through Christ who strengthens me. Every day I ask God to give me good health because you can’t buy it, God is the source of my energy. I try my best to work very hard, I choose the most important things in life. Most importantly, after God, it’s my husband, I won’t lie to you. If you don’t have a good partner, no matter how much you try, that person will keep frustrating you. I have a very supportive spouse and I thank God for him. I always pray for him, I thank God for giving him to me. I just pray that God should bless, help, strengthen and be with him. He is a blessing to my life, he is kind, loving, very secure, supportive and I pray that a lot of women have men like him, he makes my life easy. Left for me, a lot of things would have gone wrong if not for him.
What has been sustaining your marriage?
God is my major help. As human beings, we sin, I would have done worst things but for the fear of God that keeps one in check, especially with somebody like me that is very hyper. God teaches and corrects me when I go wrong because I find it very difficult to apologise. But luckily, I am with my exact opposite. He is more patient than me, I can be very impatient, when I want anything done, I want it done now but my husband hardly gets angry. Sometimes he even looks at me as a child. Life with him is very easy, we understand each other and that has really helped us.
Would we be right to say you are one of the richest actresses in Nigeria?
(Laughs) I don’t know. You really can’t know how rich somebody is worth. It sounds funny when I hear people talk about richest people because you can’t know who is the richest.
How much is Omosexy worth?
I don’t know, I will have to contact my accountant to give you that information.
We learnt you are shooting a soap opera, tell us about it.
It’s shot already. It is called The Smoke. I directed it, it was produced by my company. I didn’t act in it, I had wonderful actors, I had four girls in the movie, the lead characters, it has a very powerful cast. Extremely talented actors, it is a character driven soap opera. We did the audition for about two months. Everyone playing a character was actually meant for the character. Watch out for The Smoke. It has started showing on MNET and Galaxy but we want to shoot 26 more episodes.
We have a lot of top Nollywood actresses on the list of Glo ambassadors, why is Omosexy missing?
No comment.
You are always looking beautiful and sexy, what is the secret?
I don’t know, I really don’t pay much attention to make-ups. I just want to thank God for it. I just try my best to be happy, I am not a make-up person, I have children and my career to take care of, I don’t have time for fashion. I understand the gravity of being fashionable, it is a big thing but I promise my fans that I will always try my best to always look sexy.
What is your definition of style?
I think your style is you, what you have become, the things you love to wear, the things you are comfortable in. You don’t really have to be over the top. Thank God for those who love to be over the top, they make fashion interesting (laughs). But we don’t all have to.
What is that beauty item you cannot do without?
Nothing. I don’t pay so much emphasis on those things maybe because I feel I am okay without them. I can do without anything except my brain.
What is your beauty routine?
I love my massages, I cannot do without it. For me, it’s like my luxury, I stick to one thing that I know. The body lotion I use the one I have been using for the past 15 years, E45. I clean my face with Clean and Clear, I use Ambiclear Spot for face, I use Mac Clear Gloss for my lips. I love my Laurel mascara, I love my Victoria Secrets and I also love my concealer.
Who is your favourite designer?
I love them all (laughs). I wear any good dress, but I have always loved Maya, I just can’t wear clothes that cover my shoulders and I would never wear clothes that would show my boobs more than necessary.
How do you pamper yourself?
I love massages and I don’t punish myself.
What are your wishes for your children?
I just wish that they grow up in a country that they love, that they can defend and be proud of. I also wish that they would live well. These are things that I wish for myself and everybody else in this country. We are in a great nation, so why are people suffering? It hurts me that this country is the way it is because I come across intelligent youths every day. Why are our intelligent children wasting away? It angers me.
After four lovely kids, how many more do you want?
None. . I am done and I thank God for the grace He has given me.
Are you in anyway eyeing politics?
No, not at all.
What inspired Omotola Youth Empowerment Programme (OYEP)?
It was set up as a movement. It was borne out of a quest to let intelligent young people know that there are people like them who believe in a certain way of life and who are ready to do their country proud. So, we just wanted them to come together in one dream. In 2005, almost all our youths were involved in yahoo, yahoo stuff and we are saying there are still some youths who are not like that. Most of us are hard working, young people who want to focus on our careers. We believe in the right thing and we want to stand out. It was more of activism before we rebranded, and registered as an NGO. So, now it is more of humanitarian thing. We are advocating a better Nigeria.
This story was first published in Encomium Weekly on Tuesday, September 14, 2010
