- Says ‘I Never Thought I Would Achieve Fame Through Entertainment’
Popular Comedy skit maker and Gospel comedian, Ayobami Ajewole popularly known as Woli Agba has become a household name in the entertainment industry. He spoke with PMParrot/Parrot Xtra’s crew- OLAYINKA AGBOOLA, DARE RAJI, OLAWALE AWE in his office at the Scout Camp, Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State recently. He used the opportunity to shed light on his career, relationship with his brother, challenges in the entertainment industry among others. Excerpts…
Can you describe your early years while growing up?
I was not born with a silver spoon and I didn’t have access to flamboyant standard of living while growing up. I grew up knowing that we must cut meat into different small parts and being the last born in the family, I was always given the smallest portion. It was only on my birthday that I could eat a full piece of meat. Some of the times, we waited patiently for the rain to fall in order for us to get snails to eat as source of protein.
I was born and bred in Ibadan and I attended Tenderfoot Kiddies Kingdom Nursery and Primary School and Baptist Secondary School, Oke Ado in the same city. I attended the prestigious Lead City University for my University Education, where I studied Economics. It is interesting to note that a Good Samaritan sponsored my University Education throughout my stay in the school.
It was an answered prayer for my father whose earnest desire for me to attend a private University in order to make up for the lost years while waiting for admission.
We read somewhere that you were once a Taxi driver?
A good Samaritan gifted my family a car to ease our stress, because the distance of our house to the church was very far. He asked us who will volunteer to learn how to drive a car and I volunteered to learn and my father saw it as an opportunity for us to make a living and income out of it. I eventually became the driver while he technically became the conductor. The car that was meant to bring leisure eventually became our source of livelihood.
Whenever I set out for the taxi business, my father would volunteer to go with me and monitor my activities, he would seat on the passenger’s side in the car as one of the passengers and he will ask me “Mr. Car owner can I help you to collect your money” and I will say yes. It was a very interesting one- most times we acted drama in the car and our passengers used to be unaware of our gimmicks -that we are related. It is interesting to note that my father was a fantastic actor. My father is late now, he died five years ago but my mother is still alive.
What was your parents’ reaction when you and your brother started Alfa Sule dance drama ministry?
The decision did not go down well with my parents especially my father. He thought the title ‘Alfa Sule’ was absurd seeing that we are Christians he thought we were trying to blaspheme the other religion. The day he was convinced of our initiative was when we were invited to a church and it rained heavily and the pastor and the ministers at the church that invited us came to our house around 12 midnight banging our gate and begging, saying people were waiting for us to minister at the church. This singular action of the pastor touched my father’s heart to realise that there must be something spectacular about what we do. He released us to attend the event and he even saw us on stage performing and from that day he was convinced of our calling that we were not out to blaspheme any religion but that people just enjoy our performance. The name “Alfa Sule” became a household name after our performance at the occasion.
You and your brother have since separated. How cordial is your relationship now?
In life, there is room for expansion and one must be sensitive enough to know when there is a signal for expansion. We are still very close and our relationship is still cordial. I left his group because there was need to move forward though it is a confidential matter and the bulk of the reasons lie with my brother. I had to follow his instruction because he is my elder brother, in mutual agreement, he told me to start my own concept and what I did was to face the little I believe in and trust God to bless it too.
Even at the time he was giving the instruction, I did not have my concept but when I was left alone, I had to task myself on what I could do and that was when God gave me the inspiration of what I can do.
How did you get your big break in the entertainment industry?
It was very amazing. I never thought of being this successful five years ago, that people globally will so much appreciate my concept. I thought all creative ideas had been exhausted throughout the whole world, not until the time I was left all alone and God showed me mercy and put the idea in me. In life, God is the producer of all ideas, and he is the one that will bring people nearer that will love and appreciate the idea. The breakthrough was never planned -that is why I am always careful not to allow pride to take me over.
During the boom of social media, I did a particular concept and people started tagging each other and they realized it was funny and that was when they knew that it was that boy that acted the Woli Agba guy in ‘O Tin Gan Pa’. From there, my followers started increasing day by day, and I never believed when we got one million followers on the social media. Now, we have almost four million followers. We give God all the glory for this.
How do you draw your inspiration apart from God?
I get inspirational from things that happen in our environment. Firstly, I categorized my concept into relatable concept and unrealistic concept.
What is your major challenge in the industry now despite your level of acceptability?
A lot of people thought that I must have derailed from what I used to do. I used to tell them that I am still the prophet with the oil of gladness, because a merry heart will do you good.
Presently, another major challenge now is that when I release a concept, the next thing I do immediately is to brainstorm on how I can release another one that will be better. Sometimes I have to wake up in the night to think outside of the box concerning the concept that will sustain me in the industry. It takes a lot of dedication and commitment.
When was your happiest moment?
My happiest moment was when I got married, and the day I gave birth to my first child. Another memorable day was when I got an invite to travel outside the country.
What about your saddest moment?
That was the day I lost my father five years ago. That day I sat on the floor crying thinking that the only person that was my companion was gone. Till date, I still recollect his memory.
I believe since my father could die, I believe death is inevitable. On the day of his burial, I told people to take care of their fathers very well.
Can you talk to us about your most embarrassing moment?
It was the day somebody called me a wretched boy, Omo iya oni buredi, (Son of a bread seller) and that I am from a poor home. I don’t like remembering that day because it made me to shed tears.
How do you relate with your female fans?
Our ladies have a way of expressing their desires and telling you they are enjoying every aspect of your performance on stage. A lot of them have taken me as their Father, Daddy, saying Daddy is funny and that has brought a lot of reasonable restrictions. When they make advances, I laugh over it and make a comedy out of the situation.
How did you meet your wife?
I went for a program at Kogi State University, I saw her in the midst of some of my fans and I told her plainly that ‘you are my wife’. At that time, she was not on any social media account and I had to beg her to download 2go application and she accepted. From there we started talking till she accepted my proposal and now I have fulfilled my promises to her.
What can government do to help the kind of business that you do?
Government need to fashion policies on how to help and empower the people in the entertainment industry. If they have been observant, when an entertainer is hosting a program it always attracts people from all walks of life. If government can set a national day for the entertainment industry, it can help to generate more revenue for the government because such events will attract tourist and foreigners to the country, and through this the economy can become more invigorated. Government needs to pay more attention to the entertainment industry.
If you are not an entertainer, what would you have loved to become in life?
If I am not an entertainer, I would have become a footballer or a teacher. I loved playing football. I thought my fame would be achieved by playing football. My nickname as a footballer then was Maldini, the highest goal scorer because I used to score a lot of goals.
What is your message to young Nigerian youths looking at you as a role model?
My sincere advice to all my fans and youths is to encourage them to be focused, dedicated and persistent in whatever profession they find themselves, they should be very happy doing their job. I have been in this business for close to 20 years and I have been consistent and every work has its own season and appointed time of blooming and I implore them to bring life to it, they should not allow money and fame to derail them from their passion. If you are doing a job and you don’t like it, it is better to stop doing it. They should not be down casted by the present challenges of life, they should put their hope in God.
Till today, I still work very hard as if I have not achieved anything because of the love I have for it. Take a look at Ronaldo, Messi, Anthony Joshua; they are still striving very hard in their chosen professions as if they have not won any trophy.
