I don’t insult male admirers anymore – Bukky Awoyemi, aka Arugba...

Bukky Awoyemi became popular when she acted the lead role in Tunde Kelani’s epic film, Arugba. In this interview with ADEOLA BALOGUN, she speaks on her acting career

How did you start acting?

My first appearance in a movie was in ‘Away from Father’. It was also the first film produced by the filmmaker in Ilorin. I went for an audition which was quite challenging but fortunately I was picked. I had always seen myself becoming an actress from childhood. For some, it may be a fantasy but I have always believed in acting. I would imitate whatever I watched on TV as a child and sometimes, I would gather my brothers and cousins and act out dramas.

When you were growing up and more mature, were you not bothered about the negative perception people have about actresses being loose characters?

I was kind of bothered, I wouldn’t lie; but it rather made me stronger and more determined to make a difference. People may have their own reasons for having such perceptions but I told myself that I could make a difference and stand out. I made up my mind to be an actress with a difference which I have been trying to do. Those who have the impression that those into acting are loose or prostitutes should have a rethink. We are professionals using our God-given talents. Gone were the days when actresses were not educated; today’s actresses are highly educated and morally upright. I don’t know what would have become of my life if my parents refused to allow me go into acting based on the impression that actresses are prostitutes. My mother had always seen the talent in me right from when I was in primary school. As a teacher, she encouraged me to embrace the arts when I wanted to go for the sciences, thinking that people only reckoned with science students as brilliant. Even our school counsellors encouraged me to pursue my dreams to be in the arts. And when the opportunity came to study theatre arts, I embraced it with open arms and my parents supported me.

So what difference have you made now?

By the grace of God, I am a role model to so many young people and even upcoming actresses. I have been invited to schools to make a speech and sometimes, I get phone calls from people who tell me to keep on what I am doing. Even older people tell me to keep doing what I am doing both on stage and off the screen. Like the girl staying with me now, I met her as a student of LASPOTECH when they were putting up a programme called the Lady Ambassador; but before then, she had seen me on screen. I was invited and I made a speech that day. Now she is a graduate and she sees me as her role model.

How was the beginning?

Looking back at those times in Ilorin when I used to picture myself becoming an actress, it was like it would take me up to maybe 20 years before I would have a breakthrough. I knew the dream would come to pass but I didn’t know it would come earlier.

Before your adventure in Arugba, did you plan to go into Yoruba movies?

Actually when I wanted to go into the industry, I had my eyes on the English genre of Nollywood but I said if I would do Yoruba films at all, it would have to be on Mainframe Productions. When I first visited Lagos, I came purposely to look for Mainframe office. Then I didn’t know anywhere in Lagos, I looked for the address on the jacket of one of its movies and traced it. When I met Tunde Kelani, I told him what I wanted, that I would like to feature in Mainframe’ films. Then he was not working on anything but I didn’t relent. That was in 2004 when I was still an undergraduate. I came back for about two or three times before I was given something to work on for Arugba.

Did you think you could fit into the Arugba role?

The first question TK asked me was whether I could speak undiluted Yoruba at all from the way I was talking. He said, ‘Oyinbo e yii poju’ (You speak fluent English) but because I knew what I wanted, I started talking to impress him that I could speak good Yoruba. I told him that we did ‘Efunsetan Aniwura’ in school, which was in Yoruba all through. He then gave me a script to study and auditioned me alongside other ladies. I didn’t know he would give me a leading role for the first time and when he did, I saw it as a golden opportunity. I would have been satisfied if he had given me a waka pass so far as I appeared in Mainframe films but I thank God the way things turned out. He gave me the script to take back to Ilorin where I studied the character of Adetutu, the Arugba.

Were you compelled by the role of the Arugba to undergo the HIV screening that you did?

