I Will Not Play A Role That Mainly Depicts Evil
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The Chief Chika Okpala (Chief Zebrudaya) Interview
EXCLUSIVE interview
with Chief Chika Okpala (Cheif Zebrudaya) - MON., MFR. ![[New!]](images/smallnew.gif)
Recently, our
staff (Oliver Mbamara and Felix Nnorom) had an exclusive interview with
veteran comedian, Chief Chika Okpala (B.sc Hons, ARPA) popularly known
as Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo, alias 4:30. The entertainer who has
bagged such national honors as MON and MFR, was on a tour of the United
States of America during which he received an award at the Annual
Afro-Hollywood Awards night in New York. He bared his mind on several
topics including his passion, politics, education, preference for some
roles in films, personal challenges of African entertainers, the
death of Claude Eke (Prince Jegede Shokoya), and a lot more about other
cast members of one of Nigeria's longest running and most watched
television show - "The New Masquerade."
Below is the
complete text of
the interview.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: Chief, you are no doubt one of the pioneers of Nigerian television drama and the art of story telling through films and television. You have been doing this for over thirty years now and it appears you are not letting up. What has kept you going?
CHIKA OKPALA: My passion for entertainment has kept me going. I have always loved entertainment. Also, there are many things going on in Nigeria that need to be highlighted through entertainment so I have kept working.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: Here in the United States, several actors and entertainers such as Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzeneger, and Jesse Ventura have gone ahead to engage themselves in government as state or national leaders. Nigeria is a growing nation and may not be fairly compared to USA, but do you have any intention of getting involved with politics or leadership in Nigeria?
CHIKA OKPALA: I am a critic and purely an entertainer. I am a comedian with no political
aspiration. Staying away from government allows me to be objective. You get a kind of third eye to see certain things you won’t see if you are inside politics. My suggestion to anyone delving into politics or leadership is; if you cannot do it, stay out of it. Don’t go there and become a burden for the
people you are supposed to be serving.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: So will it be right to say that you are more interested in pointing out the missteps of politicians rather engaging in politics or leadership?
 CHIKA OKPALA: What I am saying is that I am a comedian fist and foremost and I believe I can be more objective in my works if I am not in politics. We have to educate our children. Whether in politics or in entertainment, we have the opportunity of teaching our younger generation to be better people. If one cannot do that, he should stay out and allow those who are able to do it. We have to have a leadership that has its priorities right. People should not get into leadership just to satisfy their pocket. They should learn to serve the people. They should learn to use their positions to help the masses.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: It is interesting that despite your experience and contribution to the entertainment industry especially in video entertainment going back to your days with Masquerade, yet you have not be seen to be actively involved in the growing home video and film industry in Nigeria today. Why is that? Are you not interested in the so-called Nollywood growth?
CHIKA OKPALA: I am interested in the growth of entertainment in Nigeria but I believe that an artistic work should try to educate the public rather than encourage evil. We have grown and progressed as a people. Our works should reflect that. I simply refuse to participate in a script that paints our people and society to look like one engaged in evil activities as if that is the only thing we are good for. So, that is why I have turned down some of the scripts that have been given to me.
I am mostly a comedian. My desire is to help educate and uplift the audience. For instance I am presently doing a video series through the ZB Afro Randavo and Afro Variety Entertainment Company. Our current work is titled “Negotiating Skills,” which is aimed at creating awareness about HIV/AIDS. We just don’t have enough resources but we are doing what we can.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: Talking about not having enough, we heard about the passing of your “Masquerade” co-star, Claude Eke alias Prince Jegede Shokoya. He was still a young man and it was a shock to many when it was learnt that he died of some illness. Many people abroad did not know exactly what happened but the speculation was that his illness would have been cured if he had enough resources to provide the medical care needed. What actually happened?
CHIKA OKPALA: Yes, it is true Jegede died and he died of from illness. He had diabetes. Perhaps if he had enough financial support, he would have cured himself and saved his life. The problem is that our people don’t know how to support the same artists who go through hardship trying to entertain them. It is sad. Our people have to form the habit of helping the artists to live a better life. Look at Clarus for instance. He is now blind from Glaucoma. No one can step up and help a man who served the public for thirty years. Some of us have been trying to get some people to help him but it has not been easy. The public doesn’t really care about entertainers. Everything should not be about money.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: We are sorry to learn about the plight of great stars like that who spent most of their life trying to make others happy. We hope our people would be more forthcoming in helping in such circumstances.
CHIKA OKPALA: We are still hoping. I have continued to tell Clarus that his disability should not be an impediment. He is just disabled and there are many disabled entertainers who do well. He is still sound and healthy. All the cast members of “The New Masquerade” are all around except Claudius Eke.
James Iroha (Gringory) and the rest are still there. So we can still come together and do some work.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: It is good to know that the old cast can still come together and work.
CHIKA OKPALA: Yes we can. I have two children to care for but it doesn’t stop me from working.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: How are the children?
CHIKA OKPALA: They are fine.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: We wish you and your family the best.
CHIKA OKPALA: Thank you.
AFRICAN EVENTS.COM: Chika Okpala, Chief Zebrudaya Okorigwe Nwogbo, alias 4:30. Thank you for spending time with us.
CHIKA OKPALA: It’s been a pleasure.
Interview by Oliver Mbamara and Felix Nnorom (www.AfricanEvents.com) February 2006 |
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