Ondo State born multitalented Yoruba actress, Ronke Ojo, popularly known as Ronke Oshodi Oke, has starred in over 70 Yoruba movies. She is loved and highly respected in Nollywood because of her creativity and wits. In this interview with DGossip247, the actress, musician, director cum producer, she speaks extensively on her journey to the world of make-believe, marriage and music
What has been happening to you in recent times?
I’ve been working on my album. I want to go into music. I’ve been saying that for a very long time and I have done some tracks. I featured Pasuma, 9ice and Oritsefemi. I have done about five tracks.
A story of a woman that suffered from birth till she was 70. Basically, those are the three projects I’m working on and by the special grace of God, they are going to come out before the end of this year.
Are you not discouraged by some of your colleagues who have tried going into music and it didn’t work for them?
Like I always say, I love challenges. We are in the entertainment industry directly or indirectly.
Everybody wants to showcase what he or she has inside. I wouldn’t call it rivalry; if you are selling something and I’m selling the same thing, you would want yours to be unique and I would mine too.
So I can’t say I’m really threatened; on the other hand, I’m not too bold because whatever I do, I won’t say I’m the best. I can only try, so I don’t think I’m threatened by anyone. I’m not too afraid of coming out to sing.
I actually do a universal music.
How soon are we expecting an album?
The album would be coming out before the end of this year.
How is marriage life?
I bless God. I’m happily married to Mr. Sylvester Gbolahan and blessed with two wonderful children.
What are the modern day challenges confronting movie industry in Nigeria?I bless God. I’m happily married to Mr. Sylvester Gbolahan and blessed with two wonderful children.
The number one challenge we have is tribalism, yes, coupled with not being under one umbrella.
I tell people, Americans love their country, that’s why they love themselves. Of course, they’ve got shortcomings as well but you won’t really see it the way you see it here in Nigeria.
This tribalism of a thing is actually our number one problem. A Yoruba man would not want to call an Igbo man to act in a movie and same with the Igbo people.
Especially we women; you know that person is your colleague and you will be giving her attitude. All these things to me are childish. That’s one thing about me, if I see any good actress, I approach her and compliment her.
When I come across some upcoming actresses that are good, I go to them and tell them that I am their fan. I’m a very blunt person, but I don’t know what our problem is in this industry.
Tribalism has really eaten deep into this industry. Even if I’m not on talking term with a particular person and I have a script and I see that the person is fit for the role, believe me, I will call the person to come in. It’s got nothing to do with our relationship, but I don’t know what our problem is.
So tribalism is our major problem in Nollywood; especially I f we are not under one umbrella.
So that is to say you are not dissing anyone in the industry?
My brother, believe me, I love everybody in their own way.
What other form of business do you do apart from movies and music?
I am a full time entertainer. I act, I sing, I anchor events.
When you feel the need to take a break off movies and music,how best do you do that?
I spend time with my family. People say I am homely; I don’t really like going out. I like watching movies and listening to music and I love my kitchen, as you can see, I’m very big
Your favourite perfumes and designers when it comes to fashion?
I am not a designer freak. Anything goes, so long as it is beautiful and cool. If it suits me and I’m comfortable in it, I’m fine with it.
What’s your take on nudity?
I don’t like it! I am a mother, its really sad that nudity is what most of our new actresses are promoting now.
Maybe if I was born twenty years ago, I might, you get what I am saying? But its not the way we were born and brought up. Of course, I am not just a Yoruba person, I am a woman of tradition and culture, why would I encourage or preach nudity?
It’s fake and that is what I tell people, we are Nigerians, we are African, we have got cultures and traditions here but we are derailing.
Exposure is fine, its a good thing to be exposed, but we are getting it wrong.
The indians, although, they have changed their style a little bit, you won’t see them encouraging nudity, and that is because they value their culture. So we too should not encourage it.
The Americans that are doing that, that is their way of life, that is the way they are brought up. Why do we have to emulate something that is not our culture?
What’s your life philosophy?
Be proud of yourself, be humble, be good to people, put smiles on people’s faces in your own little way.
What’s the craziest thing the media has ever reported about you?
If I tell you, you won’t believe it but I have never seen any. Do you know why? It’s because whatever the press sees is news to them and when the press is talking about you, it is either good or bad and that’s because you are still relevant in your society, if you are not, the press will not say anything about you.
