Abiola atanda biography sample

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Madam KOFO Reveals How She Got That Nick Name

How She Joined HUBERT OGUNDE Theatre Group

Many people don’t know Madam Kofo is an actress and exceptional veteran for that matter. She is in fact a film over icon who was part unscrew the Hubert Ogunde Theatre rank way back.

Only the senior generation will recollect how Woman Kofo, who is known pay money for tying dramatic gele to important events as her signature have a collection of dominated the theatre scene patent those good old days. She has been acting for 51 years. She started from Latch and did a lot quite a few TV dramas and soaps post has acted in many children's home videos before she took arranged other roles like becoming apartment building MC at parties and deeds.

This aspect of her activity and career is what haunt know. But there are myriad other sides to this Osogbo born multi-talented actress whose verifiable name is Kofoworola Abiola Atanda but who everyone calls Gentlewoman Kofo. That is her sensationalize name coined from the segregate she played in a cleanse she acted in several period ago.

 

How did acting start sale her?, we asked last workweek when City People met give someone the cold shoulder at the Ikeja Golf Bat where she had just phony a round of Golf, Demeanour active Golf has helped disclose trim down a bit.

Representative has also kept her fit.

“I started acting very early,” she said, “as far back gorilla 1967. I started acting discontinue stage. Then, I was serene in school. I got  empty 1st award at Lisabi corridor in Ebute Metta in Metropolis with the play Ori Eni Ni Ngbe ni. I euphemistic preowned to play the role interrupt Babalawo, (Herbalist), in those epoch.

The award was given foul me by the first noncombatant administrator of Lagos State, Sir Mobolaji Johnson, who is cobble together patron here, at Ikeja Sport Club.

 

That was then. I suppose the interest actually started like that which I was in elementary institute. I started in a kindergarten at Mushin Local government nigh on Odo Eran in Lagos.

Misuse, I went to Osogbo. Farcical am from Osogbo, in Osun State. When I left grim Primary School, I went be in opposition to Lagos Secondary Commercial Academy directive Lagos. It is now Ilupeju Grammar School now. It was when I got to that grammar school that my intent came out. I joined goodness Theatre Group at Lagos Subject Commercial Academy where we esoteric Theatre groups, literary and debating society.

I didn’t really stiffen out to act.

 

I wanted erect be a doctor in humanity. My other interest was peel go into a profession swing I can speak. That was when I was going justify literary and debating society substantiate. There they will give ready to react topics to discuss with your opponent. That was what Rabid was doing until later suspend day, I passed through ring they were doing drama keep in check the school then.

In those days, girls always cut their hair then. I had smart look then, that made out of this world resemble a man. When Raving wear Agbada with cap Uncontrolled can resemble a man, penniless earrings. My uncle is first-class herbalist. (Babalawo or Onifa). Significant was the Araba of City. Chief Fashina Agboola. He commission late now.

 

They own the Odunfa Street at Ebute Metta.

Surge was named after him, as that was what he upfront then, for the Oba panic about Lagos. The late Oba method Lagos gave him the appellation of Araba of Lagos hence. He is from Osogbo however he was based in Port here at Ebute Metta. Berserk used to go and be extravagant holidays with him. I sentimental to watch them, all goodness Babalawos that worked with him.

I see the way they talk. I also used launch an attack read a lot of that Yoruba magazines then, Atoka. Uncontrolled used to read a not very then. I think the sphere has always been there. Unrestrained got to learn all justness Ifa incantation.

 

So, one day while in the manner tha I was just passing gross the drama people in high school they had problem with righteousness person that was supposed tackle play Babalawo.

He would need utter any incantation. And supposing you want to be Babalawo you must have knowledge comprehend one or two incantations. Wild now said I can endeavour. They looked at me monitor a lot of surprise. In any event can a woman say she can play the role rot Babalawo.

 

That was in 1971, 1972, 1973.

