Leading entertainer and pioneer Nollywood star, Bob Manuel-Udokwu needs no introduction in the nation’s entertainment industry, where he also plays big and is highly revered. Amazingly, Anambra state-born Udokwu was already a household name in Nigeria courtesy of his dazzling role in defunct hit TV soap, Checkmate, before the advent of what is today globally known as Nollywood began with a bang in 1992.
In this exclusive interview, amiable Udokwu who, alongside few of his colleagues, pioneered the birth of Nollywood with their historic roles in Living in Bondage, spoke passionately and elaborately on a wide range of issues affecting the industry. The University of Port Harcourt theatre arts graduate also proffered solutions, while urging the government to do more for the industry, which he further argued has given so much to Nigeria and indeed the world.
Enjoy the encounter!
As one of the pioneers and leading actors in Nollywood, we would like to know more about you and some of the project(s) you are currently working on?
My name is Bob-Manuel Udokwu. I was born into a family of six children (three boys and three girls. I’m the fourth child) in Enugu, capital of Enugu State to the family of Geoffrey and Joy Udokwu (both now deceased) from Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. I attended St. Peter’s Primary School, Coal Camp, Ogbete, Enugu. My secondary school was Oraukwu Grammar School, Oraukwu (ORAGRAM) in Anambra State; then the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State (CTA: Distinction, BA Hons. – Second Class Upper Division, Theatre Arts, under the late Prof. Ola Rotimi) and the University of Lagos (MSc Political Science – International Relations).
I am currently working with Anambra State Government as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Creative Media (Movie/Entertainment Industry). On the creative side I’m working on a couple of things which I’d like to keep under wraps for now because people steal ideas a lot in this country. Suffice it to say that I’m working on a major international movie project. The details will be made public in due course.
Going down memory lane, when and how did you join Nollywood?
I didn’t “join” Nollywood in the sense of somebody wanting to belong to an association or an organization per se. Rather Nollywood joined me! I was already playing a major role in Checkmate, which was created by the late Amaka Igwe (nee Audrey Eneh), the biggest and best television drama series of the 90s and thus was a celebrity in my own right before the advent of Nollywood. In 1992, I was invited to take part as one of the principal characters in the movie Living in Bondage. The release of the movie in October of that same year and its phenomenal commercial success gave rise to the Nigerian movie industry known globally today as Nollywood! So I was there before Nollywood and I helped to shape it. Nollywood, by the way, is still work in progress.
As a top actor, what would you say inspired your passion for the entertainment industry?
Like I said earlier I didn’t join Nollywood. Rather Nollywood joined me and I became one of its pioneers. Having said that, let me state here that I started performing for public audiences from primary two. By the time I finished primary school, I was performing for radio and television audiences. After secondary school I continued performing as an amateur actor in the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Enugu, the Old Anambra State Television (ATV) Channel 50 as well as anchoring a radio musical programme – Guess The Tune on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) also in Enugu, before gaining admission into the university to study Theatre Arts professionally.
Aside acting and being an aide to Anambra gov, what else do you do?
Like every other Nigerian I do other things besides being an actor and an aide to the governor of Anambra State. I plan events. I do MC work. I also produce documentaries as well as voice-over for both radio and television. Recently I started farming on a small scale and 1 hope to grow big with time in that area. I do consultations too. I’m also into music. This might surprise many people but I have a six-track reggae album that I am yet to release. It was produced by the reggae music great Orits Wiliki! In fact, there are many things that I’m into!
Between acting and being a TV anchor, which comes first, and why?
For me, acting came first before anchoring shows/events. I started off as a talented but amateur actor. In the course of my training as a professional actor at the University of Port Harcourt, I also learned how to be a good creative anchorman.
Among the numerous films you have featured in, which is very dear to your heart and why?
All the films I have made are dear to me. They are like children to parents. A parent cannot honestly claim that a particular child of his/hers is more beloved than others. That would be discriminatory. I cannot say that there is a particular film that I did that is dear to my heart more than others. They are all unique in their own ways and came with varying degrees of challenges. I suffered more during the making of some of the movies than others and so I have nostalgia about all of them.
As a strong stakeholder, what would you say is the biggest challenge facing Nollywood currently?
