Presenting Fausat Balogun aka Madam Saje of Nollywood

Who is Fausat Balogun a.k.a Madam Saje?

My name is Mrs. Fausat Balogun, a.k.a Madam Saje, who does not fear anybody except God.

Where do you hail from?

I am from Oke-Ode in Kwara State.

What of your parents?

They are from same place.

What's your educational background?

I had my primary school education at Ansar-u-deen Primary School, Oke-Ode, Kwara State. I did not further my education after that.

How did you come about the name Madame Saje?

The name Madam Saje is from a television series called 'Erin Kee Kee' by Baba Suwe back then in 1990.

Who gave you the name Madam Saje?

It was Baba Suwe in the TV-series called Erin Kee Kee.

Has there been any embarrassment since you came into the industry?

In the industry, as a famous person, there's bound to be embarrassment sometimes. As for my own case, there's been none so far.

What about joy?

A lot. At times, you go somewhere and being that you are famous, people tend to honour you as such. You get real expressive carpet-treatment. There is nothing you ask for that you will be obliged.

So, how have you been managing fame?

It is not easy to manage fame, but just as any elderly person, I have since learnt how to manage my fame to my advantage.

Even embarrassing ones?

There has been none so far.

When I mean embarrassment, like some people when they see you and are just overjoyed to the extent of doing anything?

That is not embarrassment really; it is just some people's way of expressing their feelings. This, I know. Hence I take it as that of obviously excited fans who just saw their idol face to face unexpectedly.

Did you get married before or after becoming a star?

I met my husband in the industry. He happened to be my boss. His name is Rafiu Balogun, a script writer, producer, director and actor. In fact, he is a consummate theatre practitioner. He is an icon in his own right.

How were you both able to raise children because both of you are virtually outside 24/7?

Before the home movies started, the children were born and already also grown up but when they were much younger during the days of stage, at times we do take them along, leaving them at the back stage. There, they patiently waited for us till we finished.

Is any of your children into acting?

Yes, my first son, Balogun Azeez is in the industry. He is a producer and an aspiring movie director. My last child, Bintu Balogun is also in the industry. She is an actress.

Was your husband agitated over your being a star, thinking of losing you to Nollywood hawkers who may do anything to have you?

Not really because he is also into the business and knows how it's being done. He has been my manager and also behind my success; he's been wonderful, very understanding.

Has big time marketers, producers or directors made passes to you as a pretty woman?

Back then, when we started, it was on stage. My husband was already an icon in the industry, so there wasn't any room for such being the wife of an icon. Oh yes! The stake- holders know him and me as husband and wife. So, there was no room to embarrass me for this reason.

Perhaps as a mark of respect to him?

Exactly!

How have you been able to remain in the industry for long without serving some powerful male cliques?

Like I said earlier, I have a husband who is an icon in the industry. So, with God's grace and him, I have been able to manage successfully till date.

How have you been combining being a mother and the demands of acting?

My family as a whole does understand the industry and this has made it a lot easier for me to combine both demands of being a mother and an actress together.

Which of your family, your immediate or your husband's people?

My children and husband have been really wonderful in this aspect.

How do you spend quality time with hubby when you are off-set?

Well, he has been very understanding. When we are on set, we know we are on set and off-set, we spend our quality time very well.

At such times, what do you do exactly?

Let that be our secret because this is supposed to be a very private matter. It should not be for public knowledge. Haba! We too, na human beings!!

Your fans would love to know what you do at such times!

We hang out sometimes, visit our families or go to parties.

At parties, it is believed that Madam Saje would be all over the place; how have you been managing that?

Nothing special, when I get to parties, people welcome me and I am happy. They really appreciate my presence there. I thank God for making it so.

When you get to parties, do you beg to stay at the back so as to avoid possible harassment from people like area boys?

Yes the area boys around are only there to collect money and at such parties, there's need for security to be put in place.

Is that one of your conditions for attending parties or you probably put it out subtly that there should be security put in place?

Not really, it is not every party I attend. I make this a condition. However, I expect my host to provide good security which should be on the stand-by in case of any embarrassment.

