In the Yoruba movie industry, Wale Akorede otherwise known as Okunu is a popular comic actor who is currently making waves. He is based in Ibadan,capital of Oyo State with the likes of Muyiwa Ademola, Femi Adebayo and the rest. He has produced and featured in many exciting movies including Ise-Imole, Afurugbin and many others. He also shine in a movie titled”Ayekoto” written and produced by Sarafa Olabode, where he made an hilarious slogan “Tori Owo Nani” and this, gave him more fame and registered his face on many movie buffs’ minds. Okunu started acting right from his primary school and one of his teachers predicted that he will end up trading in the make believe industry. He made acting a profession to hold on to in 1984, but fortunately and unfortunately for him, he left the industry to Saudi Arabia for greener pasture where he sold clothes, Shoes, Bra and other fashion accessories for good 13 years before Muyiwa Ademola Invited him back into acting in 2007. In a visit to Ibadan City, the thoroughbred actor spoke to City people Yoruba Movie Reporter, about his life and the reason he returned into acting after leaving the industry for 13years
Could you please tell us more about yourself?
I am Wale Akorede, born in November 5th, 1967. I started my educational career from ICC primary school in 1973 before I switched over to Adelakun Memorial Grammar school and Ijaiye Orile school for my secondary education, I proceeded to the Polytechnic Ibadan where I studied Fine Arts and i graduated in 1981, but later travelled to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia where I did business for almost 13years, and after that, I came down to Nigeria to settled down in the movie industry.
What kind of business is that?
It was buying and selling business. I sold cloths, bra,shoes and every other commodity. But during that time, I do come for acting while I also go back to Saudi Arabia.
How did you start the acting?
I started in 1984 but when I left the industry for Saudi Arabia for greener pastures in 1991, Muyiwa Ademola always worried me to return into acting because he saw so many things in me and I know how to act rather than doing business, I took to his advice before I finally came back in 2007.I have been practising acting since my days in secondary school. Some set of boys came to me in 1984 to join their theatre group and I realised some money through it but my parents didn’t permit to go into it because there were lots of atrocities during that period in the industry. But glory is to God, they are now happy for my success in the industry. My parents are illiterate and their believe was that we are this and that but when I didn’t tolerate that with them, they gave me the chance by force.
Why did you think this conception of not allowing their children into acting by parents then, was rampant?
That was the conception of parents of the days of old. But the parents we have now are forcing their children to go into it due to the unique niche people in the entertainment business have carved for themselves.The problem I had with mine was the issue of illiteracy. If I see my kids doing anything today, I will just guard and encourage them on how to be successful on it because you never can tell what will happen tomorrow. Any talent you have,you need to educate yourself so that you can have more knowledge about it.
You have been in the industry for a while, but fame came your way recently when you featured in some movies. What’s responsible for this?
The fame came through almighty God. As I told you, I have been acting since 1984 but I did my first movie Ise-Imole in 2007 after I returned to Nigeria and people accepted it. But the film that gave me the brake through was Afurugbin which I produced in 2010. Then, the recent one I took part in is Ayekoto, written and produced by Sarafa Olabode. The slogan I made”Tori Owo Nani” interest so many people and it really registered my name on many’s minds. The meaning of the slogan is that whichever business you are into, you are doing it because of money. Every action I displayed in the movie has been written down; all I did was to play the character.
What has acting done for you?
Acting has changed a lot of things in my life. Many believed that the way I am on screen remains the same in real life, whatever I do on screen is Okunu but when you see me on the street, you are seeing Wale Akorede.You can never believe that I am as gentle as early morning water. When I am talking before the camera, I know I am working and you will never see me acting like that in the public after shooting. So, acting has changed a lot of things in my life, and glory be to God that people accepted my own kind of person.
If not for movie, what would you have preferred to do today?
I think I don’t have anything to do rather than acting. If you see my testimonial when I left primary school, you will know what am talking about. Then I didn’t know what they call theatre art and that was what they wrote in my Testimonial which means one of my teachers have already foreseen my future in the acting world, but when I grew up, I summoned the courage and I just went into it. My teacher predicted my acting job because of the way I performed on stage in Primary school.
What’s the mistake you’ve ever made, which you can never forget?
I made a mistake when I left acting to do business and there was a change for me. I was in money then but I don’t know what to do with it,with the believe that that is how things will be going smoothly for me but later on,I realise this life has its ups and downs and I learnt from the mistake. I now maintain the token I realises from acting. But I will hold my age responsible for the way I lavished money then. I was between 25 to 35 years of age.
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