Within the Yoruba movie industry, everybody knows the name OGOGO. That is not his real name. Ogogo is his stage name. His real name is Taiwo Hassan.
So, how did this ebony complexioned movie icon who turned 60 a few weeks back get the nickname Ogogo? He told City People how: “Many people often wonder where I got the name Ogogo from. People often say how can someone be called Ogogo. Somebody asked me for the meaning of Ogogo, only yesterday on Traffic Radio. If I say Erin digbo ni mi, I am saying Ogogo. My family Oriki from my father’s side is Ogogo.
My father’s family Oriki is “Ogogo Omo Akulodo Aringini. So many people don’t always get the pronunciation right. If you are not good in Yoruba, you are not good. Yoruba is very important to me than any language in the whole wide world because I was born here. Yoruba is my language. Ogogo Akulodo Aringini…”.
“By the grace of God, after this birthday, it is likely for me not to do any other 2 hrs production anymore and go into something better.
The suffering in movie production is getting too much. Whoever that is producing now is producing with tears. You can quote me anywhere. In the olden days, it is with happiness that we produced. Anybody who tries to do it now, it is with tears. I am saying it publicly. It is a fact. Don’t edit this. It has to do with my profession. I eat from it”.
Because I know what I’m saying. So many young people have trained under me, that I’m praying for on a daily basis to grow far more than me, but if we don’t have another alternative for them in this life, won’t they regret ever joining the movie industry? We are praying for them to do something tangible in life. But we have lots of bad people that are killing us in this industry. Some of them started well but now they have derailed. I’ve worked with many people. Our Marketers need to change their ways. Many of them are no longer truthful. They were truthful when we first started. Some of them started well. I am saying it categorically. Some of them started well. People like Corporate Pictures. He is a good man. I have worked with OLASCO before, He is a good man. He gave me my dues. We have worked for long, Likewise Afisco, likewise Epsalaum. I have worked with these people. If I say I have done 300 movies, 280 of such movies have been with Corporate Pictures. I have never regretted working with him. But I am really sad at the way the industry is now. I am angry. All these Big marketers should call others to order.”
“They are talking about Online. If they feel that Online is the best platform now, why can’t they put all the old films online too, and at least give the Producer 10% of what you make from it.
Though I salute their courage because before, they used to give us money to produce, whatever that is happening now is the handiwork of the devil. The devil is using some of them now. It’s not their fault.
What new project is he working on how?
“It’s based on Ijinle Yoruba TV. It’s going to be a full-time culture programme. I want to show the world our culture. I want to correct many abnormalities in our culture. I don’t think anybody has tried what I want to do before and I’m going to need your support in achieving it”.
