I STARTED ARTS AT A TENDER AGE IMITATING MY TEACHERS SAYS MIKE OKORIE

I STARTED ARTS AT A TENDER AGE IMITATING MY TEACHERS SAYS MIKE OKORIE.

Entertainment Parrot Interview with Mr. Michael Okorie (Secretary Eko Gond (Guild of Nigeria Dance)

E.P: Let’s know you

Ans: I am Michael Okorie, am a theatre artist, I have a B.A in Creative Arts from the University of Lagos and an, M. A. from the same institution, Am a versatile artist, I dance, I act and choreograph, I direct an also involved in project management, am also a radio presenter with, Unilag Fm, we have a radio program on Unilag Fm known as “KONKERE EXTENSION with Tunji Sofimirin. And “ON STAGE” it is a one hour program it’s thirty minutes based on theatre, music, visual arts and the remaining thirty minutes we discuss things that germainue (that affects) theart and the environment.

Also in “ONE STAGE” brought back things that are related to the arts to the radio weather you have perform as a dancer, musician etc we bring you back on stage, we have a section which we call book reviewed where I have to review a book every week also a radio drama sketch where me and my team do radio drama sketch presentation. Also I and my friends set up Trouper’s Arts Production myself, Tobi Odunsi, Wahab Babatunde, Olumide Ogunfowora, Wale Ayodeji (Yaro) we came together in 2008 before Wale left to form the Kings and Queens Concert in Bariga and he always says it is an off shoot of the Troupers arts production.

E.P: The radio program on Unilag Fm with Tunji Sotimirin what is the name?.

Ans: The radio program is KONKERE EXTENSION and the time is every Sunday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.

E.P: With your vast experience in the arts does it really pay your bills?

Ans: Arts em, it is difficult to really answer that, Arts as it is in this, clime, you do a show and put all your energy into it, but it does not give you the desire pay, yet you keep doing what you are doing people would come and see it and it would open bigger doors you understand you do a show they pay you ten three naira after several months of rehearsals some or two people would invite you to other production after watching in the last one and you could collect like two hundred thousand like my Oga Segun Adefilla always says that “Art is the selector of its own. If you are for the art you are in it whether no money or there’s money but certainly am sure it pay bills.

E.P: The passion for the arts where does it come from?

Ans: I think I started arts from a tender age, I starts in the class imitating my teachers, it grew from there to when I was in secondary school, 1996 I joined a group called STANLITE theatre group from there I and my guys in 1998 joined the Crown Troupe of Africa led by Segun Adefila I was there for another ten years training yes the passion keep growing by the day because as youth we serve as mirror to the society. If our arts does not speak what we do how does it now effect the change we desire, you perform today at the street. People see you and adore you tomorrow you go to the state house or palace people see you perform you can imagine when I join the Crow Troupe of Africa in 1998, in 1999 we perform for Obasanjo during his immigration and over forty presidents watch us perform- that is what. The acts can do for you.

E.P: Any new project by you?

Ans: Last year I was the project manager for FELABRATIONS.

E.P: Is it for the entire FELABRATIONS both of African Shrine and Freedom Park?

Ans: Yes the entire Felabrations Festival because I was project Manager, the job was too much, it was over whelming but, this year we are two now in fact the meeting we had today was on Felabrations; so basically I am into project management I don’t depend on one aspect of the arts. I am involved in Multi-casting. So for anybody that have a difficult project at hand they should call me I will set up a team and handle it successfully if I am not on stage I occupy myself doing project management for people.

E.P: In terms of concert, stage management e.t.c.

Ans: Yes, yesterday I was at museum centre after my radio show to act in a play called” Queens for Domingos” written by Abioiwa Ikomu and directed by Victor Essien so you have to show off your time to attend rehearsals and to all those thing am involved in artistically of course you know am the secretary Guild of Nigeria Dance Lagos State Branch (Eko Gond)

E.P: How do you see government altitude to the arts?

