QED Online recently caught up with actor, director and producer, Muyiwa Ademola, at a movie location in Ikorodu, Lagos. And the 44-year-old graciously opened up to Bisola Bello about his family, career, legacy and the challenges that come with his trade.
We know Muyiwa Ademola as an actor, director, husband and father. What else don’t we know about you?
You know it all, anyway. I’m Muyiwa Ademola. People call me Muy Authentic. I would have said you are going to see me as a singer but unfortunately I don’t sing. I act, direct, produce and write stories. I am a husband. I am also a teacher because I have a grammar school that I teach at.
You read adult education at the University of Ibadan, what prompted you to go into acting?
I have been in the industry years before I went back to school. I started the job 24 years ago and I went back to the university in 2003. Specifically I started in 1991. I had already spent 12 years in the industry before I went back to school. I joined the industry based on talent. The Yoruba movie industry recruits based on talent. At a point in time I just thought that I shouldn’t put all my eggs in a basket and that was why I decided to opt out for another course.
What does 24 years in the industry feel like?
It feels great I must tell you. I have so many people that have passed through me; the likes of Ijebu, Mercy Ebosele and so on. It’s good to know that after many years in the industry I have people I have trained doing very well.
You celebrated your ninth wedding anniversary recently, what does it feel like to be married as an actor?
Well, we thank God. It’s all about grace, and you know it’s not easy – the job, your family and all that. But when it comes to the pillar, my real support, I always give it to my family because they suffer the most. I try as much as possible to prevent that but there are prices you pay for fame. They are paying the price of their husband and father being in the industry. But still, I thank God. Every year that I have to celebrate my wedding anniversary, I appreciate it even more.
How do you react to female fans?
This is something as actors we’ve been handling for a while now. So, what we do is make sure that the handshake doesn’t go beyond the handshake.
What are the challenges you face in the movie industry?
Piracy! That’s the greatest challenge. Another thing is that the government does not really recognise what we do as anything big. They are not supporting us or giving us any form of attention. It is the same with the corporate world. When you go to developed countries, some companies will come together and sponsor a particular movie. But here, they are yet to believe in what we do. We thank God, some are doing it but some are yet to support us really. Specifically, our major problem is piracy. Honestly, I would tell you that without piracy probably this is not where someone like me would be. I have done several hit movies, and when you do hit movies and your films are not being pirated then you are in big money.
What will be your greatest fulfilment in this profession?
(Sighs) Thanks for that question. Well, my greatest fulfilment will be when I grow old and I see people that have passed through me in the industry flourishing and I see the society saying ‘we watched one Muyiwa Ademola film and we used what he did in the film to correct the ills in the society’. I want to be remembered as somebody that used his talent and his gift to touch people’s life and talk to people, preach to them and make them do what is right.
It looks real when you cry in movies, how do you get to that point?
Acting is all about ‘not acting’. When you are acting it is expected to not look like acting. In most scenarios it is all about putting yourself in the situation. And I also think it’s just God. When God gives you a particular gift, I think it is just marvellous if you are doing it well.
Are we expecting any movie soon from the stable of Muy Authentic?
Yes, I’ll be coming out soon with Laye Lorun
How soon should we expect that?
Let’s just say before this year runs out.
