How I Started Acting In 1966 With I-Show Pepper

• Wife, EFUNSETAN ANIWURA, Tells City People

She is one of the most respected names in the Movie industry. She is a movie icon. She is also a Living Legend who has seen it all.

Just mention her stage name, Efunsetan Aniwura and everyone will readily tell you they know this virtuous woman. Though her real name is Iyabode Ogunsola but everyone simply calls her Efunsetan Aniwura, the title of the  play that brought her to limelight.

She is one of the wives of another Theatre Icon, late I-Show Pepper, whose real name is Timothy Olusola Isola Ogunsola.

Both of them are iconic figures in Nigeria’s Theatre and Movie Industry.

She made her name via her role in the Efunsetan Aniwura: Iyalode Ibadan  play put together by her hubby. How about her late husband? Lets tell you a little about him. In his lifetime, he  was a big player in the early years of Theatre practice in Nigeria. His name reverberated all over the South-West.

Just mention I-Show Pepper and many will tell you his story.

Someone once described him as An Electric Theatre Icon.

Timothy Olusola Isola Ogunsola, popularly known as I-Show-Pepper was born on 14th November 1942 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He hailed from Baala Dasaolu compound in the Oke Itoku area of Abeokuta although he spent most of his early years in his family village, Olokuta, Oluyole Local Government area, Ibadan.

In 1959, he joined the Akin Ogungbe Concert Party, a theatre troupe based in Abeokuta, with the set of Jimoh Aliu, Charles Olumo (Àgbákò), Femi Adeyemo (Baba n gba life) and Afolabi Afolayan (Jagua). In 1965, after his period of training with Akin Ogungbe, he proceeded to form a theatre group in collaboration with his colleague, Afolabi Afolayan. The group was named Afolayan Ogunsola Theatre group.

In the early years of Theatre practice in Nigeria, performing artists married many wives so they could function as actresses and dancers. For these reasons and many more, Ogunsola married several wives including Adunola Ogunsola, Mojisola Ogunsola (Ìyá Alakara), Mopelola Ogunsola and Iyabode Ogunsola (Efunsetan Aniwura). Together, they toured Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States, the entire South-West.

Towards 1967 in Ibadan, Isola formed his own theatre group called the Isola Ogunsola Theatre Group. He married more wives and expanded the culture of touring plays to the Eastern and Northern parts of Nigeria.

He trained Samson Eluwole (Jinadu Ewele) who served as the Manager of the troupe until Isola’s demise. Isola also trained Adeniyi Orofo (Ewejoko) and Gbolagade Adedeji (Aro).

Isola Ogunsola, was an all round Theatre artist who excelled as a Director, Actor, Singer, Drummer, Dancer and Music Composer. He was one of the first set of thespians to go into Television plays, After the likes of Hubert Ogunde and Kola Ogunmola. He was also one of the first players to have his plays in the Photoplay Series, Atoka.

In 1969, he was conferred with an honorary doctorate award in the use of drums at the University of Jos. Hence, the birth of Dr. I-Show Pepper. He, in conjunction with Muyideen Alade Aromire, produced the first home video film in Nigeria, Ekun.

Some of his works include: Efunsetan Aniwura, Ìyàwó Alalubosa, Agbalowo Meeri, Ibu Olokun, Jomi Joke, Aja Lo Leru, Koseegbe, Fere Bi Ekun, Olowolayemo and more.

He worked with artists such as: Adedeji Aderemi (Olofa Ina), Kareem Adepoju (Bàbá Wande), Lere Paimo, Idowu Philips, Lanre Hassan, Sunday Omobolanle, Gbenga Adeboye, Fatai Odua and more. Ogunsola passed on at the age of 50 on December 28th, 1992.

A few days back, City People spent some quality time with Mama Efunsetan Aniwura who is 85. We wanted her to tell us her story. We wanted to know how she became an actress. Many don’t know how I-Show-Pepper got her into the Theatre industry and both of them hit it off as Husband & Wife.

We asked her if she still acts. And she smiled. “To God be the Glory. I still act. I am still very active. I go to locations if I am invited”. She revealed to City People that she just came back from Kunle Afolayan’s job location at his Film Village.

I just got back from there about 2 to 3 weeks ago, near Iseyin”.

How come she has not retired? How come she is still active? How come she has not given up on acting? She smiles. “Give up Kee? No. I can’t give up. To God be the Glory. I have been into acting right from an early age. God called me into it. God blessed me as an actor. When we talk of Theatre it takes the calling of God.”

“It is different from the acting we see today.”

“At that time, it was God that usually calls anyone who is interested in it.”

“Then, it was not about Money. It was about Passion. It was about love for the job. It is a job I know about.”

“I started acting in 1966, on stage. I started with Theatre. I started with Baba Wa Olusola Ishola Ogunsola that many call I-Show Pepper.”

“I was with him. I started with him. And I ended up marrying him. That was how we started this acting on stage, moving from one village, or town to another.”

“Its what the Yorubas call Ere Ori Itage. In those days when we act, we are always happy. When we act, it makes us to be very happy. Whether we eat or not, it doesn’t matter. There is this inner joy you feel. Once we get on stage, hunger will disappear. Once we make people happy and they laugh, we also will be happy. It gives us great joy that we are making them happy.”

