As a television personality, Chief Jimoh Aliu, 78, better known as “Aworo”, often playing the role of a ‘Chief Priest’, is to many, an inspiration in the 1970s and 1990s. After years on the airwaves, he was honoured with a National Merit Award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) in December 2005. The seasoned artiste, producer, location designer, director, and make-up artist and singer, despite his list of career accolades, expressed his angst over the crisis-ridden Association of Nigeria Theatre Practitioners (ANTP). He also speaks with Taiwo Abiodun on his travails and joy among others.
HIS skin-cut hair style caught a fanciful attention. But the man himself wore an angry ambiance. Chief Jimoh Aliu, one of Nigeria’s veteran actors, widely known to have attended the elementary school for just six months and born in mystifying circumstances, has lost the glee of youthfulness. Also, the tribal marks that used to be his personal ‘trademarks’, are now barely visible. His bushy hair is now clean shaven. Age, the unavoidable phase of life, has taken its toll. The ‘Living Legend’ is also rarely seen on the Nigerian theatre space in recent years.
In his discussion with The Nation reporter, he said it was needful for him to mellow down. He said, “after many years on the stage and having played many roles few of which are Olowo Aiye, Arelu, Chief Priest, Brave Warrior and others, it is now time to lie low and watch others grow. And it is in this reflective mode I begin to see many things that makes my heart to bleed”.
The one-time charming, strong and energetic Aworo who still exhibited a little bit of his witty and unrivalled cultural artistic talent said he is very angry to see some of the efforts they worked for in his own time in the industry been trampled upon by the feud within the ANTP.
Trailing the origin of the group, he said “There are some stories many don’t know about ANTP. I am not saying that I founded the ANTP. No. But it was formed by the team of the late Olimole, Hubert Ogunde., Akin Ogungbe, Ayinla Olumegbon, Oyin Adejobi, Kola Ogunmola, Duro Ladipo. Those are the ones we could call the founding fathers of Nigerian theatre industry with today is called Nollywwod.
“Back then, I was with my brother, the late Kola Ogunmola in Osogbo. Initially, there was no ANTP. We all as artistes, used to meet at a recording studio in the then Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) premises. We used to do mostly stage plays. Then, we would cut leaves and acted as if we were in the bush. I remember the late Duro Ladipo of blessed memory when he went to London to perform. He was not allowed to play by Kuti Association because he didn’t join their group. But when they asked him to pay before he could do anything, he did. On his return to Nigeria, he called the others and told them of the association he saw in London and persuaded them that it was necessary for artistes in Nigeria to have their own. They agreed with him and named the group “Eight Leaders” by which time Baba Sala had been included. They then made a requisite that for anyone to join the group, he or she must pay a certain fee. It was some years later that Chief Adebayo Faleti improved on it to become the ANTP.
“At that time, we used to hold meetings at Mbari Mbayo in Abadan or in the late Hubert Ogunde’s house in Lagos or even the late Ade Love’s home in Ibadan. These were fathers our set of artistes used to see like gods. I remember we used to happily eat their leftovers. I believe that is why many of us grow to respectable old ages because we honoured and esteemed our older generation. We did not mess them as today’s generation of younger people treat their old citizens. I can recall the story of those who messed up the late Professor Adedeji of the department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan (UI), in 1976. The old man had called me and said there would be theatre workshop at UI, and that he wanted me to arrange for the artists to come.
“Then, there was some grants given to Nigeria to look for talented artistes. So, as part of the programme, there was need for members of the Palmwine Drinkers play. And after their play was staged at a hall in Ibadan near the Cocoa House, the play became popular and was accepted by all. But this got into their heads and the old man who brought them onto the scene was no longer revered. It pained the old man till he died.”
Jimoh Aliu, who still chants incantations, panegyrics and words laced with proverbs, said he still possess the energy that could make him talk and rehearse for hours without being tired. He said these are traits in him that he attributes to God’s glory in his life.
Still on his displeasure at what had become of the ANTP, he said “as time went on the late Duro Ladipo was invited to come and play Sango. He was called by the late Ulli Beire when Kola Ogunmola gave an excuse that he was too busy at that time. Duro Ladipo took the part and that brought him fame. By then, Lere Paimo, aka ‘Eda Onile Ola’ was a Grade 2 Teacher using a Vespa brand vehicle then. And there was need for him to leave Oyin Adejobi. So, he went to join Duro Ladipo. However, by then also, Obinrin Asiko, known as ‘ Iya Peju’, was under Oyin Adejobi.
