Abdulateef Adedimeji Adetola Osuolale is one of the fast growing and evolving Yoruba Actor in Nigeria. He is a dancer, comedian, Mc, and an Event planner, a vibrant as well as productive presenter for Miliki Express, a program featured on Orisun Tv, Startimes. Aside being a prolific young Nigeria Actor, Osuolale as he is being referred to in the industry has a solid educational background with a striking resemblance with a professional in Yoruba Acting, Odunlade Adekola.
Osuolale who is a graduate of Mass communication from Olabisi Onabanjo University,2007\2008, he is also the fourth born in a family of six. He has a thing for giving back to Humanity and this he intends to do through dance also he aspires to be greater. In this interview with Adenike Ashogbon, Osuolale unveils it all.
How did you dabble into the acting world?
I actually started with dance, way back Secondary school days, there was this non-governmental organisation called Community Life Project. They basically use dance, drama, poetry to pass messages about HIV and AIDS, STDs, STI and all that to people working with grassroot people like the market women , vulcanizers and all, then the disease wasn’t all that pronounced unlike now. Then a lot of people weren’t show of how HIV/AIDs can be contracted, so the ngo helped in passing messages as to how the disease can be prevented and for those who have contracted the disease how they can receive proper medical care and not be stignmatized in their various communities. All these messages were passed acrossed to people of the community through dance, and this how I began my journey as a dancer and an actor.
The NGO helped in sharpening my mentality on giving back to the community even when you that have everything but adding your own little quota to your community to make a change rather than sit back wallow in pain or complain about the short comings of the government. Aside opening my eyes to see the beauty we humans were surrounded with, the ngo also mould me into shape with information and acting skills that I’ve improved upon over the years.
lets not forget in a rush that even before then i was aware of the fact that i have this ability to people laugh, thus, at a point I began to visualize myself as an Actor and made a self decision to work towards that rather than wait and expect help to come from above, I worked effortlessly towards actualizing my dreams even if it took begging and liasing for slot, all I wanted was to be on the path of achieving what my mind has been set to achieve, this was way back 1995/1996.
lets not forget in a rush that even before then i was aware of the fact that i have this ability to people laugh, thus, at a point I began to visualize myself as an Actor and made a self decision to work towards that rather than wait and expect help to come from above, I worked effortlessly towards actualizing my dreams even if it took begging and liasing for slot, all I wanted was to be on the path of achieving what my mind has been set to achieve, this was way back 1995/1996.
The showbiz industry, your journey thus far, Things you've done? You've featured in Showbiz?
The NGO I spoke about the other time, CLP actually showed the way too, as we are being taught how to write script for play and all that there aside from dancing and acting scripts that preaches abstainance, so some how through d Ngo via networking I was sent to African Radio Drama Association, where I had to write script and present youth oriented programme on Radio. African Radio Drama Association is also an NGO thats talk about so many tins too but uses radio drama to pass across their messages, from them I learnt how to act as a radio actor, and a featured in about four drama on radio. Then I was part of the radio script conference for Bayelsa youth as well by d Africa Radio Drama Association. Some of the works I've done include; Songs Of Life sponsor by MTN, Omo Catch Up which I presented and many more.
Yea, I produce by own personal film 2010, Oseregi is the title, but have featured in many like, Idoti, Kogbodomo, Oladunjoye, Vicky Omo Oko,Omo Elemosho, Kuluuso some are yet to come out, like Arinakore, Eyinju Eledumare etc. then Soap opera like private sector and sababi, Stage plays lik peace by pieces, d dark forest, Ela directed by me
Now...I'm aware you are a presenter...don't you see all of these 'Jack of all Trade'?
just because im involved in almost everything communication doesn’t make me a jack of all trade person. The basic thing is, they all have a connection and since ive been able to identify my strength, it boils down to my ability to manage everything and make sure they don’t clash with one another. Moreso, at im into has to do in the line of Entertainment apart from that, it is apparent to note that im a graduate of Mass Communication from the prestigious Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye, so presenting is just like what have gone to school to study and now I’m practising it, its no big deal, its follow my passion not “jack of all trade’.
What was your perception about the yoruba entertainment industry before being part of it and now what's your perception?
Before I joined I see it as a place where as long as you have what its takes, u can move but I found that it’s has to be with what u have, a lot of respect and meeting people who will just like your person and skills to scale through.
It’s a good industry, before joining I got to know that you should belong to a caucus, so I join a known production manager Afeez Eniola, also Muyiwa Ademola and Adebayo Tijani, these are my boss and I look up to them.
So all I can say about it is that, it’s a good industry but there is room for improvement to make it better.
Life in the Industry?
Life in the Film and Entertainment Industry isn’t an easy one I must confess. For upcoming artiste it is a very tough one when it comes to maintaining the passion you have for the job. If you are not focused and well determined, you might loose track of focus. Its not easy maintaining a good stand but with God’s grace, we would scale through and have more stories to tell in years to come.
Now...your resemblance with Odunlade. What's your take?
Before now, people have called my attention to the fact that ive got a striking resemblance with the Popular Actor and Screen professional Odunlade, this was even before the time and period I met him one and one. Well, I have little or nothing to say about that cos im not in the best position to know that much about my resemblance with him, though I also see the rsemblance as a coincidence and that which is cool, having to do with one I can call my brother and a senior colleague in the industry. Odunlade is one with swift knowledge and an appeasing personality. Im glad to have something in common with him though if its so true as people claim to say. But il say, our resemblance is God. I didn’t create myself. It just happens that way and im not in the best position to explain why or how. Apparently, I and Odunlade don’t have a clashing background. Im from Ogun state which he isn’t from. Our resemblance is just the will of God. Meeting him was just like meeting any othe personality in the industry. Nothing extraordinary. You know its one thing to have a resemblance with someone, its another for the other party to admit the fact that you look like him or her. (cuts in: are you saying Odunlade didn't believe it?) well, I didn’t state that, I’m just using that as an instance, smiles. But I've play d role of his younger brother and when he was small in some films, like Kulusoni, I was his younger brother and in Aja I played him when he was younger.
Now the alaroye story, I’m aware Alaroye reported that your resemblance with Odunlade is a threat to his personality...What's your take on it? Where you consulted before such a misconception was published?
At all, just saw d paper too, but I was just like press and their thing, but the truth is I wasn’t aware of the report until I saw it on the newsstand and that was where it all ended.
At all, just saw d paper too, but I was just like press and their thing, but the truth is I wasn’t aware of the report until I saw it on the newsstand and that was where it all ended.
Your inspiration? Your role models? and your aspiration?
Aspiration to be one of the best cinematographer and film director in d nearest future. It is apt to note that Bimbo Ogunsanya Film Producer and Director has been a wonderful brother and boss. Who saw me on a location and gave me a lead to play in Sababi, this was also what Kwame saw, called me for a test and here I am today, still rising abd by God’s grace would get there slow and steady. Afeez Eniola, Muyiwa Ademola , Adebayo Tijani are also people that believe in me even more that I believe in Myself as well as Seun olaiya. All I look forward to is not letting all these people down even as I rise to stardom.
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