Waiting is a very difficult task to engage in, and a bitter song to many peoples ears. What is the essence of working for years without having something tangible to show for one's years of struggle? Isn't this saddened?
But one thing is sure, it's either one continues to push it and wait for one's ripe time, or one takes a fast lane and die prematurely. The Bible says: "Your latter days shall be greater and more gracious than your former". But does this saying apply to Nigerians, who have been, for so many years, in certain professions like theater practitioning but still struggling to make ends meet?
I can still remember vividly today, a drama, IFÁ OLÓKUN, in the 80s on NTA channel. IFÁ OLÓKUN was a serial drama produced by Àràbà Awo of Oshogbo, Ifayemi Elebuibon. It was normally on air every weekend on NTA Ibadan. It was one of the interesting television dramas in Nigeria that fascinated many of us then.
One of the series in IFÁ OLÓKUN was a drama, OMOL'OKÙN, which was produced in early 80s. This drama was so popular and so interesting hardly any lover of Yorùbá movies that period would forget the role the late funny actor, Tajudeen Akanmu a.k.a Koled'owo, played in the drama.
Koled'owo, who joined acting at tender age with a great number of movies credited to his name died in 2008 in a rented apartment. Koled'owo, according to investigation, died without fully enjoyed the fruits of his labour. Koled'owo's experience is exactly the same fate of many of the veteran thespians in Nigeria. Only few of these people can boast of living average lives unlike today's thespians, who're opened to various opportunities in the industry.
Of course those who weren't too young in the early 80s won't forget the part Koled'owo played in OMOL'OKÙN. He was unarguably the most prominent actor in the play. I believe you haven't forgotten this chant:
'Ìyá ìyá un o f'odidi eja s'òrun àjìjà mi
Ìyá ìyá un o f'odidi eran s'òrun àjìjà mi
Ìyá ìyá un o f'odidi eni s'òrun àjìjà mi
Èmi omol'okùn omoni'de
Omo ní sìn sìn kún'nu sìn...
It's quite unfortunate to learn that Koled'owo, who invested his energy and his most precious time to elevate social lives of many Nigerians died with no honour and appreciation, both in kind and in cash.
In Ifayemi Elebu'bon's theater group, one of the actresses in the group then was a very short woman popularly known today as 'Ìyá Gbònkà'. The old woman, Margret Bandele Olayinka, who is predominantly known for her scary expression in plays, would have been in the profession, acting, for over 40 years by now. But it's a pity that the woman couldn't boast of a decent living until she recently cried out on social media to people to come to her aid. The old woman wanted a gift of a car to from places to another. Of course this is a sign of good living to many Nigerians?
The woman actress' clamour for help did not yield to only a car but to something better than her desire. Perhaps her benefactor thought that a car wasn't her immediate priority because a gift of a car could force her to nurse a liability that might likely run her aground.
A philanthropist who couldn't hold his empathy for the actress took it upon himself, and lent a helping hand to complete her uncompleted building she had abandoned for years - at least to give the thespian, whose strength had already been exhausted, a new lease of life at her old age. And in addition, a not-too-flashy but decent car and some cash were donated to her to compensate her for her long service in acting. Assuming she didn't plead for help, she might have remained in same condition.
Before the noise of the gifts bestowed on the old woman died down, another veteran actor, Fatai Adekunle Adetayo a.k.a Lalulude, who also has made enduring impact on the progress of the profession, employed the same method to also cry out on social media to his fans for a gift of a car. And without much ado, a neat saloon car was also gifted to him. He got the car via donations from fans on social media. Yes, social media has become a global village where anyone can reach out to millions in few minutes unlike before when one needed to wait for months before one's message could get to its destination through the underfunction and overrated Nigeria Postal Service.
Maybe or maybe not, these kind gestures bestowed on Ìyá Gbònkà' and Lálùdé could have been a motivation or a propeller to their old colleagues, Pariolodo and Alapini, both who also have been in the industry for decades, whom desires to tap into what was trending on social media couldn't be suppressed. They didn't wait for anyone to plead on their behalf; they came out on social media to ask Nigerians to save them from taking 'Okadas' and buses from one place to another. They also needed cars to cruise towns. Of course their desires were also attended to. They got what they wanted. And recently, another old thespian, Tajudeen Oyewole a.k.a Abija - who played the role of a herbalist in the movie, 'ÒPÁ AJÉ', which brought him into limelight in late 80s - also has come out to beg for his own car, though one was gifted to him sometime.
Since the new method of soliciting helps by the perceived not-well-to-do celebrities on social media reared its head, there have been arguments over whether the method being employed by these people is right or uncalled for. Some argue that they see no wrong in asking for helps when the helps are needed while many believe this to be completely disgusting and nauseating.
One of the people who frowned at this act was a polular actress, Jaiye Kuti, who vehemently came online to disown the artistes involved in what she tagged as professional begging. She wasn't happy because she believed that the act had so far belittled the theater arts profession, most especially the Yoruba section.
And immediately Jaiye dropped the bombshells, many Nigerians who saw nothing wrong in the act had come out to rain abuses on the popular actress. They maintained that it ought not to be only the time that people were at the point of death that help should come their way. They said that Jaiye could say this because she joined the profession during the time that opportunities were abound in the industry. Had she joined early, she would have experienced the damage the wicked producers and piracy had done to the lives and careers of the old thespians.
Without a doubt, these people's submissions aren't out of tune. They felt for and empathized with the helpless thespians, who had rendered selfless services to Nigeria and Nigerians but are abandoned during their old age. They wanted to know the reason these people would be left to carry their crosses during the time that they ought to rest and enjoy.
Undoubtedly, asking for helps from well-to-do friends, acquaintances, colleagues, family, and even from fellow Nigerians isn't a bad idea for as far as I'm concerned, no man is an island. We need each other for personal upliftment and during trying time. It's a propeller that makes a life conducive to live. But begging for luxuries is sickening and nauseous.
Like I said, soliciting helps isn't bad, but the kind of succours people seek is the most important. In my opinion, the most important thing in human life is what to invest in to fetch more funds, most especially during the time that one is finding it difficult to muddle through. I wouldn't have stood against the thespians' pleads for help like Jaiye Kuti did if these people had begged for what would continue to facilitate more money to their pockets, and not what would ceaselessly taking from their meagre and insufficient resources. Begging to own cars at this period of hike in fuel price is not only unwise but is also not sweet to the ears.
Ademola 'Bablow' Babalola
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