If over achiever was a person, he’d probably look like Moses Akerele. E be like the guy just dey do everything in the entertainment industry. In his own words, he tells us how he does it, his favourite projects so far and what living in these Coro times has taught him about life.
Actor, talker, writer, director, producer, event host, artist, storyteller…oga! what else again? How can one person do so many things? Which do you love the most and why?
See ehn, even me sef I don’t know how, but as the things them dey call me, it is really hard not to answer, ESPECIALLY because me sef e dey hungry me to do them.
My strategy has always been to understand all that I do, the talents I have and know how best to go about them. I didn’t start out gambling with each one, I knew where I had the most strength and where my passions were. So one after the other, I was honing these skills and making them into the career I had envisioned step after step. And I started doing this a very long time ago, I am still doing it. You won’t find that I woke up suddenly one morning and decided to try to be a writer, an actor and a director between 6am and 6pm. No, some of these things even started years apart.
There are other things I do that people don’t know or you do not see in my public profile, those things na cruise, I just like them and do them on the low, so you have to be focused and deliberate to pull something like this, it is not an unnecessary challenge you have to give yourself, it is something you have in you and need to know how to use it.
As for which I love the most, chai I do not know, even if I know I really like and enjoy talking, all that I do still involves talking.
Top three favourite projects so far and why?
Playing Khalil on that other famous TV channel. It was my first professional acting gig which meant I could finally put “actor” on my bio! The show also has a powerful message and I am forever going to be happy that I was part of sharing it.
Writing and directing ‘Life of Bim’. Another first for me as it was my first time directing a feature film which was also our last project as students of the MultiChoice Talent Factory. It gave me room to channel a lot into it whilst learning on the job. We pulled it off, and it was beautiful! We even bagged an AMVCA nomination for it.
'Closure' gave me the opportunity to spin a narrative that I had written as a poem into visuals. I also got a chance to co-write it with Sonia Nwosu and we had beautiful comments trailing it the first time we showed it. Another highlight was winning an award for best narrative.
Being a product of the MultiChoice Talent Factory initiative, how important would you say are such spaces for young creatives in the industry?
Spaces like this refine you and your craft, give you an opportunity to grow, work and learn and also build a network. A unique feature of the MultiChoice Talent Factory is that you are not just sitting within walls and taking in words, you get practical training as well. You don’t just eat fish, you learn to fish or even create a river you can fish in. You become a well rounded creative who knows something about every aspect of the industry.
E be like award just dey follow you! Which major industry awards do you still wish to bag as you progress in your career?
Hahahaa! All oooooooo! In more than one category.
You have been quoted as saying "I want to be ground breaking and make history." What do you have planned in order to achieve this?
Staying focused and making the most of all I already do and more. I keep growing and with every phase comes something new. It’s like playing Mario: you start looking like a peanut, then as you grow you look like a tuber of yam, then you get your ammunition vest at some. The stages look more beautiful with more challenges and as you conquer, you get more coins and set new records that you look at beating in every stage.
Making history for me, is doing all I do in the way I know how to and leaving my own mark.
How has Covid 19 impacted your 2020 plans and how do you plan to navigate your career post the pandemic?
Being one who is often on the field working, the past few months have been very different. We've had to put many projects on hold unsure of when it they would continue. Income rate has been altered too!
There is also uncertainty about what is to come or which way to swing next. But in the same light, I have had to do more from home, tapping into other things I do, making use of what is available to get what we are looking for in the ways that we can, and also trying new things.
Career post the pandemic? We dey look am, we are learning and re-navigating.
Covid 19 life lessons: what are some of the key things you’ve learned during this period?
- To always be ready.
- Make use of every opportunity in good time.
- Make the best of every situation.
- Some uncertainties deal more blows than we envisage.
- Life is funnier than I even thought.
Finally, words to live by…
Keep evolving for yourself first.
Ogbeni Mo's chat with Uti and Helen Paul airs on Jara , Wednesday 24 July from 21:30 WAT on DStv Channel 153 AM Urban. Tune in! We'll also be profiling top five new faces in Nollywood.
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