No, I wasn’t. We shot some scenes at the NACA office (National Agency for the Control of AIDS). You know there is a scene in Arugba where the Arugba went for an HIV test with her friend. Because we shot in the office, we used the opportunity to get ourselves get tested. Most times, we don’t practise what we preach. In the movie, we preached to the audience to go and check their HIV status.  I knew my status then but in the movie, we advised people to go for periodic check-ups. So, I decided to do a  fresh check.

Were you not scared to do that?

Of course, I was scared, I won’t lie. I am sure TK too was scared because it would not be palatable if the cast tested positive. God forbid, if we tested positive, the production would have come to nought. But all of us proved negative and we were greatly relieved.

Why were you scared?

Most times when I went for manicure and pedicure, I got myself injured and it was said that people could get infected through such. Since then, I made up my mind that henceforth, I would have to go for manicure and pedicure with my own kits, which I think  is important.

Why did you decide to become a film producer as a young actress?

Back in school, I wrote a play while we were doing play writing but immediately we graduated, I started thinking of becoming a story teller even though in a small way. I felt that I had a message and the only way I think I can pass such a message to the world was through acting and film making.

At the time you were playing the role of Arugba, would you say you were as innocent as the personality of Arugba?

Well, inasmuch as I would not like to talk about myself, most of my close friends told me then why I decided to act myself out in the movie. They said I acted my real me in the movie as Arugba and I want to believe they have their reasons for saying so.

Since your exposure in Arugba, how have you been handling male admirers?

Before I started acting, men had always asked me out and then, it was a game of ‘yes’ or ‘no’. But the way I used to say my ‘no’ is different from the way I say it now. Then, I didn’t care whether I said it politely or not. But now that one is known, I am a bit diplomatic and polite the way I say ‘no’. I try as much as possible to say ‘no’ in a very polite way because people who ask you out are your fans and at the same time your suitors. So even if they don’t have you as their spouse, they still remain your fans. I am a woman; I need a man, no doubt about it. The only way you can be a well respected role model, especially in our society, is to be able to do well in your profession and in your marriage. I don’t believe in being a single lady and I am sure those who find themselves in such a situation didn’t plan it that way.

Are you not in a relationship?

Well, I don’t want to talk about that but I know that I will definitely get married and I can get married to anybody. My feelings will determine who I get married to.

Have you experienced a situation where you were asked to give something to be featured in films as a woman?

Well, it happens everywhere but as I said earlier, it is a game of ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I don’t think you have to give anything to get a role more than your talent. I think it is those who don’t believe in themselves or who don’t have talents that would give something to get a role. If a producer asks me to act a role and he still feels I should give something else, then I will say ‘sorry’ and walk out.

Can you play any role?

Well, as an actress, I can act in any role but I cannot do just anything. I can act as a good girl, a bad girl or a mother or a child. I don’t want to be seen as a stereotype; I don’t want people to see me always as that gentle and nice girl in movies. I have been involved in movies where I acted different roles, some as a bad girl and all that. But I can’t act nude or expose myself unduly. I love to act romantic roles. Like in Arugba, there is romance. But I can play a love role very well to a convincing level that you would find it difficult not to believe I am actually in love with the guy in real life. That is acting. But I don’t have to go nude or expose my body to convince you that I can act love roles, no. Though I am not against those who do so.

How do you handle your fans?

Even before Arugba came out, it was very difficult for me to walk around. Maybe I wasn’t ready for the fame then because I felt so embarrassed when I was nearly mobbed. It wasn’t easy for me because I had always been a private person. But along the line after I met with older and more popular colleagues, I have learnt how to live with it now. I have learnt how to laugh and wave even when I am not in the mood to laugh.

What is the name of your upcoming movie?

It is called ‘Igba nbajo’, a Yoruba film and it is coming out next month. It is a story of a girl who grew up with her mother. She didn’t have fatherly love and she believes a woman can survive alone without a man. I wrote the story and acted the lead role. In the movie, the girl witnesses the trauma her mother went through as a woman and she makes up her mind not to get married. But along the line, she meets a psychologist who talks to her that all men are not the same. It is a story that advises parents to be conscious of what they do in the presence of their children.