Does this make you selective concerning the kind of parties that you attend?

Yes. As a famous person you need to be selective as to the kind of parties that you attend. This is because it is not possible to attend all parties.

Has your husband confessed to you what physical quality he saw in you that swept him off his feet when he met you and does that quality make him crazy till now?

Of course! Everything about me, my beauty, my skin, my stature and they have since remained the same. In fact, none has actually changed over the years.

Do you engage in any form of physical exercise to maintain your stature?

Yes. In the morning, I just do some jogging on a regular basis.

You have a gym you go to?

Not really a gym, it is in my house.

Regularly?

Yes regularly.

What of your eating or do you starve yourself because you do not want to become fat?

I don't starve myself O! I eat whatever I want to eat. I mean everything I want to or love to eat.

I noticed you are not the cosmetic crazy type. Why?

May be due to my natural beauty, which I am convinced of. I don't really like cosmetics except when we are on set. I allow make-up because it is inevitable for our kind of business.

When you saw your husband at first, what swept you-off your feet?

(Laughter) It was due to the kind of his job.

Was he a producer, an actor or director?

He is a producer, actor, director and script writer. He knows everything concerning this job. This was the real factor that swept me off my feet when I first met him years back.

Would you say your childhood days were interesting or challenging?

Yes, very challenging because in this life in whatever you want to do, there are always challenges. My childhood was very challenging but I thank God for everything. I hawked.

What did you hawk?

I hawked fruits and sold cigarettes to people. That was what my mum sold.

What is one of your childhood experiences that you cannot forget?

That was when I started this job. My parents really wanted me to go to school, but after my primary school education, I fell in love with the job. I do go for practice but my parents would come especially my father would beat the hell out of me and even strip me naked. He did not want me to go into the acting business. May be then, they thought people who were into it were wayward and irresponsible. But now, I thank God that people are encouraging their children to go into the business. It is really interesting. I so much love my job to the extent that I had to encourage my children to come into the industry.

What about your father?

He is dead now.

May his soul rest in peace?

Amen.

What of Mama?

Mama too is dead.

But mama did not worry you?

Yes, it's so unfortunate that my dad did not live to see what his little girl he discouraged from being an actress has become. It is really saddening.

How much of your childhood experience contributed to what you are doing and how?

My childhood experience? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Have you been opportune to act English play?

If I am called to, why not.

Do you have any personal opinion concerning English plays?

No, no, no

Do you have negative opinion about English movies?

Not quite. The fact still remains that I am more of a Yoruba actress, but if I am called to do English movies, I would do it very well.

What do you want to be remembered for?

I would like to be remembered as a good role model having tried my best to contribute my quota to the industry and the society at large. I would also like to be remembered as a role model.

Madam Saje and Fausat Balogun are seen to be two different persons but the traits you see in Fausat Balogun are also in Madam Saje. Why is it so?

I think they are two different characters.

There must be some small traces.

Because acting must have helped you in doing some things in life, that is rubbing off on your real life personality. Can you itemize some of these?

If you watch two of my films 'Odo-Aiku' and 'Igbodudu', you see a different Madam Saje. I act any character given to me very well.

What final word do you have for the upcoming actors and actresses?

My message to the upcoming ones is that they should keep their heads cool and having known this is what they wanted, they should pursue it with all determination.

I'm reading: Presenting Fausat Balogun aka Madam Saje of Nollywood

Olumide Bakare Chief Koko of Nollywood

We want to know how your transition from employment in the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) to being a key player in the home video industry has been.
I retired from the NTA officially in 1994 and I never did anything until late 1998 when I came back on board and I started this home video thing. Along the line I think I was hooked up on a particular vice. I have talked so much about it and I think I don’t want a repeat performance of it. Thank God today, am clean. The rest is history.

You said you joined the home video industry. What was the prime motivation for joining the industry judging by the fact that it was a concept that was new in the country then ?
My former president in the ANTP, I am a member of the ANTP, though we have a number bodies now in the theater art industry. The former president,Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello) who is a close friend and associate brought me into the system. After my rehabilitation, I went to him and he encouraged me telling me I could still be very active, asking me if I could join them in the home video industry. Before I knew it, this popular guy, Muyiwa Ademola and one other producer approached me in my house in Ibadan. They said they wanted me to come and play a role in their movie.