“So, Professor Adedeji then advised us to establish our own organisation so that government can be assisting us with grants. I then went to Akin Ogungbe to convince him of our need to establish an association, but he declined. I had the same encounter with Baba Sala who said his stand was based on not wanting to be accused of splitting ‘Eight Leaders’ group. I consulted Duro Ladipo and he asked me to put it in writing and give Pa Ogunde who then treated me like his son. At that time, Pa Ogunde called me whenever he was travelling.
“That was why you would notice that I have not been seen as much as I used to in the Yoruba theatre scene in recent times due to many reasons. For someone like me that had acted and produced many plays such as Aworo, Yonponyonrin, Arelu, and suddenly stopped. You should know that some problems in the theatre world would inform my stepping aside. The issues are just too much and I cannot continue. You can imagine internal wrangling and animosities and a situation where an artiste would be advised not to act or participate in plays for his colleague. There are situation when some older members don’t want the younger ones to grow. No, I cannot be a party to such a system. Many people also accused and abused me for the support I gave to Comrade Victor Ashaolu, the outgoing President of ANTP after four years in office. I was maligned, cursed and called terrible names. And when I sit back to reflect, I knew this was not how our founding fathers started it. So, I am afraid of being questioned by our noble ancestors peradventure I met them in heaven and they asked how I left the theatre world.
“However, I am back with my plays. I am now producing a film with NTA. Already, I have 28 episodes. I have just finished only 13 episodes. And yes, I want the progress of the Yoruba theatre, but not in a situation where one man wants to impose himself on others and does not want to leave after the expiration of his term. This is not acceptable.
“So, I feel that ANTP is not growing because bluntly, Comrade Ashaolu, has been its stumbling block. His term as president expires on September 22nd and I urge him to honourably take his exit. He should obey the constitution of one term which lapses in a few days’ time. I have been vilified by many people for supporting him but unfortunately he does not respect anybody. He should not go ahead with his Kangaroo election in Ilesha claiming he was re-elected as the ANTP president for another term. This is not acceptable and I do not support it. “Therefore, I am founding a new Theatre Association of Practitioners (TAP), that will be known to Nigerians much later. I have decided to leave the ANTP to form another one. Ashaolu has become a troop-less general as he has no followers. Those behind him are unknown and unpopular artistes. All he wants is to be controlling. At my age, I can’t be tossed around like a toddler. So, he has nothing to offer any more.
“And we all know that the solution to the crisis is for Ashaolu to make a u-turn and rescind all that he had done including the Kangaroo election and his team of new regime. He should not succeed himself and remember that I had been called names because I was supporting him. What everyone now wants is a new regime since most of the artistes don’t want to be associated with him. Majority are saying that his term had expired and he should give room to another person to move the association forward”.
“I have tried my best for Ashaolu in terms of money, kindness and influence from the Yoruba monarchs to spiritual leaders from both Christians and Muslims. And I thank all them all. I have suffered for him. I know how many times my car engine knocked while defending the troubled president just for ANTP to stand”.
Chief Aliu also spoke on why theatre practitioners are not well-off as expected. He said that while many seen them on the TV screens are being rich, the reality is that “in real life, they are suffering”.
This, he attributed this to the sins they commit. He said, “Our sins as theatre artistes, are too much and that is why we are suffering. How many of our films do we sell? Most of the artistes are too sinful. You would recall that not long ago, some artistes incurred the wrath of powerful juju on Alaba Market and on those pirating their works. Yet, the pirates didn’t die and nothing happened to them. So, we need to check ourselves because we don’t sell at all. I believe we need prayers and be corrected where we are at fault. And I can swear that I don’t commit any adulterous acts with any of the female actresses. I have never had girlfriends or concubines among them. Nobody can accuse me of such”.
The man in his seventies also spared the time to talk on his life and peculiar things about him. Starting from his hair and beard which he described as being powerful spiritually, he said he decided to cut both because “if I am angry and I put a strand into my mouth, whatever I say will come to pass. I discovered that it was too powerful. So when I went to Mecca I told God that I have to remove it. And I did”.
On his former wife, Chief Aliu, whose eyes turned blood shot and rolling in its sockets as if in trance, said “Yes, I was the former husband of popular actress, Orisabunmi. We parted after many years of relationship on a good note. We still see and greet each other and we are not quarrelling at all. If I have plays I would still call her to locations. We met recently and exchanged greetings. We did not quarrel at all as rumours had it”.
