14th April, 2020
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Popular Yoruba actor, script-writer, producer and movie director, Olusegun Akanni Ogungbe has come a long way in the Nigerian movie industry.
He is a skilful, creative and exceptionally talented actor, gifted in acting and interpreting roles and accepts freely any movie roles assigned him.
He is unique in many ways including marrying more than one wife just like his late uncle, one of the founding fathers of the Nigerian movie industry, Akin Ogungbe, who had 20 wives and 50 children.
Segun Ogungbe was born in the 70s into a family of entertainers and at the age of 3, he was already featuring in stage plays and optical films by late Baba Ogungbe, Ogunde, Baba Sala.
He had his primary and secondary education in Ibadan.
Thereafter, he starred regularly in Yoruba Nollywood movies.
“In 1996, I started my own film company, now known as Segun Ogungbe Films, but was shot into the limelight after producing Ibi Giga and went on to produce other movies which include Banke Despirado, Akoto Olokada 1 and 2, Ila Owo, Ifa Ni, Tabajewo, Ashiri Ikoko, Ologbo Iya Ijebu, Baba Arugbo, Agartha, Father and Daughter, Diamond and several others”, he said.
His father who is a younger brother to Akin Ogungbe was a tailor.
He was late Hannah Awolowo’s tailor in the 50s, before he then faced theatre squarely.
Ogungbe’s personal life is remarkable in many ways.
He is married to two women Atinuke and Omowunmi, who have no animus sharing the same man, under the same roof.
In spite of the problems associated with polygamy, he revealed that he has a peaceful home.
He is also comfortable with his wives.
“I have a peaceful household. God has blessed me with wives that understand each other. It is only God that can help a man have a peaceful home.
“However, for those who think that I would have about 20 wives like my uncle; all I have to say is that they should mind their business”.
It was once widely reported that the actor was married to two best friends.
But he debunked the claim, saying it was fabricated by a lady who once proposed marriage to him.
“What actually happened was that there was a lady who wanted to marry me a long while ago and I made her realise that as of that time I could not have two wives. She is not into entertainment at all and I would not want to mention names. Eventually, I got together with my second wife and when she got pregnant and we eventually got married, the lady was very mad at me.
“She was the one that went on her Facebook wall to spread the false news that I got my first wife’s best friend pregnant. She was the one that framed me simply because I did not want to marry her back then. Sadly, people are quick to believe news like this without confirming the truth,” he noted.
His wives have also debunked the story.
His first wife, Atinuke, said although no woman will be happy to share her husband, she said she and the younger wife bond together because of the common love and respect they have for their husband.
The junior wife, Omawumi Ajiboye said: “Yes we are best friends now and that’s because our husband’s happiness is our own main priority.”