Comedian, actor, director, compere, dancer and entrepreneur, Basorge Tariah, recently returned to television as the title character in the series, Do Good, on DStv. He tells OLUMIDE IYANDA about the comeback and the lessons from the illness that could have taken his life.
Whose idea was it to bring Do Good back to TV as a standalone show?
It was my idea. It has always been my idea to bring it back, but I had to partner with M-net.
It’s been more than 15 years; did you always know Do Good was going to return to television?
No one was sure Do Good was going to return to television because it was actually a part of Candlelight. I didn’t create the character. The character was created by Zeb Ejiro. I needed his consent, which I go, for what we are doing now. The content as it is now is mine.
What is the difference between the Do Good of Candlelight and the one currently on DStv?
Do Good is a bit more sophisticated and flamboyant now. He has supposedly travelled to France and is back as a mechanic. He is now a man of his own. The only thing that is the same between the character back then and now is that he is still in love with Emem.
Did people stop calling you Do Good all the years the character was rested?
Everywhere I go it has always been Do Good. Many who were in Nigeria when I acted the role back then have relocated to other countries especially in Europe and America. When I run into some of them outside the country they still call me Do Good. Whenever I tell people my name is Basorge they say “Na Do Good we know you as”. That does not make me a stereotype because I have interpreted many roles in different productions. But I won’t argue with the audience if they believe this is my most entertaining character. The best thing for me is to tap into that which gives me comparative advantage over others.
You were practically out of circulation before the launch of Do Good on DStv. What was happening to you?
That started with my illness when I had deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I decided I had to take life easy and look after myself. With that illness came a lot of revelation about life, relationship and the industry. Thereafter, I made a decision to focus on working and taking care of my family without having to impress anybody or do anything flamboyant. I also tried to get close to politics. It wasn’t about having an ambition to run for a political office, but I had a friend whom I believe I needed to support. That took me closer to Rivers State back then. I have always been a believer in the philosophy of (former Governor Rotimi) Amaechi in the area of development, not necessarily political outlook. I felt there was a need to support his idea. So that took me away from Lagos for a while. Most importantly, I needed to simmer down and decide which projects I wanted to be involved in as an artiste. I tried starting a record label which is still in existence but it has not made the kind of headway I wanted. I needed something to re-launch, re-define and re-establish me, and Do Good was that project.
Did you isolate from your fraternity in the entertainment industry after your illness because you had something against people?
I didn’t have anything against anybody. I just suddenly realised that when you are down you are alone.
What happened?
I was ill like I told you. You would think people you consider your own would be concerned about you or your family when you are not doing too good, but that was not the case. Thankfully, I had saved some money to take care of my family. Again, I will never deny the support of Governor Amaechi and a few other people at that time. I am grateful to be here because a lot of people don’t survive the stage of DVT that I had. I didn’t have bitterness against anybody but we don’t need to fool ourselves. You have to realise you are alone and open your eyes to the things that are really important.
Your illness must have been really sobering
It was, and scary too. I was with some fellow entertainers in London when I had a heart attack and they all left the room where we were without asking what was happening to me. These were people I called friends. These were people I travelled thousands of miles for to attend their events. My brother, there is no love in this industry. There is too much bitter rivalry. Outside that, there is so much ignorance about what we are and what we should be to one another. Entertainers should look out for each other, after all some people looked after the industry in the past so we could have what we have today. Olumide, you and I have known each other for years, and you know I am a loyal friend. If I told you I would do something you held me to it. I won’t say you have to give me something. I don’t do jibiti. I like to fly straight. That was why what happened hit me so much. You remember I was ill when my friend Joe Adekwagh died but I flew in to do all I could during and after his burial. I have lost contact with his son Mohammed but I would love to do whatever I can for his family. That is what friendship should be about. But in this industry, when you are going down another person is happy and sees that as an opportunity for him to go up.
Will you be more visible on the social scene now with Do Good back on TV?
Apparently, I will. Not because I am given to it but the job demands it. M-net, with whom I have a contract, will expect that I promote the work. I am happy to be back but I am back a wiser man.
So you consider this a comeback
It is a comeback for me, and a good one at that. It is not just a comeback as an actor; it is a comeback as a writer, as a producer and as a total creator of content. Of course I have always done things like compere events which are not largely publicised. I could have done one or two movies, but to tap into the totality of what we have in showbiz and all the opportunities available you need something consistent. And that is what Do Good with M-net is for me. This work will speak for itself. It will stand the test of time, even if I have to stop doing it some years down the line.
How will you compare working with Kate Henshaw back then and now?
Kate is a consummate professional, a workaholic. She looks younger than she did 16 years ago, and has grown in terms of interpreting roles. Very few can match her ability as an actress. It is fantastic working with her.
