Encomium
‘I can’t be wasting my time on trivialities’
On Saturday, November 30, 2013, it was reported in one of the dailies that star actor, Saidi Balogun, better addressed as James Bond has dragged to court his estranged wife, Fathia for using his surname. ENCOMIUM Weekly took the versatile entertainer up on this and other issues when we cornered him at an event in Ikenne, Remo, Ogun State on Saturday, November 30, 2013.
What is happening to your movie, You Or I, we’ve not heard much about it?
We have shown it in some places after the much publicized premiere. The next thing is to release it into home video, on DVD.
What else are you working on?
I have a lot of projects I am working on right. Work is almost done on Oriki Yoruba, it should be out soon. It is meant to educate us, especially the Yoruba. A lot of things most of us don’t know about Yoruba tradition. We also have another comedy movie entitled, The Rider. It is a pidgin comedy that featured people like Aneke Twins, Klem, amongst others.
Aside that, we’ve not been seeing you in movies in recent times. Why?
There is no problem at all, I am always ready to feature in any movie, but it has to be standard ones. Right now, my consultant, Kelvin “Kayode” Barry is examining the scripts, and if they are worth accepting, he would let me know. It is not about appearing in so many movies, what is important is featuring in a correct film, even if it is not more than one.
If Will Smith and Eddy Murphy can appear in two good movies in four years, and they are still known all over the world, must I be in 600 substandard films to be accepted? So, it is not about appearing in 2 million substandard films in two weeks, it is about standard. That’s what Saheed Balogun is up to right now.
Let’s talk about Nollywood at 20. What’s your impression?
It’s packaging and that is what they think. If they like, they say Nollywood is 100, that is their problem. If we have problem with it, we should create our own. The fact is that everybody knows the history, the era of Hubert Ogunde and the rest. I am more than 30 years in the industry, and they are 20. They can’t stop me from saying I am 30.
What we should be clamouring for is structure, not whether Nollywood is 20 or not. We have actors guild, Yoruba guild, Nollywood, Kannywood, ANTP and all sort of names, but what have they done to fight piracy? We’ve been calling on federal government, give us structure, nothing has been done till date. We are now here talking about Nollywood at 20.
But, do you think the fight can be achieved individually?
I am not saying individually, all I am saying is that government should give us a standard name, structure to fight piracy, sub-standard films, so that the industry can be great. For instance, one of the groups, Ashaolu and Dele Odule have been in court for about seven years, and no solution till date.
What is your assessment of 2013?
We have to pray so that we won’t witness what happened in 2013 in 2014. It is a year of plane clashes, a lot of things happened in wrong ways, some of the celebrities are celebrating, while some are fighting. A year of confusion and I pray to God to make next year a better and successful one for everybody.
About you and Fathia?
Watch out for my movie, You or I. Coming out soon. Also, my other projects, Independent Boy, Edoki Yoruba etc, watch out for them. That’s my reaction to the question you asked.
But it was reported in one of the dailies today that you dragged her to court for using your surname?
I have better things to do with my time than to be talking about any rumour concerning private and family issue on the pages of papers. The most unfortunate aspect of it is that once you guys see something like that, everybody will start copying and posting it.
Anyway, I have told you, the most important thing to me right now is my career, which I would like you to promote for me. I won’t say more than that.
-RASHEED ABUBAKAR
