Kemi Lala Akindoju
Actor and drama instructor, Kemi Lala Akindoju, recently talked about her craft and recent award in a chat in punch…here are 20 things we learnt from the gooo/im-nervous-about-my-roles-kemi-lala-akindoju/”>revealing interview!
Winning the Trailblazer Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards 2016
I don’t know if I have the right words
to describe how I feel. I didn’t see it coming. It is one thing to be
nominated in a category and it is another thing to be pronounced winner
when you had no clue that you would be the recipient of the award. I
feel immensely grateful, honored and humbled at the same time. This is a
reward for the 11 years I have dedicated to working in the movie
industry.
to describe how I feel. I didn’t see it coming. It is one thing to be
nominated in a category and it is another thing to be pronounced winner
when you had no clue that you would be the recipient of the award. I
feel immensely grateful, honored and humbled at the same time. This is a
reward for the 11 years I have dedicated to working in the movie
industry.
Becoming an actor
I did my first professional work in December 2005. It was a play called All I want for Christmas.
I was still a student of the University of Lagos when a friend in
church wanted to do a two-man play and my senior colleague and good
friend, OC Ukeje, was already in that play. He said ‘Lala, I think you
would be great’, because the character was required to sing.
I was still a student of the University of Lagos when a friend in
church wanted to do a two-man play and my senior colleague and good
friend, OC Ukeje, was already in that play. He said ‘Lala, I think you
would be great’, because the character was required to sing.
Education
My first degree is in Insurance, but in
my final year, I decided that I wanted to act even though I didn’t
really know how to go about it since I didn’t study Theatre Arts. I
remember that I compiled a list of directors and actors I wanted to
work with and decided to get into the industry through stage and
theatre. I felt I needed some training and when you work in theatre, you
get all kinds of training because you are doing the real thing. You are
working on your own body and every other thing. In May 2007, Terra
Kulture started something called ACE. I went for the audition and I was
selected. In July 2007, I started acting at Terra Kulture every Sunday. I
was part of the team that started what is now known as Theatre-Terra
and I did that for two and half years.
my final year, I decided that I wanted to act even though I didn’t
really know how to go about it since I didn’t study Theatre Arts. I
remember that I compiled a list of directors and actors I wanted to
work with and decided to get into the industry through stage and
theatre. I felt I needed some training and when you work in theatre, you
get all kinds of training because you are doing the real thing. You are
working on your own body and every other thing. In May 2007, Terra
Kulture started something called ACE. I went for the audition and I was
selected. In July 2007, I started acting at Terra Kulture every Sunday. I
was part of the team that started what is now known as Theatre-Terra
and I did that for two and half years.
Afterwards, I earned a master’s
degree in Media and Communication and I began working in front of the
camera. My first professional work in front of the camera was on Tinsel
in 2010. Thereafter, I gained more confidence that enabled me go in
front of the camera, after doing only stage for five years. The rest is
history.
degree in Media and Communication and I began working in front of the
camera. My first professional work in front of the camera was on Tinsel
in 2010. Thereafter, I gained more confidence that enabled me go in
front of the camera, after doing only stage for five years. The rest is
history.
Her nick name Lala
From my childhood, Kemi became
Kemolala. Gradually, Kemo disappeared and Lala just stuck. All through
my years in secondary school, people called me Lala and by the time I
left Queen’s College, Yaba, it just made sense to stick with Lala and I
just added an exclamation mark to it. For proper credit, I like to
introduce myself as Kemi-Lala. Sometimes I don’t even remember my name
is Kemi. Even my mum calls me Lala and I call her Mama Lala.
Kemolala. Gradually, Kemo disappeared and Lala just stuck. All through
my years in secondary school, people called me Lala and by the time I
left Queen’s College, Yaba, it just made sense to stick with Lala and I
just added an exclamation mark to it. For proper credit, I like to
introduce myself as Kemi-Lala. Sometimes I don’t even remember my name
is Kemi. Even my mum calls me Lala and I call her Mama Lala.
Her family
I come from a
very close-knit family. There are just four of us- my parents, my
older brother and me. I was going to be a doctor and because I was a
very outspoken child, I knew what I wanted. Somewhere along the line, I
wasn’t happy with sciences, and my parents supported me up until when I
started acting full-time.
very close-knit family. There are just four of us- my parents, my
older brother and me. I was going to be a doctor and because I was a
very outspoken child, I knew what I wanted. Somewhere along the line, I
wasn’t happy with sciences, and my parents supported me up until when I
started acting full-time.
Feminist
I am gender sensitive. I look out for
women but I was never raised to believe in this women or men thing. I
was raised as a person, so when I am going to do anything, I do not see
myself as a woman. I do not think I may not get it or I will be treated
in a funny way because I am a woman. Instead, I ask myself if I can do
the job. When I am working hard or trying to raise the bar, it’s
because I am a person. I want you to give me the job or opportunity
because I am someone who can deliver and can do the job.
women but I was never raised to believe in this women or men thing. I
was raised as a person, so when I am going to do anything, I do not see
myself as a woman. I do not think I may not get it or I will be treated
in a funny way because I am a woman. Instead, I ask myself if I can do
the job. When I am working hard or trying to raise the bar, it’s
because I am a person. I want you to give me the job or opportunity
because I am someone who can deliver and can do the job.
How she unwinds
I watch everything and Monday nights are
dedicated to going to the movies. Sometimes, my friends and I see as
many as three movies. I like drama and I love films. It’s important to
watch every film, even Nigerian films because you have to see how the
films are doing and how they are received. I go around cinemas to watch
films and to experience the audience.
dedicated to going to the movies. Sometimes, my friends and I see as
many as three movies. I like drama and I love films. It’s important to
watch every film, even Nigerian films because you have to see how the
films are doing and how they are received. I go around cinemas to watch
films and to experience the audience.
Watching movies she sees herself in
The only problem I have watching
anything is when I am in it. It is tougher watching it with people and I
am always so nervous, shy and scared. This is because at the end of
the day you can only act so well but if the audience don’t love it,
then you are not a success. For those of us who work in front of the
camera, we think about the people we are entertaining. If they don’t
accept you, there is going to be a problem. So, I am very nervous about
my work.
anything is when I am in it. It is tougher watching it with people and I
am always so nervous, shy and scared. This is because at the end of
the day you can only act so well but if the audience don’t love it,
then you are not a success. For those of us who work in front of the
camera, we think about the people we are entertaining. If they don’t
accept you, there is going to be a problem. So, I am very nervous about
my work.
Love life
No, I am not in a relationship.