The biggest challenge facing Nollywood at the moment is funding and government support. A multibillion dollar industry that has been sustained by private entrepreneurs since its inception and has been confirmed to be the second highest employer of labour outside of the Civil Service in Nigeria by the National Bureau of Statistics is hardly being supported by government at all levels! The practitioners are really struggling to make ends meet and many of them are dying or have already died of penury and ill-health!
There is no royalty system in place for Nollywood practitioners to earn residual income from their sweat in case of ill health or old age. We are therefore compelled to always tax ourselves to pay for the treatment of sick colleagues or for the funeral expenses of those who have sadly passed on. It’s heartbreaking. Our work of making people happy involves human contact and so the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic dealt a terrible blow on our industry. The government, being insensitive and uncaring, pretended and is still pretending that we don’t exist! There was no palliative for the entertainment industry especially Nollywood. No support whatsoever! The bogus claims they make about support for Nollywood are on the media.
What are the rare qualities an actor who aspires to reach the zenith of his career must possess?
Qualities to possess to be a successful actor and perhaps reach the top include talent, education especially in the relevant field in the arts or the humanities. Discipline is also very important to succeed as an actor. It is also important to be innovative/creative in the approach to work all the time.
As someone that has been in government for years, do you intend seeking for an elective political office soon?
In 2015, I vied for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) political party ticket to contest in the state House of Assembly elections for that year. I did not get the party ticket. I did not participate in 2019 but I am not ruling out going into the contest again for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, or even the Senate in 2023.
Have you ever been harassed sexually by desperate actresses on set?
I have not really been sexually harassed on or off set by my female colleagues. However, I have had such encounter with female producers… that’s a story for another day.
Do you think the government has done enough to support Nollywood and its practitioners?
No not at all. Government has done little or nothing to support Nollywood. If they have, let them come out and say how then we will expose them to the public for their hypocrisy.
As a leading entertainer, what would you say is your biggest achievement in Nollywood?
My biggest achievement in Nollywood is yet to come because we are still building the industry we helped to pioneer. Suffice it to say that I’m still one of the earliest Nollywood practitioners who has remained consistent in shining the light in our bourgeoning industry.
In your opinion, are Nigerian entertainers well remunerated?
Nigerian entertainers especially Nollywood practitioners are not well remunerated. It’s more of glamour without real substance. More needs to be done by practitioners and government to make the industry more viable and attractive.
Any regrets as a top entertainer in Nollywood?
Yes there may be regrets being a top Nollywood impresario but the gains far outweigh the regrets. So I’m happy rising from the obscurity of a humble background to become a world class celebrity!
What are the three major things a good actor must look out for in any given script on location?
The message that the script/story is set out to impact on the society as typified in the location of shoot. To make sure that the location is ideal for the scene to be recorded so as to achieve maximum impact. How the location helps in enhancing the enactment of the story as contained in the script.
Can you act in a pornographic film?
If the offer to play such role is too good to be turned down. But the question is, will any producer have the gall to offer me such role? I doubt it!
As a pioneer, do you feel threatened by the emergence of new talents in Nollywood today?
I’m enthralled by the emergence of new talents in Nollywood today. It shows that the industry is really growing. Once you are good and have carve a strong niche in the industry for yourself, then your place in the Nollywood hall of fame is assured. As you grow older in real life, you grow into older roles in the movies. So it’s a continuous process of artistic rendition that one can hardly resist or retire from.
And what stands you out as a pioneer entertainer in Nollywood?
I am an uncompromising core professional thespian who constantly seeks to maintain pristine standards in my artistry as a pioneer and one who deploys his craft for the benefit of humanity and the edification of the divine.
And lastly, what is your advice to up-and-coming talents in the industry who daily look up to you and equally want to be successful like you?
When you look at a king’s mouth, you will hardly think that he ever suckled on his mother’s breasts. My advice to up and coming talents in the industry is for them to remain focused, disciplined, resourceful, innovative, creative and above all spiritually in tune with God, the Master Creator and the Giver of talents. With that, success is assured.
First published in DAYLIGHT, November 2021.
Culled from Azuh Amatus’ best selling books, FAMOUS FACES…