I asked them to tell me how much they were going to pay me and they said they were going to pay me 3,500 Naira. I was shocked and I asked him what kind of money was that, I wanted to know if that was the kind of money they paid to artists then. He encouraged me, telling me that it was just the starting point. He told me that my consent would do the two of us a lot of good. I introduced the idea to my mother, my mum is somebody that is very close to me. So, I told my mum and she also encouraged me, telling me that God was behind me and I went. You won’t believe it that before the end of the month, a was in about three, four other locations, raking in little money, here and there. That was my entry into the home video industry.

What was the title of the film?
I think the title was Aderounke. That must have been that guy’s (Muyiwa Ademola’s) first or second film. When we were shooting the film, we carried cameras from one house to the other on our heads, there was no vehicles to move us but I thank God for the guy today, he rides on a jeep now that tells you how lucrative the industry is.

You have featured in many films since then, what was the highest amount of money you’ve ever been paid to feature in a movie?
Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I have been paid the sum of 100,000 Naira, the only time I was paid the sum of 120,000 was when I featured as Agboniregun in the epic Yoruba film Oduduwa, since then, I can’t remember having been paid over 100,000 Naira.

How did you get involved in the sitcom, Koko Close?
I was then a civil servant working in NTA Ibadan. The whole story began when some of us namely Akin Lewis and some others sat down to work on the concept. Credit for the idea that brought about the programme goes to one Ghanaian. Then the General Manager of NTA Ibadan, Chief Yemi Farounbi gave us all the freedom we needed to put the programme together. We were young men who were given all the opportunity to bring the programme idea to light. For the first time in the history of television programming, Koko Close was the only programme that was allotted both it’s own editing suite as well as vehicles to convey cast and crew to location. It has never happened before in NTA but because of the success of the programme these concessions were given to us. This success was too much that one of my ogas had to call me aside, telling me to make use of the success attained for lifelong opportunities.

How did you get the role in Koko Close?
The situation was such that we knew one another very well. For instance, everybody involved in the production knew I could play the role of a troublesome landlord very well, so it was not too difficult fitting perfectly into the role. Akin who played the corps member knew he was also very well suited for the role and some others who took part in the play.

You played the role of a difficult landlord. How much of yourself would you say came out of being Chief Oluwalambe?
Olumide Bakare is different from Chief Oluwalambe. Olumide Bakare is humble and gentle but Chief Oluwalambe was a typical landlord of those era who would brook no nonsense from his none paying tenant. You see, before I could do that, I picture what a typical landlord of those days went through to build a four-flat building. Chief Oluwalambe was a cocoa merchant who struggled to build his house, you will agree with me that such person would have to be aggressive while collecting his rents. That I tried to do.

Why was the programme rested?
The programme was never rested, it actually wound up. The programme ended with the landlord selling the house and ejecting the tenants. He later went ahead to buy another bungalow where he would not be bothered by the tenants.

There are so many groups in the Nollywood industry. If you look back at your participation , what gains has been achieved so far in the industry and where do you think attention should be focused on to move it forward?
If I understand your question very well, I will say we need to make improvement in all areas. I want to say that the question of Nollywood being the term to describe the industry is faulty. Probably because we have Hollywood in America, Bollywood in India and some people believe that the best term to describe the industry is Nollywood. Who is Nolly? Who is Wood? Let’s assume that the name Nollywood has come to stay to describe the Nigerian movie industry, is Nollywood being fair to the movie industry in Nigeria?

Then, do you suggest any name?
No, I can not. It only pains that the name has been hijacked by one ethnic group

Does that signifies a dichotomy in the industry?
Yes.

How serious is the dichotomy?
My brother, the dichotomy is very terrible.

Then, what suggestions do you to remedy the situation both in the long and short term as the industry is beginning to attract attention from all directions?
The way forward is that all stakeholders in the Nigerian movie industry come together to form a common body. There so many bodies or groups now.