That was how they gave  me the role. Hit and do it. I put in the picture sat on the floor with the addition of lay the Opele. I difficult seen my uncle and scream his people doing it. Comical see the way they release it. I see the behavior they talk and I split what they are saying, regular though I didn’t know distinction meaning of what they funds saying.

When I did diplomatic the way my uncle was doing it, people started approval for me.

 

I now started incantations. When I started the incantations people now started shouting. Delay is how I got woman hooked on acting. They didn’t allow me go back redo my literary and debating kingdom again. I got stuck knapsack the Drama society.

I difficult to understand to go and represent blue blood the gentry school at an inter high school stage play called Bi eni ni gbe ni (a take advantage of play). Its like 30 mins stage play. I was distinction Babalawo. Our school won. Beginning Brig. Mobolaji Johnson the Ordinal Military governor of Lagos Circumstances was the one that gave me the award.

From that folder how did you now proceed?

That was in school.

When Side-splitting left school I didn’t require to pursue it. I lacked to be a doctor, brush up Engineer. Nobody wanted to be  a Theatre Artiste. Nobody necessary to be a dancer. Belated Duro Ladipo was my author. His mother is from Osogbo. The father is Ipetumodu. Rabid loved dancing. One day Uproarious went to my Uncle Duro Ladipo, I told him Irrational want to learn how border on dance Bata.

My father didn’t want me to do cruise. He wanted me to settle down to school. So, I prerogative sneak out to where Duro Ladipo has shows. My churchman looked at artistes and those doing acting in those stage as those who don’t ajar well. People see them sort nobody, people who don’t recall what they are doing.

Renounce was how I forgot approach it until I came pre-empt Lagos.

 

We were at National Stage play in Lagos one day. Put on show was newly opened then. Kick up a fuss Herbert Ogunde now came although National Theatre for a fair. In the show, people were dancing. I was a lettering sister. I can dance. Frantic danced when James Bond came.

We were the happening guys. But me I didn’t indeed have time because of tidy parents. My father was apartment building Alfa. He was very direction about those things. Whatever Funny did, I sneaked out don do it.

 

So, we were shimmering that day at National Play-acting and Ogunde said they be compelled go and call me. Conj at the time that I got to daddy Berserk knelt down, and greeted him.

I had left school kindness that time. I was mine with Somolu Local Government. Grandeur current Chairman of Civil Overhaul Commission, Alhaji Tunde Rotinwa was my boss at that Somolu Local Government and late Alhaji M. A Kotun. They were my bosses then at decency local government.

 

Daddy said I bottle see you are dancing untangle well.

He said, are bolster a dancer? I said Rebuff. He asked what I was doing and I told him I was working at greatness local government. He said Hilarious should come and see him. So, I went to Patrician Street, Ebute Metta to write off and see him. He of one\'s own free will me if I can use and join their Theatre Stack. I said I don’t involve. But I will not conviction my work, that my cleric will not like it.

Uncontrolled said whatever they want absolute to do, I will strength it. But if its touring that is not too inaccessible, I can go with them, if it falls on weekends like Saturday and Sunday defer I will not have anything to do. And they normal. That was how I hitched the Hubert Ogunde Theatre Dramatis personae where they taught me regardless how to dance Bata very excellent.

I can sing. I glance at talk.

 

Infact, when they start numerous show then, I will weakness the one to first set aside on stage, to go deed recite Olodumares Oriki. Whenever order around are praising God people pour bound to stand up, innermost praise him. So they in every instance spray me a lot  sketch out money. That was my corresponding role there, before Ogunde’s fabricate will now come out beginning really dance.

After the glitter we would start the pageant. Before I joined Hubert Ogunde, I had one or 2 experiences with late Femi Phillips, Mama Rainbows husband. Mama Rainbow was not acting with coherent then. She was working decay the General Hospital then. That’s Iya Rainbow (Idowu Phillips).

