What I went through to become successful in the movie industry - Comic actor, Monsuru

 

Ayanfe Adekunle is a Nollywood actor-producer and director. who is recognized for his comic roles in Yoruba movies

Ayanfe Adekunle popularly known as Alfa Monsuru was born in Isolo, Lagos state and attended St Mathias primary school for his primary education and Ajibode Grammar school for his secondary education.

 

He also obtained a diploma in Theatre Arts from The University of Ibadan and also trained under Razaq Olaiwola “Ojopagogo” of Razol entertainment before proceeding to J-15 film school owned by Femi Adebayo.

 

In this interview, Monsuru gave shared his experience as a trainee under his master, who is a veteran actor, Rasaq Olaiwola Ojopagogo and all the challenges he faces after training school.

 

 

Can you share with us how acting started for you?

 

My name is Ayanfe Adekunle, popularly known as “Monsuru Omo Alfa”. I’m an actor, scriptwriter, and producer. I attended St Matthias Anglican Primary School. I later moved to Ajibode Grammar school. When I left secondary school, I have already joined music and dance group, going everywhere to perform. One day, someone advised me to join the theatre group. I considered the advice and coupled with the fact that there is nothing serious to do, I joined Alhaji Rasaq Ojopagogo’s school.

 

 

I developed an interest in the profession from the very first day I joined the group. He asked me about my areas of strength, I told him I could sing, act, dance, and all..and he said I should display all that I can do. After all the performance, he told me I can’t be earning anything for now until after 2 years. He said for those two years, I will be serving my boss. He also warned me to be self-disciplined, because a time will come that women will begin to flock around me.

 

 

 

Lest I forget, when I called him and told him I wanted to join his group. I mentioned the name of who gave me his number, and he said I will be paying N10, 000. So, I said I will get across once, I’m able to raise the sum. But I kept reaching out to tell him I still have it in mind but I don’t have the money at the moment and he would say no problems.

 

 

 

One day I called him again and told him the same thing, and he said I should bring whatever I have with me, if I’m really interested. So, I went with N4, 000 that year. And he did all the necessary auditions and that was how I started.

 

 

 

To the glory of God, we are here today. There is a saying that one must pass through before he breaks through. There were so many challenges along the way. But because of determination and focus, we have gone this far. Because while we were still training it was very tough. I must admit, it was so tough.

 

One day, we went for a program in Ilesha. There was no money for us to return, so we went to one garage with our big drums. We danced and sang and entertained everybody, people were giving us money here and there, even the chairman donated on big bus to convey us back home and also gave us money.

 

So when we got to Ojo, we decided to give the remaining money to those who are still going far to help them pay their transport fare home while those of us who live close to Ojo can find our way home too.

 

Just before I got home, my boss called me and ordered me to return to base for rehearsal. That’s was how he called everyone else too. I had to borrow five naira from my younger brother to get to the venue of our rehearsals.

 

When we all got back to the theatre school, he looked at us and said, “God saved you all that you turned up. Now you can go back home”. I was perplexed. It was Taiwo Ajisefini that gave me transport fare back home. Those are part of the journey

 

At a point, I became the vice president of RASOL Entertainment. Bolade Ipadeola was the president at that time, but I was very agile and energetic than the president himself. We committed some offense those times that our master got to know about it. Our master got angry and he chased us all away. And one thing you can take away from Ojopagogo is, by the time he chased you away from the rehearsal, all those roles you think you are very good at, he will play them all and performed way better than all of us. So, there was a time, the group wanted to perform in Iseyin, it is called Artist Night. Our boss told those with him to call whoever they want to call back amongst us (that were chased away. So Mohammed Lawal was the one who called me. I was very skeptical when he called me, but I went with them. It was just two days to the main event so we joined the rehearsals.

 

We got to Iseyin very last at night, because of the curfew in the state at the time. We got there around 2 a.m. As expected, it is our tradition to pay him a visit before we will be dismissed to our respective lodges.

 

By the time he saw us, he was so angry. He asked why they have to call Ayanfe. Everybody took off into the bush. Nobody could beg for us. He said we must return to Ibadan that night. It was one Kudaisi Jigan that used to work with baba Dagunro that begged him on our behalf that night. He begged that they should allow us to sleep on the bus and leave in the morning. That was how Mohammed and I slept on the bus.

 

We didn’t know that our exemption was a blessing. Those who followed him to the stage were all chased away and he did the performance all by himself that night and he delivered it so well.

 

There was also a time we went to shoot Apesin when Kafaya and Yekeen were dropped. We were all feeling pity for them, but once he cites any of us looking back to check out Kafaya and Yekeen, he will ask you to get down from the bus.

 

So none of us could look back, we couldn’t even turn our necks sideways.

 

So by the time we got to Ojo, around Labamba Hotel, we feel we have come a long way. So, I and one Wale Adeleke looked back. Immediately he saw us through the side mirror, he said “Wale, Ayanfe, get down.” We got down in Oyo without having transport fare. So Wale and I went to one Oloogun’s house to beg for transport fare before we could get to our destinations.

In all, Ojopagogo is so disciplined. This really helped me later in life, when I became I coach at J-15 theatre group. I was so disciplined that my students also fear me.

 

My master likes me so much, and we also fight too. There was a time he chased me from rehearsals and told me to go home. By the next morning as early as 6am after I had gone to the mosque to pray. I met him at my house by the time I got back. He stayed with me at my house throughout the day. The following day, he came again. It was a rehearsal day so we both left my house for a rehearsal. By the time we got there, he changed face instantly and asked me what I was doing there.

 

I was dumbfounded, but we just got here together’. Then he told me, “Outside rehearsal, we are friends, but currently, we are not in good terms professionally.”

 

 

 

There was another time we went out together, by the time we got to rehearsal, I stayed back for a moment to help him unpack his load, by the time I got in, he told me I was already late, and asked me to get back (laughs). I was fined for coming late, and we went out together.

 

But in all honesty, this really helped grow in my career and even outside the industry. I am very disciplined and organized, and everybody knows it.

 

When I joined Funke Akindele, she also admitted that I am very principled and hard working. That was also what Femi Adebayo saw that made him employ me as his P.A and he was paying me. Some years later, J-15 was created and I became a coach in the school of theatre for more than 4 years.

 

All the students that went through me can testify.

 

So there is no director that can intimidate me. I have experience worse situations and have survived.

 

Most of the training we passed through those times are not there anymore, today’s students are mildly handled.

 

In all, I thank God for where I am and where I hope to be.

 

 

 

When was your happiest day?

 

 

 

My happiest day in the industry was the day I was given land. I was happy that this profession got me something that tangible.

 

Any Challenges so far?

 

Ahh..Challenges are many. Something happened so years back. Doris Simon was still pregnant with his boy, David. It was her blanket that she gave me to sleep on the floor that night at a movie location. An older actor told me I won’t get anywhere in the industry, but I thank God today, this same actor calls me for movie roles and I charge him, and he pays accordingly. I just give glory to God.

 

Any advice for upcoming actors

 

Yes. I will say, it is the way you take the theatre that theatre takes you. If you are a man, and you came determined and say, I want to know this job and I want the world to know me”, and you don’t get discouraged despite all the challenges, you will get there.

 

And if you think you have money and feel you can just jump into the industry by doing one or two films. You will do it and get the fame, but it will only end there. No one will call you for any role, except you produce the movie yourself.

 

Same for the women, some ladies worked so hard in this industry without flirting around, and they are successful. In summary, I will advise you to take this job with a commitment to what you think you can be.