Ans: Ah government altitude is appealing you know been privilege to travel to foreign countries, if only our government acts so nobody would ask us if acts put food on our table or pay our bills because in normal clime, there are certain many devoted to the arts, so what you do is write a proposal take it to there and get it done but it is not so here only the rich have access to funds you knows if you don’t have money you can’t do the theatre they have forgotten the rudiments of theatre you know theatre is about instilling discipline into our society, in fact theatre is next to the military in terms of discipline. It is a item discipline professional to be, so our government need

to change their thought.

E.P: It is said that theatre mirrors the society they are with good collaborative effort govt. can use the theatre as a collaborative way to a re-orientate the society?

Ans: (Cut in) Yes but for the lack of commitment by the government you know the politic and always bring own in order to take the money.

E.P: So what is your appeal to the govt.?

Ans: My appeal to them is that they should please o, for example the money for campaign has not been circulated as expected because you package it and give it to one company instead of the smaller production companies who would have benefited from it but because of man know man my husband know one minister, my husband is a Lawyer, I know the president e.t.c. and they show change those of us that are nobody, so my appeal is that they should look inwards, the government of Lagos is trying by building Six theatre halls in Lagos. He is Ere swaying the young production compassions but he alone can’t do it, his effort is like a little drop of water in an ocean. I am appealing to everybody to rally him and put the necessary amenities in place we can forget about oil. If production is going on in the country every week like we have recently after the Ogun Drum Festival we load the Lagos Dance Festival another art festival in Osun State we went to another one in Imo State with this engagement people any the society would be vibrant. People would return to the 80’s after Festac when theatre was at it peak, theatre halls were filled up but the halls are empty these days – theatre people are leaving the job because of lack of government support and the enabling environment. The private ones are trying like the Oxgen Concept, the Troupers Arts. E.t.c but it is not easy.

E.P: In five years time where do you see yourself artistically? We know everything is in the hands of God.

Ans: In five years time things been equal although am not a Nollywood fan but with my experience in the theatre (20years) now. I want to give it a try because unlike stage productions where you do three straight in a months of serious rehearsals- it is only you do one show if you do three in a months. You must take that show around, so in the next five years I want to be in one of the top movies and everything been equal I would like to start my Ph.d.

EP: What is your Message to your fans?

Ans: I want them to be positive, to be positive about our country not to lose hope about this country do is going to take the wicked ones our, think positive in everything you do

"WHAT IT TAKES": Is an expose on the difficulties aspiring Nigeria University Doctrine Programme Students undergoes in the face of their zeal, energy, enthusiasms, and excellent accademic pursuits which are marred by the Nigeria Factor.

"WHERE ARE YOU FROM": Tackles citizenship, indegenisation, inter ethnic marriages and youthful exuberance, it highlights the frustration and disappointment young Nigeria face in their quest to succeed in a place where their differences in background

Available at: GLENDORA IKEJA,

PATABAH SURULERE,

QUINTESSENCE IKOYI

TERRA KULTURE, TIAMIYU SAVAGE STREET, V.I

IN IBADAN, AT UI BOOKSHOP AND ALL BOOK SELLING OULETS.

THIS BOOK IS AN ACADEMIC EXPOSITION ON URBAN LIVING WITH SPECIAL FOCUS
ON AFRICA AND THE ART(SETTING).... WRITTEN BY RENOWNED AUTHOR DR LOLA AKANDE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS ,ENGLISH DEPARTMENT... IT CAN BE PURCHASED FROM LAGOS ,CALL 08037195881,,ALSO FROM U.I BOOKSHOP, CALL OLAWALE ON 07069727757....

FROM SEGUN AWE AND AFRITONAS BAND

GRAB YOUR COPIES @ #500 EACH.FROM OUR ACCREDITED DEALERS AT:

• STEP UP MUSIC & FILM INTL,

IYANA IPAJA GARAGE SHOPPING COMPLEX, LAGOS

PHONE: 08063657414

• MAYEGUN RECORDS,

403 AGEGE MOTOR ROAD OSHODI LAGOS

• MUSCO RECORDS

NO 9 SAMUEL STREET VULCANIZER

BUS-STOP AKOWONJJO LAGOS

PHONE: 08060269766

• KBF RECORDS, INSIDE WORLD OIL BESIDE

FANAWOLE CANTEEN, IWO ROAD IBADAN,

OYO STATE