Asked if he would reflect on his regrets in life. The old man looked-up-and-down and nodded intermittently as if wounded. When he broke the silence, he said “yes, I have regrets in life. I lost three children in three days because I did not offer some rituals or sacrifices for them because of one of the plays I was acting then. It was later I realised that there were certain verses I was adding to an incantation that should not be included. It is like using the sixth and seventh Books of Moses. A person will just go mad if he doesn’t do what he should do according to the rites. Another regret is that of my stolen film ‘Agba Aarin’ which was about to be released when it was stolen. I was devastated but I thank the then Ogun State Governor Olurin who encouraged me to repeat the film and I did. Dr Yemi Farounbi also assisted me a lot.
“Also, all my cars got damaged beyond repairs. I then began to ride on Okada. Those were my real trying periods of life. I will never forget all those travails. And now atop that, some people want to destroy our ANTP, that would just top my regrets”, he shouted.
On a brighter note, he said that he has happy moments because he is grateful to God for his life. “I never thought I could be known and excel in life. I never went to school yet I speak English very well. The the Federal Government of Nigerian and governors honoured me with an MFR. I am a visiting Professor at the University of Jos (UNIJOS). I am the Ekiti State Cultural Ambassador and a high chief in my town, Okemesi-Ekiti. I have received many awards from local to international, yet I spent only six months in elementary school and never went beyond that.
“Let anybody who could prove me wrong come out and say it. My father, a traditional healer, had to stop me from schooling further because I was sick and vomiting blood. So, I learnt the art of writing and others by travelling and became a walking encyclopaedia of arts and culture. When I got the MFR award I didn’t know its value until I started sitting with the affluent like governors and eminent personalities as Dangote. I have been assisted by priests, prophets and kings. I never thought I would build a house in my own town or in Lagos because my parents were poor. My father was over 130 years old and agile at the time he died. So, I thank God for all my achievements”.
With all that, Chief Aliu still has dreams. He wants to view the movie ‘See Paris and Die’ before his demise. He said “One unforgettable experience of my life is when I got lost in Italy. I had £20 while in Italy and wanted to go to Paris. But I missed my way and some security officers challenged me. I told them I was going to see my daughter but had missed the way. They stared at me and later brought some sniffer dogs probably to check me. Rather, the dogs stopped panting and were looking dull and inactive by my side. The security men became confused and asked who I was. I told them I came from Nigeria and that I am an herbalist cum actor. They were afraid and asked me to go. I later joked with them that I had vowed to go to Paris as the slogan is that ‘See Paris and die’; that I wanted to see Paris and see if I would die. But they got a big surprise when their dogs became still around me.
“Another one is when I got to the point of entry in London and was asked to fill a form. I asked the officer to fill it for me that I cannot write in English. But he queried and said since I could speak English very well, I should be able to write. And after series of arguments, one of them filled the form for me and I signed and left. It surprises me too that I am fluent in speaking Englsih but lack the ability to write”.
On the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that has become a global epidemic, Chief Aliu, he is also a trado-medical practitioner and has what it takes to cure those inffected.
He said “Ebola has been around for long. Yoruba calls it Sonpona. So, the disease is not strange and it can be cured. In Mecca, there is Musemuse spiritual water that pilgrims scoop and take to their respective countries. And whoever drinks it will be well. The Western world is being deceitful to say that Africa doesn’t have potent traditional medicines that can cure illness. I can cure the dreaded Ebola if the Federal Government invites me. This disease ravaging humanity is what we call small pox, Sonpona. In the past, we easily treated those affected in the bush. It also presents as measles in children while they are isolated or quarantined till date. I am ready to offer suggestions to assist if the FG calls me. There is cure for Ebola,” he said firmly.
He also attested to the efficacy of trado-medical medicines. He said “In my father’s time, there was nothing like surgical operation. Today, little children are dying in the hospitals when herbs could have treated them. A long time ago, I climbed a bee hill and had advised some students to hold on to me or touch me to avoid being stung. Some yielded and others did not. Later, those that held had their hands on were not stung by the bees!. Also on another day, a scorpion stung me. I tied the spot with a piece of cloth, made some incantations. Later, I went to the hospital and asked a nurse to give me an injection needle. I injected myself on the punctured spot where dark poisoned blood oozed from. The hospital officials were astonished. Till date, if someone is afflicted with Magun, (don’t climb), I have the antidote. But if you are praying for such a person and calling on Jesus, it will not work because God does not support adultery. So, there is need to go trado medical to show that African powers are still there and very potent”.
Lastly, he spoke on his secret of looking young. He said “At 78, I can only thank God for this. In rehearsals, I still spend hours dancing while others are already tired. And as a retired soldier having worked under the late Benjamin Adekunle and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom I still hail as ‘Aare Owu’, you can imagine the kind of energy-building training I must have been given. In all, I thank God”, he said.
