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"I Consider Myself a Professional" - Segun Arinze
26 March, 2006 03:56:00
L. A. Khiran (Khamileon)
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Segun Arinze
Most Nigerian directors and producers like stereotypes because they are lazy and don’t want stress. They want the easy way out. I am not a typecast. They should be more daring and look for, and work on new talents...
He is called the Original “Bad Boy” of Nollywood. Ex husband of one of Nollywood’s hottest Actresses, Ann Njemanze (before her accident). The “Voice” heard on hundreds of Nigerian movie jingles, award winning Actor Segun Arinze is more than these. Unknown to many of his young fans, Segun Arinze is also an outstanding musician. Naijarules caught up with him to discuss the growing Nigerian Movie industry (Nollywood) his Love Life, Ambition and his upcoming album. Below are excerpts from the Interview done for Naijarules.com by L. A. Khiran (Khamileon). Enjoy!
MR SEGUN ARINZE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO NAIJARULES!
Thank you!
YOU HAVE A YORUBA AND IGBO NAME, PLEASE TELL US YOUR STATE OF ORIGIN AND WHERE YOU COME FROM ORIGINALLY
Am from Badagry, Lagos state. My mum is Igbo and my dad Yoruba, though he’s late. The name came as a result of my then music label, premier records who felt Segun Aina sounded jujuish or should in I say fujiish, and they wanted curiosity and controversy to the name because they were creating a pop singer. Well the name stuck! SEGUN ARINZE!
TODAY YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND POPULAR NIGERIAN MOVIE STARS, HOW DID IT ALL START.
It started some 20 years ago when I met a friend way back in Ilorin, Kwara State his name, Ayo Orowale. He introduced me to the theatre and we formed a playgroup called Palm Players. Ever since there has been no going back! I knew I loved acting and I was going to be an actor so when the opportunity came I went on to read drama at Unife, now Obafemi Awolowo university. I thank God for blessing me with so much talent sometimes am bawled over by it all. I mean I can sing, act, write copies and scripts, do voice over, produce and direct sometimes do PR work when I find the time.
IN THE MOVIE “SILENT NIGHT” YOU PLAYED A VILLIAN AND SINCE THEN YOU HAVE MOSTLY BEEN CAST AS A VILLIAN. DO YOU THINK THIS HAS AFFECTED YOUR ACTING ABILITY AND STEROETYPED YOU?
Playing villain doesn’t make me one and I don’t let it get to me. I consider myself a professional, doing his job, I see myself as a ‘method actor’ I can play ten bad boy roles in ten different ways. Most Nigerian directors and producers like stereotypes because they are lazy and don’t want stress. They want the easy way out because they shoot for 7 days, no time to work on any greenhorn so they try to mould what is professionally known in theatre as ‘stock character’ in common parlance its called ‘stereotype’. I am not a typecast. They should be more daring and look for, and work on new talents.
WHICH IS THE MOST CHALLENGING MOVIE YOU HAVE EVER DONE AND WHY?
All roles are challenging. Depends on how you as the actor approach the role. For me KG in Kingsley Ogoro`s THE RETURN was hectic and tedious, we shot for close to 5 years, things kept on changing and we had to adapt to these challenges, both human and unforeseen and we lost 4 souls in the course of the movie, but it paid off in the end we got 17 nominations, 11 awards, I won best actor at the 2004 Reel Awards, even though some people disagreed because they felt the character was a psycho and mean but hey! Who cares! Denzel won an Oscar for playing a bad cop in Training Day. People are used to seeing good and romantic boys win, acting is an art.
NAME THREE DIRECTORS IN NOLLYWOOD THAT YOU TRULY ADMIRE.
Tade Ogidan, Tunde Kelani And Kingsley Ogoro
GIVEN THE NECESSARY FUNDS, I BELIEVE IZU OJUKWU IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW DIRECTORS THAT COULD MAKE AN IMPACT INTERNATIONALY, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIM AS A DIRECTOR.
He’s a director for the future. I like what he did with ACROSS THE NIGER from the stable of Kingsley Ogoro. Yes given the right support he would go places.
THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS FACING THE NIGERIAN MOVIE INDUSTRY BUT TO YOU, WHICH IS THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEM?
Quality movies, right marketing approach, piracy by video clubs and of course paying talents royalties. But we would get there some day after all Rome wasn’t built in a day.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BANNING OR BLACKLISTING OF SOME ACTORS?
Simply put, Crazy! It sucks … Well its all about politics of the industry it will blow away.
PERSONALY I FEEL THE MARKETERS AND ACTORS MUST SHARE THE BLAME ON THIS, BUT STILL I THINK IT IS BARBARIC TO BAN ANY ACTOR. AS A BUSINESSMAN YOUR FIRST CONCERN SHOULD BE THE WISH OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Like I said it will pass.
GENEVIEVE NNAJI IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOVIE STARS IN AFRICA. BOTH AFRICANS AT HOME AND IN THE DIASPORA WANT TO SEE GENEVIEVE, OMOTOLA, RMD, PETE EDOCHIE AND THE OTHER ACTORS BACK IN MOVIES. BUT IT’S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS NOT HAPPENING ANY TIME SOON, SO WHAT COULD THE FANS DO TO RESOLVE THIS DEADLOCK?
For now nothing! They should be patient the process of reconciliation has begun I know for a fact as an ex officio of AGN that Ejieke Asiegbu and his team are working on this. They will be back soon! Ramsey is back same with Emeka Ike and Jim Iyke.