“So, it runs in our blood. This is something we have been doing for decades. the feeling makes us strong. Our bones becomes stronger. We usually don’t fall ill. We don’t get sick.”

“Truth be told despite the hunger and stress that comes with acting, it doesn’t slow us down. It doesn’t make us unhappy. We don’t see it as stress.”

“We went through hell. Atimes, we usually go to places where we don’t know anybody. Atimes we do sleep in the hall.”

“Atimes we sleep in the truck. We sleep on the floor atimes, on mats and we always come out of it strong.”

“As long as God gives us life we can’t stop acting, we can’t retire. We can’t leave  what we know how best to do.”

“Atimes, when we are at home and we sit down to sing songs, people around will make fun of us that Mama has remembered her job again.”

“Who were her colleagues and contemporaries at that time who she started with? “There are so many of them.”

“These are actors like Iya Alakara.”

“She is my senior wife, we started together. Iyawo Alalubosa. We started together. Her name is Yetunde Ogunsola.”

“There are so many of us. Some have passed on. Some are still alive.”

“We met Mama Oyin Adejobi on the job. She was one of the leaders at the Adejobi Group Theatre when we go to Osogbo then, we used to stay with her. Others like Iya Ogunmola. She is late.”

Peju Ogunmola’s mum, Sister Grace is there”.

Where did she start her acting career? “I started in Ibadan, (ni ilu Ibadan) that is where I started acting on stage (Ere Ori Itage).

“I was born in Ibadan, in Oje. From there we moved to Yemetu (around the Alawada area).”

“That was when my dad built a house there”.

“How did she become somebody who began to act on stage? “From the very beginning I never knew I would be going into Theatre.”

“Since I was in Primary 1 at St. Paul Anglican Primary School in Yemetu in Ibadan, I have been acting. We used to do End Of The Year Entertainment. It was common. At that time, parents will come and gather together when we would collect our Report Card. I used to be given gifts and presents, for my performance till I got to Primary 6. I did not know at that time that I will end up acting.”

“My dad didn’t use to allow me to go and watch Theatre performance. Then Ogunde used to come to Mapo Hall in Ibadan to act. My dad will take my sister to go and watch but they won’t take me along.”

“They won’t also take my mum. My dad liked to watch Ogunde. I think my dad saw vision that I will like acting.”

“But my dad had died before I met I-Show Pepper. The person who introduced me to him was Bolade.

“He was the Manager of I-Show Pepper’s Group. He was one of the broda adugbo.”

“He was living opposite our house. My mum used to sell things in front of our house and they all used to gather outside. He brought I-Show to us. I didn’t know that he was into Theatre. I didn’t also know that I-Show Pepper was into acting also. Bolade brought him.”

“When they came to meet me, he told me he wants to marry me. I told him, I was still going to school ooo. So, I can not marry now.”

“At that time, I was planning to go and become a Nurse. I was planning to go to School of Nursing. So, I told him, me I am still going to school.”

“He said no problems. It doesn’t disturb my going to school. He says he won’t stop me from going to school.”

“They came one day, and I-Show began to complain that he has problems with his girls, that the girls disappointed him. They are from Ekiti. They went home for festive season and they did not come back.”

“And they have a show. And they need girls. I said what kind of show is this?

“They now said they are into Theatre, acting. I said wow!!! They told me they were with Baba Ogungbe before but they have since left. And they now have their own. And I just told them that haaa!”

“I can act ooo! I just said it for saying sake. I didn’t really mean it. But they took me serious. They said, really?”

“Or can I help them act? They said they will teach me what to do, how to act and what they want me to say.”

“I told my mum. She said no way. I won’t allow you follow them. She said her daughter won’t act any play. What kind of play? She went on and on. I said mummy, we are on holidays and it is only for today. She refused. But I ran away with them that day to do the performance. I was happy as they started teaching me what to do, how to sing, how to dance. At that time, music used to be a lot in plays. I-Show Pepper said haaa! So this girl is this talented. You not only acted well, you even surpassed all those we taught before you. They praised me so much. I told them it is the Grace of God. I told them I have been acting since Primary 1.”

“He now told me to join them to travel to so many towns and villages that they have so many shows and they have printed posters already.”

“That was how I followed them. When we took off we went to the North. We went to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. Afolayan and Jagua left Ogungbe and set up their group then.”

“Afolayan’s brother was a Lecturer in that University. So, he helped them book plays and they housed us, fed us and made us comfortable. We spent 3 months there. That is how I-Show Pepper and I got close.”

“My mother was worried. She told the Police to start looking for me. They gave them my photo to be looking for me all over. Despite the messages I sent home that I am okay, despite all the money I sent home. There was no phone them.”

“I sent them money order. I sent messages to them that I am not lost ooo. That I am in A.B.U Zaria acting, they were still worried.”

I told them since we are on holiday, before we resume let me quickly go and help them to act.

“Lo and behold, before the holiday ended, I became pregnant. So, I couldn’t go back to school. So I-Show Pepper and his family came to meet my mum and told her, he wanted to marry me properly. That was how I became his wife”.

–Seye Kehinde