There are few actors with the ability to show a wide range of emotions. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde’s continued relevance in the Nigerian film industry is proof of her skill in her chosen craft.
Shortly before the premiere of Obi Emelonye’s latest movie, Last Flight to Abuja, Omotola spoke about acting, music, relationships and her charity work. Excerpts:
Last Flight to Abuja
Omotola plays Suzie in the movie, Last Flight to Abuja, which is loosely based on the Sosoliso Air tragedy of 2006. On a whim, Suzie boards a flight to Lagos from Abuja to visit her sick lover. Getting to Lagos, things are not as she expects and her return flight to Abuja might very well be her last. In Omotola’s words, the film project is itself “more risky” than many others she has worked on because it deals with a tragedy and not the usual drama that Nollywood offers.
It warranted a comparison to Mortal Inheritance, the award-winning movie that brought Omotola national acclaim and prominence. “When I got (the script), I was like ‘I think this is going to work.’ I felt it’s another film that will change things. Nobody else has ever done this kind of film. If Obi (Emelonye) succeeds with this one, I think it will influence others to do not just drama. These stories must be told; we must look at ourselves and look at these stories that affect our lives as a people,” she stated passionately.
Being married to a pilot had nothing to do with her accepting the script though. “We wanted people to see that it was really about the aviation sector and with a story that has affected our lives.” Refusing to address the issues the film raises has yielded no solutions and preventive measures against future disasters.
Omotola also drew some similarities between herself and Suzie the character she plays in the movie. “I think I’m just as dangerous. I think a lot about things before I do them but once my mind is made up, there is no looking back. I can be very dedicated to things. It’s the strong-headedness that Obi was trying to get out of me (in a way) that it didn’t look forced. He wanted it to be the woman in me who was coming forth. He wanted me to be very maternal, so you had to give a lot in just a few hours for it to resonate with the audience.”
The actress jokingly revealed that she would have preferred to be part of the cabin crew though. This is one reason why she does not consider her role as a very challenging one and also because hers is just one in a milieu of the film’s other characters, who would be united by one tragedy.
“We all have different lives and lifestyles. We are all human and we never see the future, only God sees the future,” she said of the film’s plot. “Can we all sit back and think ‘if I had this time would I do things differently?’ That’s what I want to take away from the movie personally.” Referencing the Dana air crash of June 3 this year, Omotola added, “When the crash happened, it’s not the poor people that were on that flight, it’s not the people that were stealing your money it could have been anybody. You might not have forever, so live right.”
Me, Myself and Eyes
Beyond Last Flight to Abuja, the actress said work on her upcoming album was in advanced stages. The album entitled Me, Myself and Eyes would express more her preference for inspirational and rock music than her first album. “I’m hoping to release it before the end of the year,” she said, adding that she does not sing commercial music, a reason why she believed the previous album failed. “I’m not really interested in singing about body parts. I already made up my mind that I am not the Naija kind of artiste. The people who would love my music, will love my music. You really have to be mature to love my music. Your mind has to be at a certain level for you to enjoy my music.”
On charity
Omotola also spoke enthusiastically about her charity work in issues affecting children, youth and women. She has received much publicity for her collaboration with the Amnesty International on maternal mortality and the Niger Delta. She also discussed the Omotola Youth Empowerment Programme, which she initiated to educate youths on their constitutional rights and inculcate them with the right ideas and ideologies. The programme, she said, was borne out of a need “to change the idea that young Nigerians and Africans are jobless people. They are not. They are actually hardworking and very confident people, who believe they can achieve anything that they want.”
In the same way, Last Flight was for her more than a personal project. Omotola described it as a very bold movie that discusses an issue like aviation safety, which many would rather sweep under the carpet. According to the screen diva, “This kind of people should have a voice.”
Fame, love and trust
For the much-loved actor, being in the limelight is “a humbling experience” that money cannot buy. “There’s no strategy for it. I just thank God,” she said, adding that her family remains the most important people in her life.
On the issue of love and trust, Omotola says: “It’s very important for your partner to know who you are. Above love, the most important thing is trust. You might fall out on other issues but you should fight for trust to be there.”
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