So I don’t see anything bad in whatever they report. More importantly, I love my job, I have passion for my job, so if I see anything as a problem, I am going to derail, I don’t see the negative side of it, instead, I focus on the positive side of it.
How long have you been in the movie industry and what’s that height you still feel you are yet to attain in your career?
I am just starting, I have been doing movies for twenty years now.
For twenty years, you have been entertaining your fans, did your parents support you in the beginning?
No
Did you ever overcome that and how? My father is late now, he wanted me to go back to school and be a newscaster.
Its just few years ago, that you will see a Nigerian parent encouraging their children to go into movies. Unlike before, you dared not. No one wanted to be associated with theatre practitioners. In my own case, before my father died, he had no choice. Eventually, he and my mum became my number one fans and today, she is eating the fruits of her labour.
What do you want to be remembered for?
Like I said earlier, in my own little way, I like putting smiles on people’s faces. God willing, I want to try and make few people, encourage those who are serious about taking up a career in acting.
This is because when it comes to acting, everybody wants to act, everybody wants to be an entertainer but I really want to help the serious ones. I am here today because my boss, late Mufutau Oladokun Babaalaran, encouraged me both in and outside the industry too.
What do you have to say to those coming up?
Don’t look up to me or to any individual, Look up to God. Any other Ronke Oshodi Oke in this industry is fake, it can’t last, because it is art. You must think, you must be creative; create your own thing, don’t try to be anyone, be yourself. And to my fans, I love them, without them, there’s no me. They are everything I am today.
I spend time with my family. People say I am homely; I don’t really like going out. I like watching movies and listening to music and I love my kitchen, as you can see, I’m very big
Your favourite perfumes and designers when it comes to fashion?
I am not a designer freak. Anything goes, so long as it is beautiful and cool. If it suits me and I’m comfortable in it, I’m fine with it.
What’s your take on nudity?
I don’t like it! I am a mother, its really sad that nudity is what most of our new actresses are promoting now.
Maybe if I was born twenty years ago, I might, you get what I am saying? But its not the way we were born and brought up. Of course, I am not just a Yoruba person, I am a woman of tradition and culture, why would I encourage or preach nudity?
It’s fake and that is what I tell people, we are Nigerians, we are African, we have got cultures and traditions here but we are derailing.
Exposure is fine, its a good thing to be exposed, but we are getting it wrong.
The indians, although, they have changed their style a little bit, you won’t see them encouraging nudity, and that is because they value their culture. So we too should not encourage it.
The Americans that are doing that, that is their way of life, that is the way they are brought up. Why do we have to emulate something that is not our culture?
What’s your life philosophy?
Be proud of yourself, be humble, be good to people, put smiles on people’s faces in your own little way.
What’s the craziest thing the media has ever reported about you?
If I tell you, you won’t believe it but I have never seen any. Do you know why? It’s because whatever the press sees is news to them and when the press is talking about you, it is either good or bad and that’s because you are still relevant in your society, if you are not, the press will not say anything about you.
So I don’t see anything bad in whatever they report. More importantly, I love my job, I have passion for my job, so if I see anything as a problem, I am going to derail, I don’t see the negative side of it, instead, I focus on the positive side of it.
How long have you been in the movie industry and what’s that height you still feel you are yet to attain in your career?
I am just starting, I have been doing movies for twenty years now.
For twenty years, you have been entertaining your fans, did your parents support you in the beginning?
No
Did you ever overcome that and how? My father is late now, he wanted me to go back to school and be a newscaster.
Its just few years ago, that you will see a Nigerian parent encouraging their children to go into movies. Unlike before, you dared not. No one wanted to be associated with theatre practitioners. In my own case, before my father died, he had no choice. Eventually, he and my mum became my number one fans and today, she is eating the fruits of her labour.
What do you want to be remembered for?
Like I said earlier, in my own little way, I like putting smiles on people’s faces. God willing, I want to try and make few people, encourage those who are serious about taking up a career in acting.
This is because when it comes to acting, everybody wants to act, everybody wants to be an entertainer but I really want to help the serious ones. I am here today because my boss, late Mufutau Oladokun Babaalaran, encouraged me both in and outside the industry too.
What do you have to say to those coming up?
Don’t look up to me or to any individual, Look up to God. Any other Ronke Oshodi Oke in this industry is fake, it can’t last, because it is art. You must think, you must be creative; create your own thing, don’t try to be anyone, be yourself. And to my fans, I love them, without them, there’s no me. They are everything I am today.
