The passion to make a difference in his generation, drove this young, resilient and talented upcoming Nollywood Actor, Kevwe Ogunje, to achieve many feats in the entertainment industry, not just in the United Kingdom, UK, but also, back home in Nigeria.
Kevwe is not only a talented Actor and Master of Ceremony, MC, but also a producer, and the brain behind his latest TV series, ‘Twisted’, which is coming out soon on DSTV at the end of July.
The terrific Actor who has been acting in the UK for some years, before his return to Nigeria, hails from Delta State.
The certified System Engineer bagged a BSc in Information Systems and Communication/Computer Science from Benson Idahosa University, BIU. He also obtained a Masters Degree in Information Technology, and another Masters in Management, at the University of Salford, UK.
That Kevwe is funny and humble is an understatement, no wonder he has achieved so much in a short while, and for his web series ‘2sides’ to be nominated for the BEFFTA Awards 2013, in the Best Actor category, is not a mere feat for someone who started professionally in the same year. He also has some notable works such as, ‘Shameful Deceit’, ‘London Na Wa’, ‘At Home Abroad’, and many more to his name.
In this exclusive interview with Post-Nigeria, Kevwe talks about his journey as an Actor, his personality, and character in his latest movie, ‘Twisted’. He also reveals why he ‘hates’ fellow Nollywood Actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu, what he would like to change in Nollywood, his best fashion piece, and how he handles the ladies, as well as male toasters. It is a must read!
Kevwe Ogunje on how his passion for acting all began…
You are a computer scientist, why did you delve into acting?
It all started in my university days; I always liked speaking and people liked listening to me. We had a drama group then, that we used to act stage plays. I loved the attention I was getting from girls, and even my classmates that used to look down on me that I was not very bright in class, started giving me attention. That was what originally generated my passion for acting. I was a MC in school, and people would pay me to be a MC during LAWSA weeks in school. Then acting started, I started with comic acting, but I realized I was not that kind of through and through comedian, in the likes of Akpororo. So I carved a niche for myself in ‘Posh Comedy’, a lighter kind of comedy. That was how it started.
How many movies have you featured in so far?
I have been in the UK for like seven years. There is what we call Nollywood UK, that is, Nigerian movies shot in the UK. However, the problem is, those movies are hardly accepted in Nigeria, because Nigerians prefer Nigerian movies done by Nigerians in Nigeria. For the Nollywood UK movies, I have featured in 5 of them, and 4 of those movies have been premiered in the biggest European cinemas in London. In Nigeria, I have starred in 3 movies, since I returned two and half months ago. One as a sub-lead, the second, as an extra, and the third, as support lead.
How has the journey being so far?
I like to keep it real. It has not been easy I must confess. We post good pictures with everyone looking fly and smiling, but deep inside, the boy is broke. In Nigeria, there is something I realized when I came. If you are unknown, you are unknown, and until you get known, you are a nobody. I am trying to fight that aspect of life; I am trying to fight for equality for artists, because if you are not a big name, then you are treated like trash. So entertainment wise in Nigeria, if you are not a big name yet, it is not going be easy for you. Thank God I have the international experience, that makes things a little bit easy for me, but still at that, it has not been easy.
If you were not acting, what would you be doing?
If I were not acting, I will be living a boring life, repairing computers in a company, wearing suits from 9am – 5pm. Go home, sleep, wake up, and continue the same boring routine, but I do not think that is what God wants for me. He wants me to preach to people, speak to people through acting.
What is the most challenging role you have taken and why?
The most challenging role I have taken unfortunately, happens to be in my own film, because I co-produced it with my partner, Candies Otumata. I co-produced a film called “Twisted”, which is coming on DSTV at the end of July. The character I played was a lover boy, a very mature lover boy and an extremely coded playboy. From the kind of background I come from, having to make out with a girl in real life is a problem, let alone on screen. So that was very challenging for me making out with my fiancé and the other girls I was playing with. It was very difficult, because I had to kiss the girls and make it real. We kept on cutting and I kept kissing to get it right.
You were nominated for a BEFFTA Award in 2013, in the Best Actor category? How did that come about?
I did a watch story on YouTube called “Two Sides”. It was a big hit in the UK for black entertainment. Then I got noticed by the organising body for the BEFFTA Awards, and they sent me messages that I was nominated for my work on Two Sides.
Is kevwe in a relationship?
Which kind question be that na? Market wey just start, na him they wan spoil? Kevwe is in a kande kind of life. The explanation is passive, you cannot explain the explanation.
Who is your favourite Nollywood Actor and why?
For now there are two in the male category, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Deyemi Okanlawon. Blossom is one of my favourites, because I ‘hate’ Blossom. There was a big stage play I was supposed to do back in the University, because we attended the same university. I had rehearsed for like a month for the role, and then I had malaria so I missed rehearsals for two days. I came back and they said that an idiot (Blossom) had taken the main role. And at the end, he killed it and I was happy he played it to be honest. Since then I always knew he would make it as an Actor. As for Deyemi he is one of those Actors that I would like to act like. He is that James Bond kind of Actor, that lover boy fierce James Bond mentor kind of Actor that is why I like Deyemi.
Blossom Chukwujekwu and Deyemi Okanlawon
What is the fashion item you cannot do without?
I cannot do without a blazer. I have more than 78 blazers, but no be all I buy sha, some na tailors do give me. I started wearing blazers when I realized that as a MC, as you are using your head and mind, you tend to sweat a lot. I sweat a lot, so blazers cover that flaw, especially when I am on stage, and not just that, again I realized that I looked good in blazers, so I fell in love with them completely.
If you were to change something in Nollywood, what would that be?
I will change the silly backward mind-set that they have, and I will preach equality in the treatment of Actors. Whether you are an A-lister or not, you should be equally treated and respected, because you are an Actor. Respect and silly mind-set are what I will change.
On how he handles advances from female fans, he said…
“Mann! I will give you this analogy. If I am in a relationship, I get advances from female fans, but once that relationship crashes, all the female fans disappear. I do not know why, but I pretty much handle it good. If I see someone and the person is on to me. I sure know how to handle, it because it is normal”
As a metrosexual man, do you also have advances from the same sex?
To be pretty honest that happens, especially among some few selected people who think they can take you to the next level in entertainment. You get the odd advances from them. I had someone who wanted to give me a big deal, and he told me I have to scratch his pocket, and in the UK scratching someone’s pocket means sleeping with them. That was how I lost that deal. It happens, I am not here to judge anyone’s sexuality, but it should not be a yardstick for getting upcoming Actors to the next level. I get that a lot.
On where he sees himself in the next five years, he said…
“I hope and pray that I will be generally accepted worldwide as a Film Maker, Actor and a renowned MC. Not just a Nigerian known MC, but a MC for corporate events abroad”
What project are you currently working on?
At the moment I am doing finishing touches on my TV series, Twisted, the one I co-produced with Kande. It is coming out at the end of July. Then I am waiting for sour ID, called ‘Love Spectrolegion’ directed by Ejiro Onodiakpo, and that should be coming out next month. It is been edited in the United States of America, USA, at the moment. Get ready to be thrilled.
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