One important fact that all human beings should realize is the fact that
in life, no condition is permanent. A man that is up can find himself
down. Any woman that is down today can equally make her way to the top
tomorrow.
However, there is a very disturbing trend that is going
on in Nigeria's entertainment industry, particularly in the movie
world, Nollywood. This issue of celebrities crying out to the public for
help has become like a putrefying fart that is suffocating the
atmosphere. And people have begun to speak out.
Over the years, a
lot of Nollywood actors have had to cry out to the public for help over
various ailments that have been plaguing them.
Most recent is that of veteran actor,
Kayode Odumosu aka Pa Kasumu
who is presently battling a life-threatening Bi-Ventricular Failure (a
heart and liver condition). The aged thespian had no choice but to
swallow his pride and plead with the public to save his life as
according to him, “he doesn't want to die.”
Another recent example is that of an actor who has been on the scene for quite a while,
Peter Bunor,
who was struck with a stroke. At a point, many felt that the talented
thespian had given up the ghost because his condition was so bad that he
was practically given up on, but only recently, he seemed to have been
given a new lease of life as he granted some interviews to journalists
narrating his experience. In one of them, he can be quoted as saying
amongst other things, “Since this happened, there has been no single
actor that called me to ask about my condition. It's a shame on their
part. Would they say they don't know that I'm sick?” the actor asked
rhetorically.
Continuing, he stated, “I didn't study Theatre
Arts. I started while looking for avenues to make little money for my
school. I was paid about N10 per episode in any soap that is local
production, but on network programmes like Cock Crow at Dawn, I got
about N150 per episode….” In yet another interview, he continued his
tale, “I had a stroke and that was the end of it. I was unconscious…I
was on admission for a long time before they took me to a church where
God healed me…I have given my life to Christ, and I am now a pastor…let
me say the truth, after I had this stroke, I did not know how I was
looking. That is why I am not happy with this so-called people you call
my colleagues,” he poured out his heart bitterly.
Another actor that has cried for help in the not too distant past is
Ifeanyi Dike,
who is reputed, in some quarters, to have founded the Actors Guild of
Nigeria (AGN). The actor and movie producer battled with a kidney
ailment for many years, and called on 'kind-hearted' Nigerians to come
to his aid before getting a transplant in India.
Another case that is fresh in our memories is that of ever bubbly actress,
Ngozi Nwosu, who acknowledged that she had kidney problems, but is reported by some, to actually be suffering from HIV/Aids complications.
The
actress, who was at a time looking like a ghost of herself, pleaded
with the public to save her from imminent death staring her in the face.
Though it is not sure how much was raised by concerned members of the
public, the Lagos state government came to her rescue by sponsoring her
treatment in the United Kingdom.
Inasmuch as all these seem to be
humanitarian calls that should be heeded by all sections of the public
who have the milk of human kindness flowing in them, it is pertinent to
make a holistic appraisal of the whole 'situation.'
This whining
has become a tad too much. What differentiates some of these our
entertainers from the beggars that besiege us at the numerous motor
garages splashed across the nation appealing to our core sense of
humanity to aid them in their plight?
The entertainment industry
in Nigeria is synonymous with extravagant spending, which many have said
leads to the artistes living fake lives that usually see them living
way above their means.
With the advent and viral spread of the
social media in this part of the world, our entertainers have never
ceased to show us how much better-off they are than us by regularly
flaunting pictures of their latest luxury acquisitions ranging from
cars, houses, jewelleries etc.
This is in sharp contrast to the
live of drudgery and poverty that most Nigerians are reduced to. The
pictures of weather-beaten entertainers who always seem to have been
exposed to the vagaries of life, and often appeal to the collective
sympathy of Nigerians for help nevertheless, it is un-debatable that the
'ordinary' Nigerian holds the shortest end of the stick.
“Why do Nigerian entertainers beg for help?” many have asked without any answer to assuage their curiosity.
Why
can't their colleagues who splurge as much as $25,000 on just a suit,
and 'kids' who would replace crashed Porsches worth $15,000 without
batting an eyelid, help them out? One can't help but wonder.
It
is glaring that Nigerian entertainers would continue begging cap-in-hand
until the issue of qualitative leadership is addressed in the industry.
We do have different guilds catering to actors, producers, musicians,
costumiers and others, but sadly, their impact is rarely felt by the
people who they claim to serve.
The average Nigerian
actor/entertainer is largely left to cater and fend for himself
irrespective of the number of years she has spent in the industry. With
the poor pay being offered to our thespians, it is no wonder that many
of them have practically been turned to beggars, even after years of
assiduous sacrifice and dedication to the unforgiving industry.
Until
qualitative and comprehensive grassroots-oriented leadership is put in
place in the industry, our entertainers will continue to appear like the
beggars that regularly appear in motor garages all over the nation.
Furthermore,
until our entertainers begin to imbibe the culture of insurance, the
sky will remain bleak and pregnant with ominous rain of foreboding
gloom.
Major industries like the banking, aviation,
manufacturing…rely heavily on insurance to guarantee the survival of
their businesses in the occasion of unforeseen circumstances, but it is
puzzling that the entertainment industry which is a multi-billion dollar
entity can afford to exist without requisite and comprehensive
insurance for its members.
Just like it was stated at the
beginning of this piece, no condition is permanent, and as such, every
reasonable human being ought to plan for the rainy day which will
definitely come sooner than later.
Until Nigerian entertainers
start to live within their means, they will never be free of financial
troubles. Of what gain is it to flaunt cars, houses and jewelries before
the 'hapless public,' only to come back crawling and begging for help?
Not
only Nollywood is affected by the scourge, it has spread to taint
virtually every sector of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
Maverick and one –time reigning producer,
OJB,
who recently travelled to India for kidney-related treatment was in the
news for his wide-spread appeal to Nigerians to save him from imminent
death as a result of kidney disease; luckily, he was able to generate
the needed funds even as many lambast his colleagues who usually flaunt
their latest cars and houses on Twitter and Instagram for their
lackadaisical approach to their colleague. They concluded that with the
unabashed display of wealth by Nigerian entertainers, it is unfair to
send the average poverty-stricken Nigerian on a guilt-trip about saving
her favourite film heroes.
We look forward to a Nollywood where
our actors and actresses would endow funds and grants to help their
fellow countrymen, rather than the present ones, where they compound the
problems of the burden-laden Nigerians with their incessant cry for
help.
Perhaps, this underscores and explains the prevalence of
our entertainers seeking help in religious enclaves for desperate
salvation, after realizing that they cannot save themselves
It is
SAD to note that even though some rate Nollywood as the second largest
producer of films in the world, it still largely remains a world of STAR
BEGGARS!
Culled from E24-7 MAGAZINE
