Nollywood Producers are Lazy - Segun Arinze

Segun Arinze (pix: Segun Arinze photographers)

Segun Arinze, a.k.a. “Black Arrow”, is one of the true Nollywood veterans. A trained actor, he opens up to Ahaoma Kanu on the Nigerian movie industry and his ‘bad boy’ image.

You have been talking about your new album for some time now, what’s holding the release?

The album is being delayed because we had to go back to the drawing board, some things were not right. My fans should be patient because I will be out with the album.

What type of songs are in the album?

The album is called In the mood and contains Hip - Hop, R&B, soulful ballads and of course some African stuff as well. I performed some of the tracks on stage at the Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) in Abuja.

You seem too multi-talented; singer, actor, TV presenter, etc. Can you briefly tell us how you started?

I started way back in the 80s as a singer; we used to be on NTA Ilorin then doing Youth Scene. Then I started acting because of a friend Ayo Orowale; he is in Silverbird now. He introduced me to theatre. Since then I have not looked back and I would say it paid off a great deal. Eventually I went on to study Dramatic arts at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University. I trained under Chuck Mike, an American director and also Gbenga Richards. Today I feel fulfilled because I am doing what I enjoy doing.

Have you always wanted to be in the entertainment industry?

Of course, I have always wanted to be in entertainment; I write, sing, produce and direct. I also do talk shows and when I find the time, I try to do public relations too.

You seem to be the most prominent artiste involved with commercials. What stands you out?

I cannot ascribe it to any thing but God. I believe he has a great purpose for me.

What do you regard as your greatest asset?

My talent, the things I told you I can do are due to my talent.

What other profession would you have loved to be in if you were not in the arts?

If I was not into entertainment, I would have loved to be a naval officer. I love the white uniform. I love to explore and all that but I wouldn’t have been a good officer.

Why?

I think I would be looking at the entertainment section of the navy.

You were once nursing the political ambition to become a member of the House of Reps; do you still plan to actualise this ambition?

Yes I am still working on that but the terrain isn’t so conducive for me to do that but I am in the background. I will be doing my work and consultations and when the time is right I will come out. Let’s see how the next dispensation will be after the first four years.

Why do you want to serve in the legislative arm of government?

Maybe because I am a politically aware person; I am a political animal and like to be aware of the situation in my country. I like laws and I will like to make laws that bring benefit to the people. I will like to see change in the society. I will like to see the constitution reviewed and be a part of that by making inputs.

How do you react to the general view that you always play the bad boy role in the movies you star in?

That is a misconception. I am an actor first and foremost, a professional actor. I keep saying that when you cast someone in a movie as a devil, it does not mean that the person acting is the devil neither is the person playing God, God. Somebody has to do the dirty job.

Even in football, you have somebody who does the dirty job; Garba Lawal is a utility player and he does the dirty jobs. Why do you think coaches always put him on to play? It’s because he delivers.

I am first and foremost an actor, primarily that’s my major concern and I want to deliver, I want to see my self doing my job; whether you begin to look at me as a bad boy, that’s your own business, it is your cup of tea. For me I have done my job and I have gotten paid and gone away. Check this out, all over the world, people who play the bad guys are the nicest people in reality and the guys that play the good guys are the meanest.

Do you ask for these roles?

I don’t ask for them, it’s just the lack of initiative of producers and directors. They are very lazy. They don’t want to explore and look for new talents. There are thousands of Segun Arinzes out there; there is a thousand RMDs, Ramsey Nouahs, Genevieves, Omotolas, and Desmond Elliots all over Nigeria that you can seek and get out but because they are lazy, they want to stereotype you; they will say who can play bad boy? Get Segun Arinze; who can play wicked woman? Bring Patience Ozokwor; who can play good boy? Go and get RMD. It is crazy. They need to explore. That’s why I really admire these reality shows they do to discover new talent for example Next Movie Star, Amstel Box Office etc.

For me it’s not just about winning prizes, these guys are not just utilized. You make them stars but then you have to get these people and utilize them. Push them to act roles in movies. Thrust them forward but we find out this is not the case, the old faces still appear in your everyday movie. It’s not about the winner of the reality show winning price money and car without any managerial clause to the contract to help the person grow progressively in the industry, no. I have had the opportunity of talking with two of such winners and sometimes you find out that these talents are empty upstairs. There is need to nurture them to stand because they have not got the focus or ideas, they just find themselves winning something and don’t know how to harness it.

You had this programme No holds Barred. What informed you to start it?

Like I said, I am a politically aware animal and I like to be involved in my environment. I always loved talk shows like Larry King, Oprah Winfrey, Bisi Olatilo, even our man in CNN, Reuben’s Comedy Central Stewart, he is a comedian but political too. I like to talk, I watched talk shows on BBC and I just wanted to do that and I tried it and it worked.

Why was the show rested?

Because of politics. I wouldn’t want to go into that. The politics involved in programming and some shenanigans that wouldn’t let me be. I just let it be but I will come back this year with the programme and it will be shown; bolder, bigger and more interesting. My fans should watch out for it. Everybody should be mindful because am coming back with a bomb. Once I drop my album that is the next thing am facing full time and this time nobody’s going to stop me.

How do you give back to the society?

I do charity events once in a while. I also go on seminars to teach and to educate people, the younger ones especially. I tell them to keep to the straight and normal path.

Outside entertainment and Arts, who is Segun Arinze?

Segun Arinze is just a simple guy. Sometimes people look at me and say I am arrogant but do you think I am? If you do then I guess you have a problem with yourself. Just because you know me doesn’t allow you to ascribe that word arrogance to me. When people get closer to me, they get surprised and say, “Ah, you are like this?” Just because I am an actor trying to be myself and for the fact that you are my fan, you expect me to be happy, receptive and laughing at every point, then you are wrong because I am a human being; I have blood running inside me as well. Some of my fans are nice but some are very unruly; you meet them along the street and they say nasty things about you.

Let me give you an example Kanu, I was at Adeniran Ogunsanya, at Tasty Fried Chicken the other day with a friend and there was this cripple on a roller board and he came over to me and was talking blah blah blah! I was on the phone and he kept on. I finished my call and ignored the guy. The next thing he blurted out that for the kind of roles I play on screen, he hopes that they will shoot me in real life.

Now if i was a crazy person and reacted to that, people wouldn’t see why.