how i got my stage name, OJOGE

• Veteran Actor, OLUWASESAN ADIO Tells City People

Nothing in this world  takes the place of persistence. Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know and capable of more than you can imagine. Ojoge is a known name in the movie industry. He is funny, proactive,  and makes one smile or laugh, while watching movies he features in. His real name is Oluwasesan Adio. His acting career started in 1975 in Ibadan with Kunle Ogunde, he was later to move to Lagos where he joined late Duro Ladipo theatre in his Awada Kerikeri Organization.  Hear him. “It was through late Duro Ladipo’s Awada Kerikeri featured on  NTA . Then, you cant watch TV in the morning , you can only do that around 4 or 5pm . so we used to do Episode movies on NTA in Lagos and Ibadan, that was when I started showing on TV but late Baba Mero gave me  Ojoge which he said i should use as my stage name. Have you produced any movies?” I did stage movies during Optical period. I featured movie titled BANTALE”, which i showed in National Theatre, it  was after then that video cassette came on board, but Baba Ogunde never wanted the video to come into National Theatre then. It was those who could do Optical films that can get to National Theatre to stage play. Those who did videos usually take it round to various hotels. I did various stage play that was taken to National Theatre”.

Doing what you like is freedom. Be happy with what you have, be excited about what you want. Asking him if he enjoys his acting career , he said “ I’m really happy and i thank God because this is what I’m still doing up till today. I’m fulfilled because I’m married, i have children and I can boast of my daily bread on this.I thank God I’m not hungry”. Attitude truely is a choice. Its isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are, its all about doing what makes you happy or unhappy.

Any regret so far? “The only one I can remember is the Optical film i did which i featured in National theatre. Then ticket was been sold if you want to watch movies but unfortunately, my ticket was reprinted and sold out even before I started selling mine by the touts within National theatre. It was during festive period that sells most. Before then, i had told the man who sponsored me to print ticket and sell those tickets but he didnt. So those fake ones were easily recognized. I was disturbed, disorganized and i cried that year. I later sold my ticket at the point i was suppossed to be showing the second movie.” but I thank God in all.

Hailed from Ibadan, Oyo State. He appreciated Doyin Amodu who featured the veteran actors in her movie, “Ojo Ale”. “Doyin Amodu has remembered us, may God bless her. Some of these young actors are hindering themselves thinking they are hindering us the elderly ones, lots of them dont feature us in their movies calling us names and saying nobody is calling us for roles anymore”. Potential indeed is unrealised aptitude not limited by circumstances. You can only truely become accomplished at something you love.

–Fakeye Aderonke