TUNDE AKINGBADE
Posted to the Web: Sunday, March 25, 2007
Vagina Monologues is a stage play by Eve Ensler which documents the experiences of women who had been abused through rape, genital mutilation, incest, etc. The play was performed in Lagos last year and its back again this year. Amongst the casts are Iyabo Amoke, daugher of Dr. Bode Olajumoke, who does not want to walk under the shadows of her father and Najite Dede, daughter of an ambassador who also prefers to carve a niche for herself without drawing from the family’s image and strength. Iyabo, a trained lawyer and a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), has performed in productions such as Drew Ackroyd’s “The Destiny of Me” (at the Finsborough Theatre), Jenny Lipman’s “A midsummer Night’s Dream” (MacOwen Theatre), Matt Gray’s “The Atheist’s Tragedy” (Chiswick Theatre), and Toni Phillips’ “Omodo” (Radcliffe Theatre), Ahmed Yerima’s “Death and The King’s Horseman”, Awoba Bob-Manuel’s “Shylock” and KIND’s Nigerian staging of the world famous “Vagina Monologues”. Najite Dede, who has degrees in law and theatre arts has performed in “Upside Your Head Show”, “All About Ere”, “Prince of the Savannah”, and “Bar Beach Blues”. They both spoke to Tunde Akingbade on several issues including performances on stage. Excerpts:
NAJITE DEDE
Tell us about yourself and what you do?
I am an actress. I am also a dancer. I have been a columnist and scriptwriter, many times. I am divesting myself from a lot of these things. I am now just focusing on directing and acting.
What are you doing right now?
I am taking a break. In December, I finished a play, Voice for Ella, and I am looking at another project right now.
What’s Voice for Ella about?
It’s an adaptation of Cinderella and I played the wicked stepmother there.
How were you able to play that role as a young lady?
You find the truth at the character and once you understand what motivates the character you’re given, you will be able to play it regardless of her age or background or anything.
Were you the producer or director?
I was just a member of the cast, Solomon Macaulay was director. It was produced by Tam Media; the executive producer was Isioma Atte. She had wanted to put on something for her children, something to motivate them during the Christmas season. Cinderella is a story that has appealed to children for generations. The play is an adaptation or a Nigerianization of the Cinderella story and what happened. And it was a lot of fun.
Where was it staged?
It was staged at the National Theatre, Muson Centre and the Civic Centre in Victoria Island.
How was the response?
Oh, very good. We didn’t get as many people as we would have loved since for some reasons people don’t seem to have the liver for stage plays, but people did come to enjoy themselves. Some people even came more than once. There was a lot of publicity for the play. I think, it is something that is begging for attention. The hall is rolling and I think we’ll have more people coming out to watch stage plays.
It appears stage is your focus?
Yes, my focus basically is stage plays. I haven’t done many films. I have done only six films. The last one was Thirty Days; for many years, stage play has been my love and I stuck to it.
People now focus on the home video; it has taken over from stage plays?
Well, of course, the process of making films is a little easier than what you require for stage plays. People who make movies here have been able to catch the interest of Nigerians and you have had an up and down situation with Nollywood. It’s easier to do, not easier to work in. But it’s just easier to produce, that’s all.
What is your impression of the entertainment industry in Nigeria?
(Laughs) First of all, before Nollywood was Nollywood, when you had stuff like Violated, Hostages and some films made by Mainframe, yes, I was excited. There was a gap between movies made by Hubert Ogunde and others’. And in late 1980s and 1990s, the films that came out were not great. Then they now went into a slump where it seemed that people who didn’t know what they were doing and were just churning out films and frankly I think they were whole lot of rubbish. But I realised that everything comes in stages and we had to go through that process. And now, more and more Nigerian audiences are more sophisticated, a lot more demanding, not just excited about seeing themselves. That has passed. They really want their stories to make sense. They really want to identify with stories, so people who are making movies now have to be up and doing if they want to stay in business.
Which schools did you attend?
I was at International School, Ibadan, (ISI), and then University of Ibadan.
Did you spend all your educational years in Ibadan?
Not all the years. I grew up in many different countries. My father was in the foreign service but as for schooling, I will say I was an Ibadan girl, yes.
Who is your father?
He was an ambassador. He is retired now; we were in Australia, in U.K., in Brazil and Ethiopia.
Of all the countries, which one is so memorable to you?
If I was going to live anywhere else apart from Nigeria, I will live in Brazil. That was the place that touched me; maybe because, in many ways, they are a lot like Nigerians. They are Africans, basically. There is Yoruba presence there. The weather, the people, their attitude, everything is nice and they are a big developing nation. They are making all kinds of strides that I can identify with. It’s a lovely place.
How old are you?
(Laughs) I don’t mind answering that question. I am in my 30s.
Are you married?
I am not married but I am spoken for.
Explain to us?
I am spoken for.
When do we expect the bells to ring?
It will be a surprise.
What are your comments on the issue of sexual harassment in the movie industry?
I have no personal experience of this, but it is not different from any industry. It happens everywhere. It happens in any endeavour in Nigeria, whether you are a banker or in any trade. It is an abuse of power if it is going on. I think it takes a very weak person to use his position as a producer or director to demand sexual favour. Shame on you. But, as a person who is looking for a job as an actress, it’s up to you to decide what you want and what is available. Is it work? I suppose there may be female actresses who are using that as a means of getting the job over somebody else. I think it works two ways. Very few people are exploited. I am not saying they are not. If it happens, you can refuse. It’s entirely up to the people involved.
Who is your mum?
She is Mrs. Dede. She is retired as well.
Tell us more about her?
No, I like keeping my parents and siblings out of the equation.
Why do writers and artistes keep sealed lips over their families?
If you think about how much publicity writers and celebrities get, you really don’t want to get your family involved. There is a certain level of invasion of privacy. And you would not want your family to be involved.
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