Veteran Actor, Pa JAMES Talks About His Career

+His Role As A Real Estate Brand Ambassador

At the just concluded 2023 City People Real Estate Awards, held at 10 Degree, we caught up with movie icon, Pa James, a veteran in the film industry with over four decades of acting. As the excitement of the event built up that day, Sir Pa James shared his expectations and enthusiasm for being the Ambassador of Pelican Real estate Company, an Abeokuta based real estate firm that earned accolades at the prestigious awards ceremony.

Beyond the glamour of the occasion, we delved into Pa James’ remarkable journey in acting, his experiences with Pelican Company, and his enduring commitment to comedic excellence. In this interview, uncover the captivating insights and anecdotes from this seasoned actor’s career.

You have been acting for quite a long time. How long have you been acting?

Oluwakayode Olaseyinde, popularly known as Papa James has been acting for over 40 years now. I thank God for everything I have done and I thank God for what he has done for me. Presently, I’m the Brand Ambassador for Pelican Real Estate Company.

Okay.

I want you to tell us about the company you are representing today.

I thank God for Pelican. In fact, it has been what I have been praying for that God gave me because in that company, since I have been there, we have never had a court case. You know, as an artist you need to be careful with whatever you put your head into and I thank God because the company that I am their ambassador is a good company. We have never been to the police station, we have never been to court. Anybody that buys land from Pelican will collect all their papers and they can build their  house, anybody that buys land from Pelican has no issue at all.

Where is Pelican located? Is it Lagos based or where are the coverage areas?

We thank God, we are at Abeokuta, Kobape. In Lagbere, we have Pelican valley, in kobape we have land. When I got there they gave me land. Do you know the time when my house was flooded with water. They gave me another one that has no issue.

Sir, how do you feel that the company you are promoting is receiving an award today?

In fact, when our Chairman told me that we are going to collect award here today, I said I thank God because anybody that City People gives awards to must be good company because they don’t just give anyone an award. Even if they are celebrating artists they don’t just give any anybody award. So when I heard that they wanted to give us an award, I was very happy because I know it is a very good award we will collect tonight.

So sir, going back to over 40 years of acting, I want you to tell us about how you started

The road was so rough at that time because the only thing we did then was just to work hard so that people will see you and know what you do, to showcase yourself not for money. We didn’t think that we will have money then, it was just for people to see us. That time, we started with a live program on television, no recording, just live. When they televised like that, that is the end of everything on NTA, so when we finished our show, we will go and meet people to ask if they watched our program, and also ask if they enjoyed it. So that is what we did for people to see us. We knew that the industry will do better but we didn’t know it will be like this. So, all these new artists are just having it the easy way in their own time, we have gone through that process for them. But we thank God for everything. I really thank God for what he has done for me.

How many movies can you remember that you have done?

For me, it is only two that are my own personal works “Ayesherure”.

That was when?

1984 and the one that I did in 2000 was “Aremu Elerun” which was a video movie.

I’m interested in knowing those people you started with over 40 years ago and especially who trained you in the aspect of movie acting?

I had a boss that time, he was my only boss, late Olanrewaju Alli Theater popularly known as Lanre Loves Lion Power. Anybody that has been in the industry for 40 something years will know the man, he was our boss. He trained me very well in both serious acting and comedy but I chose the comedy line.

Why?

It is something that I liked so much from the beginning, to be a comedian, I like it.

Can you remember the first comedy you did that brought you to the limelight, that made you popular?

It is plenty but the one we did at LTV, at Awolowo Way titled “Asoere”. In that drama, I went to steal a cloth that they spread under the sun, I took it and wore it. It was a thief that ran away from prison that spread the clothes there, I didn’t know the difference between good clothes and prison clothes, I just took it and wore it, so when my friends saw me they were like Asoere,  Asoere. So when police came they arrested me and I was like what happened, they said I am the one they are looking for.

Sir, the name Pa James, that we of the younger generation got to know you as, how did you come up with the name, you are so popular with that name?

The name is not my own, the real fact is that I’m James but that Pa James is from Wale Adenuga, I can’t bear that name in any movie or drama. If they call me for any entertainment project, I can’t bear that name there. Pa James is just for Wale Adenuga Productions.

So, I’m interested in how you have been able to keep up with acting till now, I believe you are still in the industry?

I don’t have any other work. When they say it’s time to act, and I say I am not ready to act then I won’t eat, so it is my work and I promise that I will continue to do my best. I won’t do rubbish.

Do you have any of your children following your footsteps?

Yes, I have a son, Samuel Oluwadamilare Olaseyinde, he is my son.

So, finally, the younger generation, we have a lot of them who are doing comedy and are doing well in it now. What advice do you have for them, from your own wealth of experience?

The advice I have for them is that, they should be consistent. The things they are doing that are making people laugh, they should not change it to things that will make people start as asking, what are they doing? Ours is to make them happy, we don’t need to make them feel angry or unhappy. When they watch our program they should laugh away their sorrows. That is it, they should please and please not do sub-standard works. I so much like the stand up comedians, all the skit makers and those on TV, I really like them and I pray for them that they will live long  because they like me and I like them too. So they should please keep on doing what they know how to do best.