"Tolani Osirin" is a well-known name in
the Yoruba genre of Nollywood, the
Nigerian movie industry. A single
mother of two, Abiodun is barely seven
years in the industry. But she is already
a known face with her scintillating
performances. Reputed to have one of
the sexiest shapes in the industry, this
Lagos State University graduate of
Communication Arts who is known for
her calmness, has also produced many
films on her own. She spoke with
MURPHY AJIBADE
Excerpts:
Tell us when, where and how you
joined the movie industry?
I started with the Ray Eyiwunmi
Organisation. It is a group consisting of
Lasun Ray, Muka Ray, and Murphy Ray.
I started February 2006. I joined the
group and became like an apprentice
learning from them. I produced my own
first movie in 2007. It was entitled
Tolani Osinrin.
What prompted you go into acting?
For me, acting is inborn. My dad used to
be in the Awarawa theatre group with
the likes of Jide Kosoko and others.
When I was in primary school, we used
to practice acting. Not long ago, when
some of my classmates saw me, they
were like 'O, Abiodun so you finally
became an actress'. So it is something
that I grew up with.
Since you joined the industry how
many movies have you featured in?
I have lost count… I'm sure it is about
50 or more.
Tell us some of them?
I produced five myself, Tolani Osinrin,
Okanjua, Oke-irapada, Asise Nla and
Edidi Igbeyawo. I have featured in Lagos
to Benin, Uncle Adisa, Opin-Irin ajo,
Ohun Buruku, Aso tuntun, Boseyemi,
Temiyemi by Bimbo Oshin, Taloye… I
have lost count
Which one of them do you think
propelled you to stardom?
I will say here that Tolani Osinrin, my
first production. It shot me into
limelight. All along, I had been featuring
in two scenes, three scenes. But when I
did Tolani Osinrin, the name got stuck
with me, and people were asking 'who
is this Tolani girl?' and so the name
went a long way before my face
registered on people's minds, so Tolani
Osinrin did.
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Abiodun Sofuyi, I am the
last born in a family of five of which I
am the only girl. My mother is a trader,
my father is a prophet. I hail from Ogere
in Ogun State. I attended Onayade
Primary school, from there to Jibowu
High School from where I proceeded to
Lagos State University(LASU) where I
studied Communication Arts. I did my
Industrial Training at Lagos Television
(LTV) before I started acting.
Most challenging role?
I am yet to see a very challenging role,
but right now I will give it to Aso
Tuntun. Because in the movie, I had to
run seriously and because of my plumy
stature it was difficult for me to run. I
am not that slim and could not roll
freely, but because am an actress I just
had to do it. But I will still say my best
is yet to come, I have not been
challenged the way I really want.
Have you ever been sexually
harassed to get a role?
No, because I came in through the right
channel where we are not allowed to go
to location without the guidance of our
Oga (boss). By the time I started going
to locations, I was already a producer
and a known face, so it never happened
to me.
What kind of clothes do you love?
I love bump shorts a lot.
Favorite perfume?
I love praga and gucci
Favorite colours?
I love flashy colours, I love facial pink,
yellow, and blue
Who is your role model in the
Nigeria movie industry?
I love Bukky Wright, Joke Silva, Fathia
Balogun, Shola Shobowale
Most embarrassing moment on
set?
It was between me and Lasun Ray, I was
acting as a nurse in the movie and
instead of facing the camera, I was
backing it at that point he had to scold
me and I was crying because I was not
used to the system at that time. I felt
they were insulting publicly. But along
the line, I realized that is how the
industry is, because for you to be good,
you have to be scolded and corrected. I
later played the part in the movie and
when the film came out, I appreciated
the scolding because I later performed
well.
Most embarrassing moment with
fans?
I was trekking on the street and I saw
three ladies coming towards my
direction, two of the ladies recoginsed
me and and were friendly, and one said
"Oh, see Tolani Osinrin" and they were
coming towards me to greet me. But
the third one wasn't friendly, as she
said "who is Tolani Osinrin?" She just
drew the other two back and said
"come on, let's go". I was so
embarrassed.
Do you play romantic roles?
Sure
How far can you go?
As far as going acting dirty, because my
children are going to watch my movie
How do you cope with your
responsibility as a single mother,
and an actress?
Here, I will give it to my mother, she is a
very caring, loving mother, she takes
care of my children when am not
around.
How did you meet the father of
your children?
We met in church.
What is the craziest thing a man
has ever said to you?
Let me just say it the way he said it,
"this your hips go kill person
o" (Laughs).
Tell us someone you admire and will
like to meet.
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva. Actually, Olu
Jacobs featured in Opin Irinajo (Part 1),
but then it was in Part 2 that I featured
because that was when I joined the
Lasun Eyiwunmi group. So I never had
the opportunity of meeting him.
