Omotunde Adebowale: Why I dumped law for acting

Weekend Magazine: Many of your fans in the entertainment industry know you as Lolo and as Adaku in Jenifa’s Diary but hardly know your real name. How did you come by the name Lolo? Omotunde Adebowale-David: My real name is Omotunde Adebowale-David. Lolo is an Igbo word meaning the wife of a king or chief. […]

Weekend Magazine: Many of your fans in the entertainment industry know you as Lolo and as Adaku in Jenifa’s Diary but hardly know your real name. How did you come by the name Lolo?

Omotunde Adebowale-David: My real name is Omotunde Adebowale-David. Lolo is an Igbo word meaning the wife of a king or chief. I always tell people that I am Yoruba by birth but Igbo by choice. When I did a show on radio, I wanted people to tell me what I should be called. Over 3,000 people sent me entries and I picked Lolo because I knew what it meant. I like the name “Lolo 1.” 

WM: Did you do a theatre or performing arts programme in school that naturally propelled you into television drama and the entertainment industry generally?

Adebowale-David: I graduated in Law from the Lagos State University and I have 17 years post-call. I graduated in 2000 and went to Law School in 2001.

WM: So how did the switch to theatre happen?

Adebowale-David: Entertainment has always been my passion. It is something I have always wanted to do, so I only practised Law for three years to be sure I learnt the ropes. When I felt it was time for me to act, my passion, I moved into the entertainment industry and since then I have been doing what I am doing now. I have been in theatre for more than 10 years. I had actually been doing it from school and acting in church. I have done secular movies and many other types of acting.

WM: How smooth has the journey been?

Adebowale-David: I can say the journey has been smooth. The hardship – the ups and downs are what make the journey smooth and interesting to me. I have had many challenges and difficulties as an actress in movies and as a comedian, and I have also faced many challenges in radio presentation.

WM: Would you like to share some of the challenges?

Adebowale-David: When I started my radio programme, I spoke full pidgin. There was so much criticism from people telling me I did not know how to speak it well, that I wasn’t fluent in it. From those criticisms arose the challenge of trying to correct myself.

As an actor, every role you play challenges you. You will always want to put more effort into what you do. You are always changing styles. Sometimes, you do some things that won’t turn out well and you have to start all over.

WM: How did you come by the role Adaku in Jenifa’s Diary?

Adebowale-David: Funke Akindele came up with the role and she graciously asked me to do it. It has been an interesting and enjoyable journey. I am so in love with the character that I cannot but applaud the producer. If not, how would I have known Adaku is Igbo, what she loves to eat and that she is a pedicurist? All these things have made Adaku very special.

WM: How did you come across Funke Akindele?

Adebowale-David: I am an industry person and she had seen some of the things I had done. She has the eye and mind of a good producer who knows her onions and must have pictured what the character she wanted for the role should look like and who was best suited for it. Funke Akindele had seen me do stand-up comedy and some other shows, which influenced her decision to pick me for the role.

WM: Did you face any strong disapproval from family and friends when you were switching from Law to entertainment?

Adebowale-David: Of course, yes. That’s normal. My family members were like, “How could you read Law and then decide to leave it for acting, singing and dancing?” But the beautiful thing is that once you are comfortable with what you are doing and you are succeeding, you will see that everybody starts supporting you, though they were not part of your success from the beginning.

WM: How do you strike a balance between family and your busy entertainment industry jobs?

Adebowale-David: I believe that women are specially created by God. We are an incubator – we incubate and also nurture the baby. A woman must learn how to balance her family needs with her career. It’s simple. When I’m with my family, I’m not Adaku or Lolo or a celebrity. I am not any of the characters I play. I am just a mother and I spend the time that I have at that time with my family very effectively. As I am now, I can call my son’s teacher in school. I can whatsapp video him, to know how he is doing. I can see him in his school uniform. I can even ask him to show me his assignment even as I am not there. This has helped me to have a great family.

WM: Are you really gluttonous as portrayed by the character Adaku?

Adebowale-David: No, I eat normal. That would be like saying the character that plays a witch is a witch. But no, because I play the role of Adaku who eats a lot doesn’t mean I am a glutton. I eat normal food just like everybody. I eat to my limit because too much food does not make me feel comfortable.

WM: What’s your favourite food?

Adebowale-David: My favourite food, hmm! If I tell you, you will not believe it. My favourite food is pap and moin moin. I like it so much it’s my comfort food. My children say mummy likes pap ice-cream. I like it because it makes me feel very relaxed.

WM: As is the practice in the industry now, do you have a training school for theatre?

Adebowale-David: No, I do not have a personal training school. Of course, I know a lot of theatre schools around. I know the Helen Paul Theatre School, Madam Joke Silva theatre school, PEFTI and many others that budding artistes can attend for training.

WM: What is your dress sense? Do you like being flashy or casual?

Adebowale-David: I love wearing something comfortable but attractive. I like to put on things that people would appreciate.

WM: What advice do you have for the youth and upcoming artistes?

Adebowale-David: I always advise the young ones to maintain their originality. They should flaunt their own creativity. They should work hard at it, practise it a lot, and even if they fail, they should stand up and work harder and things will get better. They shouldn’t allow discouragement to pull them down. All of us that are celebrities today have had failures along the line. It is when they put in more efforts that they celebrate the success that they will eventually become. They should be bold. 

WM: What is your philosophy?

Adebowale-David: Life is an endless circle; what goes around comes around. What you give you get. 

WM: What should your fans be expecting from you soon?

Adebowale-David: I am working on my own movie by the grace. It is a musical body of work, maybe also a book, and of course Oga Madam edition is coming up this October and it would be fabulous.