Nollywood actor, model, host and photographer, Tobi Bakre, in this interview by ADERONKE ADESANYA speaks about the roles and challenges being faced on set in the upcoming Nigerian crime series, “Slum King”. Excerpts:
Tell us more about your role in the Nollywood crime series, “Slum King?”
In the series, my character “Edafe”, was raised in an ideal average middle-class loving family but unfortunately, life happened and this caused changes in his life. He had to adapt to a new life in the shortest frame of time, while also battling his own demons. I can’t say more on that without spilling too much, so I’ll just stop there.
What brought your interest in this role, knowing full well that it is a crime series in a society that is prone to believing that an actor isn’t different from the role they play?
That’s not true. Primarily owing to the fact that I have a very active social media presence and on these platforms, people get to know me well so they can tell the difference from a role I’m playing and who I really am. So, for me, what really attracted me to the project was the other cast members I was going to be working alongside and the director. The first point of contact was the director and “Shanty town” had just been released at the time, so I was really looking forward to working with the director on roles that are crime-related. Then, I found out that I was going to be working with people that I’ve always loved and appreciated their art and craft so I saw it as a very bold opportunity for me to learn. It was also an opportunity for me to reaffirm what I had built so far in terms of my acting abilities.
How do you think the character of Edafe is similar to you beyond the acting?
The character is totally different from my personal background. Some of the things that Edafe encountered at a young age, I’ve not even encountered as an adult, so everything the character had to draw from has been different from everything I’ve had to draw from personally. Basically, I’d call the difference between us a striking contrast.
Would you mind sharing the biggest challenge(s) you’ve faced?
The biggest challenge was that I was getting into the character too much. As an actor, you have to do your best to get into character and be close to the character as much as possible. I
In the process, I even found myself dreaming of death at a point and I recognise that it’s because of the character I played. But thank God for the support system that we had. Whenever I felt too overwhelmed, I could take a break to relax and clear my head.
What do you think about the talk of the stereotype in the characters that you play?
I feel like when people say that, it’s a form of compliment. What people don’t understand is that every actor has his own peculiarities that other actors just won’t fit in. That’s how drama works and I’m more than happy to be the face of this so-called stereotype.
What should the audience look out for in “Slum King” and what are the societal issues that it covers?
Firstly, I believe that every single person that watches it will be able to relate with the characters. I remember carrying the script and dropping it almost immediately because there were about 20 characters in the first five pages. This shows that there are different dynamics and relationships that everyone will be able to relate with in there. Viewers will love some characters, hate some, and even identify some.
However, we still have the satirical aspect that will deal with the problems we have in our society. A good example is the drug problem that we definitely have in Nigeria as well as political issues that the average Nigerian can relate to.
What are the elements that compelled you to this character?
The first thing for me is the background. Each character has a different background and life has happened to them in a lot of ways so this keeps me grounded in the sense that sometimes, we are just a result of life happening, our system failing and also our choices as individuals. I have also realised that things would be so different for many people if life treated them well or they had a second chance.
Did you, at any point, find yourself in conflict with your character or question your character’s decision?
One thing I’ve left on the craft is that sometimes you need to give a bit of you into the character and that’s what makes it unique and makes it impossible for somebody else to do it the way you do it. So, I give a bit of myself into the character or even more than a bit; I take all the things I have in a positive light in my personal life and use some of those things in a different space for these characters. What I try to do is not let the energies from that character flow back into my personal life or personal space and I also learn from these characters – sometimes from their determination, their ability to take risks, their wealth, the goal-getting spirit that some of these characters have and the likes.
Did you face any challenge(s) on the set?
Yes, this was a very hectic production so to say. In the production aspect, there were many challenges just because of the scale, the size of the project and the production quality that the company was trying to attain. Also, for a project like this, being in character for too long enough makes the character start growing on you. So, most of the challenges involved maintaining yourself while being this other person day in and day out. There were days that we were on set for nights – back to back – and this could go on for four or five days, while away from friends and family just to create this masterpiece. So, it will definitely take its toll. I remember having a lot of sleepless nights but thank God for also the support systems we had onset and offset. After creating and working on set, you can just easily bounce back to a good time and stay sharp and creative.
Is there any role you still dream of acting?
Yes, I still want to act in very amazing Rom-com movies, Sci-fi movies and even work with Marvel. So, I mean there’s still so much that I want to do in the acting space. I know already that there are so many challenging and diverse roles that I can’t wait to immerse myself in. I’m just looking forward to getting those opportunities and just applying my principles to them and seeing how well they can turn out.
What aspect of this movie do you think will resonate with the audience strongly?
I believe every part of this movie is going to connect with the audience, there are no far-fetched bits. Just like in the structures of life, some dynamics apply. I mean there’s friendship, there’s betrayal, there’s love, all those different ideas and complications. So, I feel like it’s for general consumption and everybody’s going to be able to relax and enjoy.
A lot of Nigerian/African movies tend to depict poverty and inadvertently advances the world’s views where they see Africa as a poor country? Do you feel like the stories being told by Nollywood and Africa magic should change?
Look around you. What do you see? That’s pretty much the average answer I can give to that question because when you look around you, the rate of poverty in ratio to the population count is crazy. A lot of people are living in the slums and living in absolute poverty. When you compare it to the number of rich people, the difference is a lot. Of course, we’re a people with a very diverse culture but still I feel like no matter what, people will always be able to relate with this cause there is poverty. One thing people also need to know is that all these things are not far from you. It might not be your reality but it’s closer to you than you think or you might have even encountered it at one time. Unless you were born and bred in a wealthy household, you would have faced poverty at least once, although the concept of “poverty” is relative. Lastly, I think its good producers and directors are now focusing on these stories because sadly, not enough slum stories are being told and it’s good that they are now putting more effort into telling people’s stories. A lot of what you’ll see in “Slum King” is the reality of people all across Africa.
What do you expect your fans to learn from your character in the series?
I think it’s going to be subjective. A lot of people are going to watch this and learn different things, so I don’t want to guess what it is. They have to learn as much as possible. I want them to be entertained. I want them to enjoy my character but I also want them to pick valuable lessons that can enhance their lives.
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