Veteran comic actor, Kayode Olasehinde, popularly referred to as Pa James, has disclosed how he met and fell in love with his wife. See excerpts from his interview with gooo/feature/super-saturday-lounge/people-hardly-take-me-seriously-in-real-life-pa-james/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>journalist Ademola below:
Most people do not know your name; they refer to you as Pa James. How did you get the stage name?
I got the name from a Wale Adenuga
Production and ever since, the name has stuck. It has been about 18
years now. Everybody saw the production, even outside the shores of
Nigeria, and since then, I have been referred to as Pa James.
Production and ever since, the name has stuck. It has been about 18
years now. Everybody saw the production, even outside the shores of
Nigeria, and since then, I have been referred to as Pa James.
Why did you decide to be a comic actor?
I can play any role given to me, but
comedy is what I have been doing all these years. When I began as an
actor, my bosses used to advise me to stick to the comedy line of the
business and that is why no matter the role I act, there must be a comic
relief in it. Sometimes, even if I act normally and I am serious,
people would think I am joking.
comedy is what I have been doing all these years. When I began as an
actor, my bosses used to advise me to stick to the comedy line of the
business and that is why no matter the role I act, there must be a comic
relief in it. Sometimes, even if I act normally and I am serious,
people would think I am joking.
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Has that affected how you are perceived in real life?
Oftentimes, people do not take me
seriously even when I am not cracking jokes. For example, on occasions
when I board public transport and the conductor owes me my balance, when
I ask for my money, people would begin to laugh. In reality, I am
pained and I want my money, but the bus conductor and the passengers
would think I am joking. There was a day that we were shooting at a
location and one of the cast members fainted. Immediately it happened, I
rushed out and began to shout for help, but when people saw me, they
began to laugh. I overheard someone saying that they should not pay me
any attention as I was only acting. The more I shouted, the more they
laughed. It was not until people saw others shouting that they began to
pay attention to the man that fainted. Later, they said that they were
laughing because they thought that I was joking as usual.
seriously even when I am not cracking jokes. For example, on occasions
when I board public transport and the conductor owes me my balance, when
I ask for my money, people would begin to laugh. In reality, I am
pained and I want my money, but the bus conductor and the passengers
would think I am joking. There was a day that we were shooting at a
location and one of the cast members fainted. Immediately it happened, I
rushed out and began to shout for help, but when people saw me, they
began to laugh. I overheard someone saying that they should not pay me
any attention as I was only acting. The more I shouted, the more they
laughed. It was not until people saw others shouting that they began to
pay attention to the man that fainted. Later, they said that they were
laughing because they thought that I was joking as usual.
Were you mischievous as a kid?
I was very scared of fighting when I was
growing up. On occasions, I would look for ways to beg someone who
wanted to fight with me because I hated fighting. I was also very scared
of the police. Anytime I saw a policeman in uniform, I was always
apprehensive. I always ran away from violence or any form of trouble. I
was better known as the kid that made people laugh when I was a young
boy. Sometimes I could wear my father’s clothes or any over-sized clothe
just to make people laugh.
growing up. On occasions, I would look for ways to beg someone who
wanted to fight with me because I hated fighting. I was also very scared
of the police. Anytime I saw a policeman in uniform, I was always
apprehensive. I always ran away from violence or any form of trouble. I
was better known as the kid that made people laugh when I was a young
boy. Sometimes I could wear my father’s clothes or any over-sized clothe
just to make people laugh.
We learnt you were once a house help?
Yes, I was. My journey to stardom was
very rough. Before I became an actor, I was a house boy for several
years. I went through a lot during that time. There was a time I was
employed to look after a sick child at a native doctor’s house. The
child was already a vegetable on the bed and was like a skeleton and his
parents never stayed there with him. I was the one that always looked
after the child. I would feed him and bathe him. One fateful day, I was
given my food, ikokore, but the native doctor said that before I ate, I
had to empty the pit latrine. Unfortunately, the bucket used for the
latrine had no handle and it had holes in it. I was very sad. I went to
look at the child I was looking after to ensure that he had eaten. After
I had confirmed that, I went back to where I kept my food and stared at
it for a while. I dipped my hands into my pocket and realised that I
had six pence. I decided to quit the job immediately. I used the money
to go back home and told my father that I was done with the job. From
there, I became a sales boy at a shop, but I left the place too. I was
home for a while when my father asked me what I was interested in. I
told him that I would love to be a painter and he was glad. I got a job
on Lagos Island. Every morning, I would prepare eba and soup and I would
put it in a nylon bag, then I would begin to trek to work. After two
weeks, I fell ill; my father said it was because of the distance I
trekked, so he told me to quit the job. Instead of staying at home idle,
I joined a company that used to sell building equipment and I was doing
menial jobs for them. Whenever their goods arrived, I joined other boys
to offload the container. A man who came to buy some goods helped me
with another job. He gave me a note to UTC Hardware where I was
employed. I was a labelling clerk and that was how I got an office job.