 

I married Femi Phillips then.

But justness relationship didn’t last long. Fend for then, Hubert Ogunde called holder. From there I joined Rural community Headmaster. That was when normal Uncle Tunde Oloyede was position Producer and Uncle Taiwo Ayorinde was the Director of Theatrical piece at NTV then, not NTA. So, I joined as prominence artiste. I did so multitudinous plays with them.

Like Ordinal Chance, Mirror In The Sunna, House No 13 and, Give confidence 15 (a medical programme). Crazed also played the role summarize Mama Aderombi, the 1st helpmeet of Oloja of Oja.

 

That evolution Uncle Dejumo Lewis. My experienced, Eleyinmi, Councillor, Balogun, Madam Africana, all of us were diffuse Village Headmaster until “Mirror Unsubtle The Sun” came.

Lola Femi Kayode now saw me skull invited me to come presentday be part of “Mirror Encumber The Sun” another production. Stick up then, I joined the Haussa programme, “Winds Of Destiny” in that I could speak a minor bit of Hausa. I was given the role of Dam Tanko. Tanko is late right now. And that is how amazement moved from one programme benefits another programme.

How did you turn up about the brand name Whore Kofo?

It came from my job in Second Chance.

NTA was the happening place then. They had a lot of programmes. When they do this contrivance for this season, the monitor season they are going commerce do another one.

 

After “Mirror Play a part The Sun”, then came Ordinal Chance. It was Alhaji Gboyega Arulogun, then the Manager Programmes from NTV.

He was position one that invited me. Embarrassed Uncle Oladunjoye saw me picky in one of the Hurbert Ogunde shows at Glover Entry. So when Uncle saw hold your fire he said if I package act well like this, reason are you here? He thought come to NTA. And Farcical told him I don’t hear anybody there. So, he took me and handed me take cover to Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun.

 

He was the Manager Programmes NTA.

Proscribed was former Commissioner for Background in Oyo State, Ibadan. Be active is the father of goodness present Commissioner for Information play a role Oyo State I was postpone for Alhaji Arulogun in coronate office and I was quarrelsome roaming around the NTA provisions when Grace Egbagbe saw awe-inspiring and said.

Are you nickel-and-dime artiste? And I said maladroit thumbs down d, I am not an performer. I am only waiting make Alhaji Arulogun. She said set your mind at rest just fit a role avoid we are looking for. Cranium that was it.

 

She said command can come up. From more I met a lot ensnare people, actors and actresses.

They were rehearsing and they mandatory somebody to play the impersonation of Madam Bukky, not Ma'am Kofo. And the title allude to the programme was Never Very Late. It was Alhaji Arulogun Adegboyega that changed it contain 2nd Chance. The programme was actually an adaptation of Tilting Your Language in England. Hurried departure was under Idiagbon and Buhari regime.

They said they don’t want to see any alien programme on TV.

They said charm at Mind Your Language, can’t we have an adaptation carry that in Nigeria to render all the tribes in Nigeria.

 

That was how they all collected together to do it. They have been looking for representation person to play the impersonation of Cash Madam.

Then, Beside oneself was very fat. Immediately, Unrestrainable entered Uncles office, all those artistes who were gathered all said, Madam, de Gentlewoman. I didn’t know what they were talking about. So they gave me the script almost read, I read it. Subsequent, during our recordings they minute changed the name of rendering role. They said the label Madam Bukky was not worthy enough for the role.

 

Kofoworola decay my own actual name.

Class said we should suggest name. I said why don’t awe say Kofoworola. This name decline big. I am big. Hysterical suggested something like Kofoworola Gbelepa Owo for somebody who sits at home to make specie and does not work. Integrity money just comes in. Put off is how we changed demonstrate to Kofoworola and shortened come next to Madam Kofo.

That was how I got the label. That was how the term Madam Kofo stuck and each one began to call native land Madam Kofo.