I’m Single

Bukola Awoyemi of the popular Tunde Kelani film Arugba, spoke with P.M. Entertainment about her role in the film, her desires and other things

Congratulations for winning the best new act in the Afrohollywood Award

Thank you so much.

How were you auditioned for the Arugba role?

Well, it has been my age long ambition to work with Tunde Kelani. I when I came to Lagos in 2004 for my industrial attachment I was unable to do it with Mainframe but I ended up doing it at MITV.

Though you read performing art, why did you decide to act?

I have passion for acting and I know that I have an in-born talent for acting.

When and how did you meet T.K?

Well, the first time I went to his office was in 2004, and at that time he was busy so we discussed briefly and that was all.

Were you introduced to him by somebody?

No. When I was coming to Lagos from Ilorin, Kwara State, it was my first time in Lagos. So I picked one of the Mainframe’s film jackets in which its address and office telephone number was written. So I asked my uncle who I was living with then to direct me to Oshodi. He was surprised and asked me what I was going to do at Oshodi and I told him I wanted to go and see Tunde Kelani. And he asked me: ‘do you think it is easy to see those people?’ and I told him no problem. So I went to a call centre, because mobile phone was not that popular then. So I put a call through to the number on the jacket and someone picked it. I thought it must have been Tunde Kelani and I told him that I am an undergraduate and I needed to do my industrial attachment with his company.

So you lied?

Not really, I wanted to do my I.T. and I needed to do it somewhere preferably Mainframe.

So you wanted to understudy his company?

You are right.

What was his response?

His response was that there was no vacancy for industrial attachment students. I suspected that it was T.K. that picked the call. I was unhappy but I was not satisfied with the answer. Then I went back to the call centre the following day to put another call through, this time around it was a female voice I heard on the telephone. I thought she must have been the secretary, and I told her I wanted to talk with the M.D. and she asked do you have an appointment to speak with T.K. I never knew he was called T.K. then. So I said yes and he(T.K) asked me to come to his office. So, that was my first encounter with him.

How was the encounter?

Nice, he was a nice person, no protocol. That was in 2004. So in 2005 when I graduated I was incapacitated because I had an accident that year.

Which part of your body was affected?

Don’t worry that is a story for another day, but what I can tell you is, we were going for a stage play when the accident occurred. But in 2006 I went back to him when he was working on Aberi and he had already had his cast.

Even “waka pass”?

(Laughter) Yes, there was no way he could have fixed me. So in 2007 after I finished the National Youth Service. I went back. And on 19 December, that was my birthday, I prayed to God and requested a birthday gift. On that day I never knew that he was working on Arugba and was looking for a dark skinned girl and that’s how it happened I was auditioned and given the script, because he wanted to know if I could speak Yoruba fluently and he was convinced. So Arugba was my birthday gift from God because I prayed about it.

When you were given the script how did you feel having to play the role of a river goddess and a virgin?

Every role has its interpretation. All it requires is to study the script very ell and give it a good interpretation. I use to hear of Osun/Oshogbo Festival because when I went to see T.K. he asked me in Yoruba “se oleru igba” meaning can you carry calabash? Then I was scared, thinking that it may have something to do with a fetish thing because I am a Christian and he told me it is acting.

The role is that of a maiden and a virgin. Were you a virgin when you carried the calabash?

That is personal, stop that.

Did you visit the Osun Grove before the shooting of the film?

Yes, we went to the Grove and had a feel of what it looks like to help our interpretation.

Did you enter the river?

No, I did not even touch the water.

Why?

I just didn’t feel like touching it.

Were your parents scared of the role?

No, I am from a Christian family and my parents know what I will do and what I will not do.

But you needed money that time?

No. I never needed money then, but I was doing what I always dreamt of doing. So all I wanted then was let this come true.

When you were on location and the camera was on you what was on your mind?

Nothing, I was not even aware that there was a camera, I was just doing my thing naturally because it was what I had been longing to do.

What about the karate role in the movie when you floored at least three men?

Well, T.K. brought a professional karate expert who taught me for a few hours before the shooting of the film but for all you may know, I actually floored those guys because he taught me what to do.

So you are that strong?

Yes, when I was growing up I was a tomboy and I was very strong. Now I am the direct opposite of what I was in the past. Now I am very cool but when I was growing up I used to beat men, I was very strong, my mom was wondering how I got such power. Then whenever anybody fights my younger or older sisters I will go back and retaliate. But now I don’t want my voice to be heard.

What were the challenges when you were on location to shoot Arugba?

I was so cautious because I was working with professionals and elderly people and everything went on fine.

After stardom came, how were you able to manage it?

Yes, you know in Nigeria, stardom doesn’t come with money but thank God I am coping. You know, after the release of Arugba people’s expectation was just too much for me. They believed I should have big cars and money. Even whenever I walked on the streets, people tend to argue among themselves saying she is not the one, others will say she is, among other things. The first time I knew that people recognised me I felt like entering the ground.

What about pressures from men?

That had been on before Arugba but after the film it was more.

How were you able to cope with it?

Grace of God.

What do you think they were looking for in you whether you can still carry calabash, you know what I mean?

I don’t know may be you can help me ask them.

After the film, why haven’t you been featuring in other films?

I have been very careful after the Arugba film because I have a standard. Currently I am working on my own film titled Igbanbajo. It is a love film about a lady raised by a single parent. She saw her father once and she lived all her life without a father and she hates men among other things. She even thought she cannot get married.

In Arugba you played the role of a virgin and running away from men, now your film is about a single parent will you ever get married?

Yes, by God’s grace.

When?

Very soon

How soon?

Very soon.

Do you have somebody in your life now?

I am single.

Anybody for now?

I say I am single that is what I have to say, I don’t want to say any other thing than I am single.