Jumoke Olatunde George is a renowned actress who started acting at age 8. She features in hit movies emanating from both the Yoruba and English part of Nollywood. She was on top of her game before she left the industry for 14 years. After she came back, she has been the toast of the industry. In this interview, she speaks extensively about her career, why she left the industry for 14 years, and other sundry issues. Excerpts:
Let’s start with how you got into acting?
I actually started acting at the age of 8 with Nigerian Television Authority {NTA}, Ibadan. That was during a long term holiday. My father had a friend who I wouldn’t know if he is still alive or not because my father is late now. I think he had a crisis with a particular actor who was supposed to take the role which I was given. It was a stage drama during the Christmas period. The man met with my dad and pleaded before him to allow me to go with him that they were having a serious challenge with a kid actress who was meant for the role. The girl was very sick; my father had no choice than to release me because he never wanted to hurt his friend. That was how it started but you know, being a child, I didn’t have the opportunity to really go into it fully. But I started acting fully during my days in secondary school.
Which year was that?
Well, I am talking of 70s. There was this guy whom I can’t remember what his name is but we called him Water Aqua. He took me back to NTA Ibadan in the 70s to enroll in a drama troupe. I have forgotten the name but I remembered that from there I crossed over to Laolu Ogunlesi’s Theatre Group. After that, I moved to BCOS Ibadan. There was this particular day that I was done with my rehearsals and as I was about to leave the premises of BCOS, I saw this gentleman who was driving and he said hello fine girl, I have been watching you for quite a while at your rehearsals, where are you heading to? I responded with I am heading home. He gave me a ride and on our way, he said he has been watching me right from NTA that I will be a great actor in the future. He further asked if he could make me a cross over actress, I mean from English to Yoruba. I was so excited about the offer. He was the one who brought me to Yoruba movie industry. He is the one I regards as my boss till date. I am talking about Comrade Victor Ashaolu, the former ANTP President. I was under his tutelage for 11 years. Subsequently, I got my freedom.
How has the journey of over 40 years been since you started?
It has been tough and rough. But I thank God for his mercy because a lot of people who started after me are nowhere to be found now. Some are dead without seeing the limelight.
At a point you left the industry, what really happened?
You are very correct and thank you for the memory. I was out of the industry for about 14 good years. I really can’t point my finger on what happened for those years. I just noticed that directors and some of the producers stopped inviting me for jobs. But if you ask me, I will say it has to do with my attitude and my behaviour. There is no point in lying, a lot of directors and producers really wanted to date me which I stood my ground that such will not happen because that wasn’t the reason I joined the industry. I am from a very strict and disciplined home. My father retired as a colonel in the military and my step mother retired major. I grew up under those two. So, it wasn’t easy. A lot of things that I met with in the industry were things that didn’t really go down well with me. So, because I stood my ground that I won’t involve in this part, the hatred came. My stubbornness may have affected my career. Rather than reasoning well with me, they saw it as pride and stubbornness. For God’s sake, what is so special about me? I think the idea was if they could be dating people who are bigger than me, then what’s so special about me. That was the number one thing that pulled me down from progressing in acting. Then, I had 5 live programmes I was anchoring. I really didn’t miss acting because they believed they closed the door on my acting career, unknowing to them that God has really prepared an offer for me elsewhere.
How did you return into acting?
Believe me, my coming back; I really owe it to two people. I am seriously indebted to those two people and one of them is Alhaji Kazeem Afolayan, CEO Epsalum Movie Production. In 2011, I had a serious major operation but before that, there was this production I did, I took it to him for marketing and he bought it. Then, when he came to pay me a visit, he busted into tears, asking is that Jummy? And I said yes, the only thing you can do for me is to forget about your emotion, all I need now is money. So, he bought the movie from me because at that point in time, I really needed money. He gave me the money which I used to rectify my health issues. Later when I recovered, I called on him and said this is the time for me to go back into acting fully, just look at me, there is no helper, I am a single mother, not even a boyfriend. He now said sister don’t worry, I will do all I can to assist you, to make sure you get back on the track but first of all, just take care of yourself. So, I was on his neck, I didn’t give him any breathing space. There was this job he called me for; he was the one who penciled down my name for the job. It was on that set that I met Okiki Afolayan who is now my director. The movie was Liz Da Silva’s job which was titled Inu Fufu. Since then, Okiki has been calling me for jobs. Also, any movie that is coming from Epsalum movie Productions, he makes sure I take part except If I am busy working on another set or he doesn’t see any suitable role for me in the storyline of the flick.
What role would you say your character as a severe woman has on your love life?
My being strict affected my love life. Actually, I am a single parent but I wouldn’t say my strictness is responsible for my status as a single mother. If you are a kind of person who speaks the truth without minding the consequence, definitely you will have problems. So, I will say that is my major problem. I say it as it is. I do what I believe in and I stand on the truth. Honestly, this question should be a topic for another day.
