Nigeria’s famous comedian, Debo Adedayo popularly known as Mr Macaroni was a guest on Olayinka Agboola’s Radio Show on Splash 105.5FM, Parrot Xtra/Ayekooto recently. During the interaction, he revealed how he achieved stardom and how Government can salvage the current situation of the country among many salient issues…Excerpts:
How easy was it growing up?
To the glory of God, it was quite easy; I thank God for my parents and my family. My father was a Muslim while my mother was a Christian, I have a taste of both religion and I experienced a background of love where my parents really cared for each other and their children. They taught and helped us to grow in love and that is what I am practicing till date. I am a chrislam!
How will you describe your journey into stardom?
It was not easy but I will quickly add that I have always wanted to be a performer. While growing up, I remember that I was around maybe, eight years old, when I stated mimicking Pastor Chris Oyakhilome- we used to watch him via a channel where he performed miracles. I loved and still love his charisma and immediately after his ministration, I would start doing the same thing.
In addition, I also tried mimicking my mum, dad and even everyone in the house. Since then, I knew and even my parent had a premonition that I would venture into acting.
Will you like to tell us how you got your breakthrough in the industry?
Yeah, it was like a magic, I knew I started acting as early as year 2010/11 when I started going for auditions and getting roles to perform. However, throughout those years, I was not satisfied with the roles I was getting; they were not what I actually wanted.
The breakthrough came late year 2019 when I started to create content on social media. So, it was this year that I told myself that if the type of roles I wanted were not forthcoming from movies, why don’t I try this content creation thing and behold it blossomed like a magic.
How will you describe yourself?
I love ‘Love’, what I mean is that I love to care for people and it was a result of my upbringing. I do not like people to be cheated and I hate to be cheated also. However, people may try to attempt it and I will always speak up.
Apart from this business of skit making, what other productive ventures are you into presently?
Presently, I am into content creation and what we are doing is to create another platform for upcoming artiste. What we are doing now is to create another platform to bring in new talents who will feature in movies and it is still a form of entertainment. What I do is that I invest whatever gain I have from the entertainment industry back into it.
Who are your role models in the entertainment industry?
I look up to God as my role model and I appreciate creativity. I give praises to people for their good works and such people are countless starting from Nigeria-based and foreigners. The list is endless starting from Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, and Gabriel Afolayan among others.
Will you like to share how you spend your typical day?
Our profession requires hard work, wisdom and creativity. Every day, I think critically of new contents even while at home. I have to keep dropping content in order to satisfy the curiosity of our fans. Aside that, I play table tennis and video games at my leisure time.
Recently, you set the social media on fire claiming you wanted to get married to ‘Mummy Wa’. Can you tell us the reason for it?
It was just a photo shoot for a brand and not a secret wedding whatsoever. Even my parents were surprised. They revealed that people around them were angry that how would their child be getting married and they were not pre-informed. This is our work and it was just a photo shoot for a brand, which ended up promoting the brand.
Your skits are always centered on you playing the sugar daddy role and playing with beautiful ladies. What is your take on it?
I play that role because there are a lot of contents around it. We use it to pass messages across to our audience.
You added radicalism to your status during the EndSARS movement, what lessons did you learn and would love to share?
Well, as I said earlier, I detest being cheated and I do not like people to cheat others. If I am in a position to speak against injustice, I will always speak up. I do tell people that God has blessed me with a platform so that I can speak up when things of such happens.
I do not owe any public personality the same standard that I have set for myself. During End SARS saga, I had an encounter with some of the police officers, I knew how many experiences my friends and families have shared with me, and I felt it was the right time for us all to speak up against the ill practices.
Nigerians were aware of the aftermath of the protest; I was tortured, brutalized by the Nigeria Police Force. All these experiences have made me stronger and until death, I do not think I will ever stop speaking against injustice.
Can you elaborate on how you were tortured during the End SARS incident and what actually happened?
After the October 2020 protest, it happened that on February 13, 2021, they said they were going to re-open the tollgate and some people resisted against it because of what had happened. I did not even have the plan of coming out that day but when I saw the news of how people were brutalized and arrested, I decided to come out.
In fact, I rode on an okada to the place because I was in a location for an ongoing project and I had to abort it. I went to the place where people were tortured and I was arrested alongside. The police thought that Mr. Macaroni was a nuisance and troublemaker; I believe some influential people might have given them instructions to deal with me mercilessly. I was beaten and stripped naked and they felt it was not a big deal. I thank God for what happened on that day because it has made me stronger and tougher.
Are you getting what you need to be more creative as an artiste in Nigeria?
Well, the pressure is real. We are inspired by the happenings in our society. As long as man breathes, there will always be content to create. Obviously, things happen around us daily, and they are there for us to see.
Our job as artistes includes creating content from the happenings around us especially for a person like me who is more interested in using societal ills in creating content. Content creation remains inexhaustible.
How do you think government can help people in the entertainment industry?
They should just allow us breathe. One of our challenges is insecurity; they should address the issue of security in the nation. If artistes are not safe, how will they create content?
What are the other major issues you feel the government should focus on?
Firstly, government should focus on addressing the security issue and the economy of the nation. The economy is in shambles because of the irresponsibility of the government, they have failed to deliver their promises. I am 29 years old now and I was not a kid when this present administration came to power, I am aware of what they promised Nigerians, and they are yet to be fulfilled.
Dollar to Naira is increasing astronomically; sadly, our educational sector is nothing to write home about. How can young people in the university create contents when the education sector is in shambles? Without stable power supply, how can we use our equipment and charge all our devices? It is a disaster.
If you have the opportunity of seeing President Muhammadu Buhari, what will you tell him?
I will only ask him if he thinks he has served Nigerians wholeheartedly. If he thinks he has not served very well, then he should resign.
What do you think the future holds for the Nigerian Youth?
It is a tough question. Some days ago, we were talking about the Nigerian dream then I asked what the Nigerian dream is? I think the Nigerian dream is survival, which is not a dream but a curse. Nigerian’s take pride in slavery since they are always satisfied with the positions the government has set before them. There is no enabling ground for the Nigerian youths to survive. The system is not balanced. It will be morally right if our leaders can see leadership role as service, selflessness and sacrifice through discipline, integrity and accountability to the people they have sworn to serve. Governance should not be seen as a means of enriching one self.
Are you also in support of the agitation for Yoruba Nation?
If that will salvage the current situation, then it is all right only depending if all the three major tribes agree on it. I believe in one Nigeria, the Nigerian dream and I am optimistic that Nigeria will be great again. Things can be better if the leaders are ready to make things work.
Are you interested in vying for political office one day?
Currently no, but I do not know what the future holds. I think there is a curse in governance; I have seen men of high repute who lost their integrity and values after joining politics. It is pitiable that such men become exact opposite of what they preached against before joining politics.
What admonition do you have for the Nigerian youths?
Recently, I have led a movement for people to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). It is right to let people know that their votes count. The EndSARS movement was a trigger for me to know that Nigeria can be better. We must all get involved, your voice and vote counts. If you want a better Nigeria, we all must come together to salvage the situation.