I AM STILL ON THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ONLY FRUSTRATED BUT ALSO VERY ANGRY THAT THEIR FAVOURITE STARS WERE BLACKLISTED. THERE IS THIS GUY CALLED MEDDEN (Mohammed) THAT IS READY TO KICK THE MARKETERS BUTT, COULD YOU AT LEAST PASS THE MESSAGE TO THE MARKETERS TO DIALOGUE AND BREAK THIS DEADLOCK?
We are working.
BACK TO YOU, WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIP WITH ANNE NJEMANZE YOUR PREVIOUS WIFE? DID YOU VISIT HER WHEN SHE HAD THE ACCIDENT?
We are still clad and cast in iron! Nothing to add she still remains the mother of my daughter and one of the finest actresses to come out of Nollywood. Wish her all the best.
SHE USED TO BE ONE OF THE HOTTEST ACTRESSES, BUT WE DON’T SEE SO MUCH OF HER ANYMORE, DO YOU THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER ACCIDENT?
I guess she’s repackaging! She will definitely return soon.
IS THERE A NEW GIRL IN YOUR LIFE, IF YES ANY PLANS FOR MARRIAGE?
In God’s time!
SOME PEOPLE ARE ALREADY PREDICTING THE END OF NOLLYWOOD, WHILE OTHERS FEEL PEOPLE FROM THE WESTERN WORLD MIGHT ACTUALLY TAKE OVER SINCE THIS IS A MULTI-BILLON DOLLAR INDUSTRY. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?
We just started the industry has a lot to offer.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, ACTORS/ACTRESSES ARE BRANCHING INTO MUSIC, SO FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW YOUR BACKGROUND IN MUSIC IT IS PROPER YOU EXPLAIN AND TELL US HOW YOU GOT INTO THE MUSIC WORLD.
I had my first album in 1992 called DREAMS under premier music, before then I had done quite a number of jingles and soundtracks. I also co wrote and performed the theme song for the maiden edition of the Nigerian music awards in 1991/92 as well as the fame music awards of the same year.
WHY DID IT TAKE YOU SO LONG TO RECORD ANOTHER ALBUM?
I needed to make an inroad into acting. Now am in the mood to sing again my new single is currently enjoying good airplay on radio and the reception has been tremendous. Tuface Idibia and Sunny Nneji featured on a track called “Power to say no’ while Mike Aremu plays soprano sax on the ballad “Love me tonight” The full album will be out April 2006.
DID YOU WRITE ALL YOUR SONGS?
No! Kola Munis wrote power to say no. Alex Onome wrote “Duro” there is also a remix of ‘”Nwanyi nganga” from my debut album and a duet with Stella Damasus Aboderin called “Dream come true” also a remix from my first album and a cover version of Celestine Ukwu`s Onwunwa [temptation] we have made an album that covers hip hop, highlife, ballads what some people here in Naija call blues. We look forward to a wonderful album.
WHO PRODUCED THIS ALBUM?
Sammie okposo and albert kalu with me as co producer and kingsley ogoro as supervising producer. Am on ojez music. It’s a 3 year contract and 2 albums.
I WAS WITH YOU IN THE STUDIO AND HEARD SOME OF YOUR NEW MUSIC, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPRESSIVE. MY FAVOURITE IS THE BALLAD AND THE DUET WITH 2FACE AND SUNNY NNEJI. DO YOU ALSO HAVE A FAVOURITE, IF YES WHICH IS IT?
I try not to do that so I don’t bias my audience.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR ALBUM IS, THE ARTIST MUST ALSO MAKE AN OUTSTANDING VIDEO TO HELP PUSH THE ALBUM. SO WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR MAKING GOOD VIDEO CLIPS?
We already shot some clips in London with Tuface and would be completing work here in Naija with Sunny Nneji as well. Am sure fans wont be disappointed when the videos come out because we are making a mini docu to go with it.
AGAIN YOU MIGHT HAVE A VERY GOOD ALBUM, BUT IF YOU DON’T HAVE A SOLID COMPANY BEHIND YOU, THE ALBUM MIGHT FLOP, SO WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESNT HAPPEN.
Ojez are capable, marketing and distribution wise. We are exploiting all avenues.
I HEARD YOUR SINGLE IS RECEIVING MASSIVE AIRPLAY, HOW ARE NIGERIANS RECEIVING IT?
Tremendous! It’s been awesome I have also tested some of the songs out in public performances and it was well received.
WHEN IS THE ALBUM GOING TO BE RELEASED OFFICIALLY?
APRIL 2006.
AFTER THIS ALBUM, WHAT IS THE NEXT BIG THING WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM SEGUN ARINZE?
Promote the album, go on the road! Am back! Hey watch out for my new TV show soon.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY BUSY SCHEDULE BUT I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE SOME TIME OUT TO CHAT WITH YOUR FANS ON NAIJARULES, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEM WANT TO CHAT WITH YOU. THE OWNER OF THE SITE (SOLA OSOFISAN) CAN ARRANGE THAT WHEN YOU ARE READY
Whenever just let me know my fans made me what I am today I owe them that obligation!
THERE IS THIS TALK THAT YOU ALSO WANT TO GO INTO POLITICS; COULD YOU PLEASE SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS?
No comment.
ANY LAST WORDS TO YOUR FANS?
God bless you all abundantly!
IT’S BEEN A PLEASURE TALKING WITH YOU. WE GO BLOCK FOR ABU SIDE WHEN I LAND
Thanks! I dey wait o!
@ 2006 L . A . KHIRAN (KHAMILEON)
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Comments (2 posted):
I want to have his mobile .
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