Adetoyese is the third son of veteran actor and university teacher, Dr. Kola Oyewo. He talks about the kind of life his father leads off stage and outside the classroom with GBENGA ADENIJI
Please give a brief profile of yourself.
I am Adetoyese Oyewo, a graduate of Geography from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. I am the third son of Dr. Adekola and Mrs. Olajumoke Oyewo. I am a professional photographer and property merchant.
What memory of your growing up with your father can you recall?
We are five boys and it was fun growing up with my dad. My father is a very kind man and he always puts his family first. If I should start narrating the kind of fun we had when we were young, I am sure that I would make volumes of books on it. There were times we went to the farm with him. Also, there were times we had to wait till late in the night for him to return from rehearsals so that we could eat from the leftovers of his meals. We would gather in the night to pray before going to bed. It is hard to be with him and not laugh. He is fun to be with. He is also my friend and not just my father.
Where were the places he took his family to for relaxation while you were young?
Whenever my father wants to relax, there is only one place he goes to; it is his hometown, Oba Ile in Osun State. That was where he often took us to for relaxation while we were growing up. My father is not a rich man hence he does not have the luxury of taking us abroad for holidays. But at his villa (Oba Ile), we would drink from the same calabash; eat a mountain of pounded yam sitting on bare floor. At times, he could decide to drive us to the zoo in OAU to see the animals.
Your father is a lecturer and actor; did he encourage any of his children to follow in his footsteps in terms of career choice?
Yes, he did encourage his children to follow in his footsteps. Being a lecturer and actor, some of his children also pursued careers that are related to his disciplines. For instance, some of his children are into researching, acting, photography and production. These are disciplines that are connected to his chosen fields.
Which of the movies he featured in is your favourite and why?
He has featured in many superb films. But I love his acting on stage. Through that, he displays his artistic prowess and unique rendition of lines. Since you want to know the movie he had featured in which I like most, I will pick Saworoide. He interpreted the role excellently. The role he played in the movie also brings a similar performance he displayed in The Gods Are Not To Blame in which he acted as King Odewale.
How does he create time for his family?
My father is someone who loves his family so much. Hence creating time for his family is quite an easy thing for him. Whenever he is not having any performance, his attention is always on his family. There were times we played football together as a family in the front of our house. My mother was also part of the team.
How did he discipline an erring child?
My father cannot stand any child that is spoilt or untrained. We were always careful not to offend him when we were growing up. We knew that it would not be a good thing for us to provoke him. He would use the cane if he should. But he always ensured that he told the child that misbehaved what he did so that he would not repeat the same thing again. Though he cares so much for us, he did not spare the rod. He is a disciplinarian. However, I see him as my good friend no matter the punishment he gave me for misbehaving. There was a day he beat me for doing something wrong. If I remember correctly I was supposed to grind corn that we wanted to use to make pap. When I was leaving home, he told me not to take the short cut home after grinding the pap because he knew that I could take the route. He warned me so that I would not throw away the corn because the path was narrow. But I thought I was smart and disobeyed him. On the way, I slipped and the ground corn in a big bowl placed on my head fell on the ground. When he discovered what happened, he beat me silly with the ground corn smeared all over my body. It was not a funny day at all.
Who are your father’s friends?
My father has two major friends that I know of. The first one is actor Peter Fatomilola and the late Laide Adewale who was also an actor. Those are his closest friends even though he has many other people who are close to him.
What is his best form of relaxation?
My father likes to relax by lying on the bed and reading. When he was younger, he would be in company with his friends drinking beer. They really enjoyed their youth.
How close are you to him?
He is my good friend. We are very close. In fact, the love between us is so strong that my brothers are aware of it. Even till now, our relationship is like that of a brother and friend not like that of a father and son.
What kind of father is he?
Adekola is the kind of father any child will wish to have. He is loving, friendly and caring. I respect him so much and respond to him with ‘Sir.’ I am very obedient to him even when he had nothing.
What is his favourite meal?
My father likes pounded yam. He also likes taking pap and efo in the morning.
What is his favourite drink?
My father used to drink beer but he stopped when he clocked 50 years. He replaced beer with red wine. He enjoys red wine now but occasionally, he drinks brandy. We sometimes drink together with him.
What is his normal schedule like?
He reads after waking up and prepares for work. If there is time, he will have a chat with us before going to location if he has any performance to be part of.
How do you feel each time you watch him act?
When he is acting, I really don’t have any special feeling. I always see him as my father and not the superstar his fans see him as. But I always appreciate his talent and what he has become with the help of his dear wife and especially God Almighty. I must confess that his focus, dream and feats are a big challenge to me and my siblings. We are constantly aware that we have to make him proud in our chosen disciplines.
In what ways would you say his name has opened doors for you?
Through his name, I have received some favours and blessings from a lot of people. But most times, I don’t let people know that he is my father except they find out themselves. The name Adekola Oyewo has worked for me a few times but I do not carry it on my head. I believe in making impact in my own little way. I do not use his name to seek favours. As his son, I always enjoyed watching plays free-of-charge in the Dramatic Arts Department of the Obafemi Awolowo University when he was lecturing there. When I was a student, there was no special treatment for me. No lecturer gave me any preferential treatment because of who my father is. OAU is a school where no special treatment is given to any student.
How sociable is he?
My father is not sociable. He only attends events which his church organises. I think this development has affected his social life. I am of the view that social events can also help him to network.
What kind of music does he listen to?
When it comes to music, I know that my father likes listening to the music of King Sunny Ade. He also enjoys the music of the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and the late Orlando Owoh. He appreciates good African music.
How does he like to dress?
My father loves to appear neat always whether he is wearing a traditional or English attire. He also likes good shoes. He puts on good shoes to match any clothes he wears.
Have you ever watched him teach?
I attended his classes several times. His students always enjoy his lectures too. He is a very practical lecturer.
What is his favourite quote?
His favourite quote is “It is beyond talent.” This quote is hinged on his belief that no matter what one’s talent may be, one needs to exhibit a high level of hard work and dedication to be outstanding among one’s peers.
What brand of car does he like?
My father used to like Mercedes Benz car but because of the state of roads in Nigeria, he now prefers Sport Utility Vehicles. He drives a SUV.
How does he settle disagreements with his wife?
When I was growing up, I cannot recall any day I saw my parents having any arguments. They never quarrelled in front of us. They could have had disagreements but none was open to their children.
What are the ideals he taught you?
My father is a very honest man. This is something one cannot take away from him. I have learnt this and constantly display this in my dealings with people. He also believes in hard work. I have imbibed this ideal too because I am sure that hard work and God’s grace got him to where he is today. Another thing that I have learnt from him is his humility. Humility opens doors even the ones that are shut. From him too, I have learnt not to struggle over material things because nothing lasts forever.
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