How do you spend your leisure?
I am a homely person, I stay at home
and watch movies, then take my kids
out.
Apart from acting, what else do
you do?
Presently, nothing. But am planning to
go into business very soon.
What sort of business?
I am planning to go into clothing and
jewelries.
What is the most treasured thing
we will find in your wardrobe?
That should be my hymn book and my
bible.
If you are opportuned to change
something what would you like to
change about yourself?
I would like to have a full neck…
(laughs) and a bolder face
There has been instances when
marketers fail to pay movie
producers due to one reason or the
other. What has been your
experience?
I will just sat that God should come to
our aid, I wouldn't say it is 100% the
fault of the marketers. I belive it is the
economy generally. Let's take for
instance, I am a baker , I bought flour
and baked my bread let's assume I
baked 100 and out of the hundred
baked I sold just 50, so how do I cover
for the money I used to purchase flour?
So, I think it is the same thing that is
happening in the movie industry,
because the economy is very bad, if a
marketer prints 10,000 copies, and he
is unfortunate that he was unable to
sell more than 3,000 copies and he has
7,000 copies left there is no way he is
going to pay the producer. But you may
not know this if you are not close to
them to hear from the horses mouth.
Everyone of us blame them for owing
us, although there are some of them
that are born debtors. But for some it is
just due to circumstances and the
economy, that is why we are begging
the government to come to our aid
In the space of five years you have
been able to produce 6 movies,
how have you been financing your
production?
The first one I got a sponsor for it,
thereafter I became a commercial
actress. And don't eat with my 10
fingers (meaning: I save some of my
income).
What should we expect from you in
the next five years?
Olorun lo ni dede (man proposes God
disposes). I just pray to God that He
should put me where I would love so
much.
Are you working on something
right now?
Not really. I want to take my time, do
my homework well, do more research
and come out with something good, a
better movie than the five I have
produced put together. Of course, am
shooting another movie, I will be on
location on Friday (yesterday). But I
don't know the title yet.
So, how do you rate Nollywood?
I'll give kudos to Nollywood right now
because we are improving technically
and the artists too are improving.
How would you compare
Nollywood and others like
Bollywood and Hollywood?
Well, permit me to say a Yoruba adage
'omo eni ole se'di bebere ka fi'leke sidi
elomi', even if we are not the first, I'll
give us the first. We are the best
anywhere, anytime.
What can you say about
productions that are written,
produced and directed by just one
same person?
Well, let me be sincere, such a practice
is not good. If i write my story, I'm not
going to direct, I will just be an actress,
Shikena…, I will not even be the one to
coordinate. I think there should be
division of labour. Maybe those people
think they are Jacks of all trade, that
they can do it well.
What can you say about the issue
of piracy?
I just pray that God should come to our
rescue. In fact, everybody is trying their
best. The actors, the actresses and so
also the marketers are trying to curb it.
Though it's not easy to curb them at
once but it's been working 'small small'.
All I'm saying is that the government
should come to our rescue. For
example, the last film by Olasco,it was
on DVD so it will not be easy to be
pirated. So, that's why I said if the
government can come to our rescue
then we'll minimize the number of films
coming out. If an actor/actress feature
in a film or two in a year, we'll be okay.
It will cover up 50 movies in a year, so,
they should just help.
How do you think government can
help?
For example, football is a kind of
entertainment, right? And government
is investing in it. If they can do the
same thing in the movie industry, like
calling the leaders asking them how
they can help them. They can give them
certain amount of money and tell them
they should shoot less movies in a year,
and also make sure that all the artists,
the crews featuring in such movies get
substantial amounts. They should just
come to our rescue.
How is your relationship with the
father of your kids?
Its okay, very cordial. We talk when it's
necessary.
So, as a producer, how do you get
your inspiration?
I get inspiration from things happening
around me, and at times it is just
'aroko' (fallacy).
What is your advice for the
upcoming ones?
Uhmm…, I 'll say here that they should
be determined. They should not come
into the industry with the aim of dating
an actor or any producer or better still a
star to make it. They should be ready to
tolerate, they should have the spirit of
perseverance and they should be
extremely humble. That's all. That is
the major thing, humility.
How will you describe your
personality?
Ha…, I'm kogbona kotutu (not too hot,
not too cold) (laughs)…, Let me be
serious. I'm an introvert, 60% of me is
an introvert and 40% of me is an
extrovert. 60% temperamental, 40%
calm. I don't keep grudges, I'm a kind of
person that when you offend me you
will see it immediately that I'm angry,
then after some minutes it's gone. I
don't keep malice. Even, if the person is
planning to hold grudges I will go and
meet the person. I'm like that.
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