Why I don’t feature in Nollywood —Zebrudaya
Well, it is not true. I’m still active in acting. The only problem is that the New Masquerade for which I was popularised and at a point, was producing, went off air because of no sponsors. We have been asking for sponsorship and nobody could give us sponsorship. And I don’t have that kind of […]
Well, it is not true. I’m still active in acting. The only problem is that the New Masquerade for which I was popularised and at a point, was producing, went off air because of no sponsors. We have been asking for sponsorship and nobody could give us sponsorship. And I don’t have that kind of money to produce the programme and air it free to the public. I have been running to people to say come to my aid; don’t let this programme die because it is a programme that has substance and it can run for over 30 years. People should please come to my aid.
Would you say that Nigerians are not appreciative of that kind of entertainment?
I don’t know what to call it actually, whether I will say they are not appreciative and may be that is why they have not come to sponsor the programme on air.
Did you approach corporate organisations or individuals for the sponsorship?
Yes. You can see my shoes. They are all bent (out of shape) now due to frequent trekking to corporate bodies who would not agree to sponsor the programme. I have been walking from one office to the other. And they will just say, Chief, give us your proposal. I kept giving proposals, kept giving proposals and at a time, I got tired of giving out my proposals to companies.
Is it possible that the advent of Nollywood movies has probably affected the kind of entertainment the New Masquerade provided for Nigerians?
Well, I can say that we are the forerunners of Nollywood films in Nigeria today. And if it is so, people should not discard us because it is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. So, we need to be on; we have had the experiences over the years and we need to direct most of these things. I have been talking about it even to the government. I said look, you cannot push aside experienced people in this field of entertainment. And it is just proper that those who have contributed much to the growth of the industry, especially those whom the government has honoured, should be called together to really see to the deficiencies of Nollywood and then see what they can do to re-direct and re-focus our minds and Nollywood in order to get to the standard we are talking about. We can reach that standard today; we don’t need a coach from London or America to teach us about our culture.
When you put the Nollywood and New Masquerade kinds of entertainment, which do you think Nigerians desire more?
Well, it is not for me to say for them. If they prefer the Nollywood concept, washing our dirty linen in public, well, for them. But if they want to follow the New Masquerade concept of getting to societal deficiencies, getting to moral issues by proverbs, getting to know what to give to the people in order not to corrupt the people or incite the public in doing unnecessary evil…There are things they do and there were things we innovated when the late Air Commodore Emeka Omeruah was the military governor of old Anambra State.I know that the New Masquerade brought about building of public toilet and conveniences round Enugu city by the then government.
Was that part of the impact of New Masquerade?
The impact of the plays were felt and today, I don’t know whether the government in power listens to Nollywood and had sold and converted those conveniences into market stalls instead of maintaining the toilet system that is supposed to be there for the public because it is so annoying for the public in Enugu watching a woman running out of a bus and just opening up to pee by the corner there without looking left or right. Do you understand what I mean?
But when these conveniences were around when we made it possible, emphasized on it, had several programmes on it, the governor then was touched. He then commissioned people to go ahead and build these facilities for people. But it is unfortunate that today, those facilities have been discarded and given out as market places.
You vowed never to join Nollywood. Do you still maintain your position?
Yes. Well, I didn’t vow not to participate in Nollywood but all I have been saying is we should amend the concept of Nollywood where it requires amendment. Some people thrive where there is evil; some people thrive where there is peace. Do you understand what I mean? So, either way must go and I am not particular about showing my face on air. Showing my face on air means I want to bring a message to the people. So, for me to go to Nollywood, I need to bring a message to the viewers, my admirers or fans, the people of Nigeria, to the people of the world.
I don’t need to force myself into Nollywood. If the concept that Nollywood has presently in showing some films that are not supposed to be shown, then I am not in a hurry to join it.
Are you worried about the recent misfortune that befell members of the New Masquerade cast? Jegede Shokoya died some years back. Natty is down with stroke. Clarus is blind and Apena just passed on. What do you think this portends for the group?
It is really unfortunate because I don’t know why the calamity should come to the cast. But I know that death is a necessary end that must come when it will and so we will not run away from death. We don’t know how we came into this world and we don’t know what we signed with God when we were coming. All we know is that we came into this world, we met each other and we propagated the show and the show worked and so anywhere God plucks one off, is unfortunate; anywhere He incapacitates any person, it’s unfortunate but life goes on because we must have to see that we train people along that side that we have lost a character.
Do you think there can be replacement for all these characters?
We may invent other characters; it may not be that any more…Giringory, Clarus or Jegede Shokoya. So we might invent other characters who will come and give a lot so we can make a good show out of the programme. Every day, they (prospective artistes) bother me here, saying oga we want to come and take part. But we don’t have the sponsorship money to bring together and showcase them and therefore, I keep promising them that at the earliest time, I will call them for audition. However, I believe that one day, the show must continue.
Are you thinking of reproducing your previous performances into CDs and things like that?
Well, for me as a person, yes. I have such intention but you remember when we were producing these things (New Masquerade) we were all staff of NTA. So, NTA rather claimed the copyright of the programme. And so it is difficult for me to go and tell NTA that I want to make CDs of these things. I have tried many times to go to them and say let us strike a deal of so, so, and so percent; take this and I will take this. Let’s go ahead and make money out of what we have done in the past; if you don’t know how to do it, I know how to do it. But my appeal and suggestion seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Many people think Ovuleria is your real wife. Can you let us know about your nuclear family?
(long laugh) The nucleus of my family is different from that of Chief Zebrudaya and Ovuleria. My immediate family is Chika Okpala’s family. And so, my wife’s name is Christy Okpala. We have three children…I mean two children because one died. So we have two children, a boy and a girl. Afam Okpala and Ogechi Okpala. They have all come out of the university. They are serving as Youth Corp members, although my daughter, Ogechi has just finished her service before my son went in. So, the Chika Okpala family is different from that of Chief Zebrudaya, who with Ovuleria, and other wives he had, Cena Uredia Nwogbo, Jetrude Appolonia God’sgift Nwogbo and Magandalin; I had a total of five children namely Benji, Agy (Agnes), Philo, Mgbeaforlina and Gilbert. So these are the children of Chief Zebrudaya while Chika Okpala has two children. Afam did Electrical Electronics Engineering while Ogechi studied Bio-Chemistry.