A veteran like you, Chief Chike Okpala (aka Zebrudaya) said he decided not to be part of the home video industry because those in the industry are not well grounded?
Yes, I think he is right because, some of us doing it (home video) are in it because of our love for the profession. You need to see the kind of insults we get from some of these our younger colleagues on locations. Anybody can just accost you on the road, telling you he or she wants you to help facilitate her/his emergence as an actor just like that.

Since you’ve identified the problems, have you been able to discuss them with other stakeholders who might share the same sentiments?
Presently, the ANTP has been able to put somebody at the helm of affairs. He is somebody who is very intelligent, that is in the person of Prince Jide Kosoko. He has invited a lot of us to come and give suggestions on how to move the industry forward. I believe this kind of initiative would lead to a conference.
At the end we would call on our friends in the other language sector, I mean the guys in the Igbo sector, the Hausa sector, the Kanuri sector and others. The thing is that we need to sit down and look for a way for the industry. The problem is that every sector in the industry wants to be unique. This is my grouse with Nollywood. The effect is such that the money that ought to come naturally to the artistes is going to the marketers.

When we look at our brothers in the Igbo category of Nollywood, one would conclude that they area better organised than you people in the Yoruba category. Why so?
The average Igbo executive producer is first, a businessman. He has a very a strong network of marketing. Being used to trading, they (the executive producer) will go all the way to sell their films.

You were the lead character of the now rested Koko Close (a television sitcom) that was widely and eagerly watched across the country. Now, we don’t have popular programmes that commands such viewer ship. Why has that become our lot in this country?
You see, in those days the country was much more buoyant than it is today. Security (of the country) was tight. The rate of crime when compared to what we have now is better. I also want to tell you that Nigerians have options to chose from. God has been so kind to us, he has been kind to us to have producers in the likes of Wale Adenuga. I want to tell you one thing, he has been producing a programme in the Nigerian television today, they call it Super Story. The kind of viewership that was given to Koko Close then is what super story is getting now because of the quality of production. I would still tell you that there is still something close to it.

You said the ANTP is doing something to sanitise the industry. Can you throw more light on that?
This year, God being on our side, we will invite the press to come and see some of the programmes we have in the pipeline. This year, we hope to reform the sector in terms of artiste fees, artistic quality, technicalities, marketing and content. One of our major problem is marketing.

What kind of participation would you advocate for the government in the industry since it has shown the willingness?
We have the Nigerian Film corporation, it can do a lot but I think the corporation has its own problems too, if we have a corporation that has not at anytime gone out to produce what I would call ‘a Nigerian film’ then, what is the essence of the corporation and its usefulness to artistes. What is the essence of the corporation since they don’t assist Nigerians to make movies? I have never heard of any form of collaboration between the corporation and the relevant stakeholders in the industry, especially between the so-called independent producers and the corporation and they say they have equipments. I understand that they have just bought new equipments, what are they doing with it? I believe government can still do a lot for the industry in terms of collaboration.

I'm reading: Olumide Bakare Chief Koko of Nollywood

Picture Glance at Funke Akindele of Nollywood

Funke Akindele, a very popular actress on the Yoruba home video scene in the Nigerian movie industry was born in Ikorodu, Lagos state on August 24 1976.

She had her primary and secondary education in Lagos. She later proceeded to the Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, in Abeokuta, where she bagged an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in mass communication. She then proceeded to the University of Lagos, from where she bagged a degree in Law.

Funke Akindele worked as a television presenter. She gained popularity through her role in the Nigerian television show, “I need to know”. From there, she stepped into full-blown acting. To date, she has featured in many Yoruba movies. In 2009, she won the African Movie Academy Award for the Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her best work, is a comedy film, which narrates the escapades (Jenifa), a village girl who later moved to the city after gaining admission to the University.

On May 26, 2012, Funke Akindele got married to Alhaji Kehinde Oloyede Al-maroof.

I'm reading: Picture Glance at Funke Akindele of Nollywood