very rough. Before I became an actor, I was a house boy for several
years. I went through a lot during that time. There was a time I was
employed to look after a sick child at a native doctor’s house. The
child was already a vegetable on the bed and was like a skeleton and his
parents never stayed there with him. I was the one that always looked
after the child. I would feed him and bathe him. One fateful day, I was
given my food, ikokore, but the native doctor said that before I ate, I
had to empty the pit latrine. Unfortunately, the bucket used for the
latrine had no handle and it had holes in it. I was very sad. I went to
look at the child I was looking after to ensure that he had eaten. After
I had confirmed that, I went back to where I kept my food and stared at
it for a while. I dipped my hands into my pocket and realised that I
had six pence. I decided to quit the job immediately. I used the money
to go back home and told my father that I was done with the job. From
there, I became a sales boy at a shop, but I left the place too. I was
home for a while when my father asked me what I was interested in. I
told him that I would love to be a painter and he was glad. I got a job
on Lagos Island. Every morning, I would prepare eba and soup and I would
put it in a nylon bag, then I would begin to trek to work. After two
weeks, I fell ill; my father said it was because of the distance I
trekked, so he told me to quit the job. Instead of staying at home idle,
I joined a company that used to sell building equipment and I was doing
menial jobs for them. Whenever their goods arrived, I joined other boys
to offload the container. A man who came to buy some goods helped me
with another job. He gave me a note to UTC Hardware where I was
employed. I was a labelling clerk and that was how I got an office job.
So how did you become an actor?
I got home from work one day and saw my
friends going out. I asked where they were headed and they said that
they were going for rehearsals. Since I was bored at home, I decided to
accompany them. When I got there, they were rehearsing for a forthcoming
show. One of the cast did not get his part right and this angered the
director to the extent that he considered stopping the show. I don’t
know where I got the boldness from, but I voiced out that I could play
the part. I was given a chance and my performance was outstanding. I got
a standing ovation and people even laughed their hearts out. That is
how the director accepted me. Ironically, my friends that took me to the
rehearsal are no longer actors today. When one of them saw me in Oshodi
sometime ago, where he is now a bus driver; he was telling people that
he was the one that introduced me to acting, but nobody believed him. To
prove his point, he asked someone to call me and when I went to meet
him, I hugged him. He then began to tell people again that he introduced
me to acting and I confirmed his story.
friends going out. I asked where they were headed and they said that
they were going for rehearsals. Since I was bored at home, I decided to
accompany them. When I got there, they were rehearsing for a forthcoming
show. One of the cast did not get his part right and this angered the
director to the extent that he considered stopping the show. I don’t
know where I got the boldness from, but I voiced out that I could play
the part. I was given a chance and my performance was outstanding. I got
a standing ovation and people even laughed their hearts out. That is
how the director accepted me. Ironically, my friends that took me to the
rehearsal are no longer actors today. When one of them saw me in Oshodi
sometime ago, where he is now a bus driver; he was telling people that
he was the one that introduced me to acting, but nobody believed him. To
prove his point, he asked someone to call me and when I went to meet
him, I hugged him. He then began to tell people again that he introduced
me to acting and I confirmed his story.
Your education stopped at the primary school level, but your spoken English is fairly okay, how come?
It surprises me too. I love English
language and I endeavour to learn it anytime I have the chance. Whenever
I interact with people, I try my best to learn one or two things from
them. I could not further my education after primary school because my
parents could not afford it. My father wanted me to go to school and he
was always sad when he saw other kids go to school, while his children
stayed at home for lack of funds. I passed the common entrance
examination to attend Oko-Ode Grammar School in Kwara State. I tried my
best to get money for education but it was not possible. I can read. I
speak English occasionally and I do not care if I make mistakes because
people would correct me and I would learn through that. Back then when I
was working at UTC Hardware, I once made a very funny grammatical
error, thinking I was right. I told my boss that I was ‘an incorrected
man’ instead of ‘a correct man.’ When I said it, everybody laughed but
they eventually corrected me. People may laugh at you but they would
correct you.
language and I endeavour to learn it anytime I have the chance. Whenever
I interact with people, I try my best to learn one or two things from
them. I could not further my education after primary school because my
parents could not afford it. My father wanted me to go to school and he
was always sad when he saw other kids go to school, while his children
stayed at home for lack of funds. I passed the common entrance
examination to attend Oko-Ode Grammar School in Kwara State. I tried my
best to get money for education but it was not possible. I can read. I
speak English occasionally and I do not care if I make mistakes because
people would correct me and I would learn through that. Back then when I
was working at UTC Hardware, I once made a very funny grammatical
error, thinking I was right. I told my boss that I was ‘an incorrected
man’ instead of ‘a correct man.’ When I said it, everybody laughed but
they eventually corrected me. People may laugh at you but they would
correct you.
Do you regret not completing your education?
No, I have no regrets. I believe that
everything happens for a reason. I tried my best but it did not work
out. What I did instead was to ensure that my children never went
through what I passed through. Maybe if I had completed my education, it
is very possible that I would not become an actor and venture into
another business. It pays to study but I thank God for where I am today.
everything happens for a reason. I tried my best but it did not work
out. What I did instead was to ensure that my children never went
through what I passed through. Maybe if I had completed my education, it
is very possible that I would not become an actor and venture into
another business. It pays to study but I thank God for where I am today.
When you were a house help, did it ever occur to you that you would be a household name?
It never occurred to me. All I was praying to God for was to have some money to open a small shop and become a trader.
How would you describe your experience when you were duped as a producer?
That was in 2001. At that time, we felt
that it was quite prestigious to produce a movie. I got some money from
my friends and I produced the movie. It was a commercial success, but
the marketer messed me up. When the movie was in demand, the marketer
promised me heaven on earth. He said he would buy me a car, among other
things. When it was time for him to give me my money, he began to tell
me different stories.
that it was quite prestigious to produce a movie. I got some money from
my friends and I produced the movie. It was a commercial success, but
the marketer messed me up. When the movie was in demand, the marketer
promised me heaven on earth. He said he would buy me a car, among other
things. When it was time for him to give me my money, he began to tell
me different stories.
Don’t you feel threatened by the likes of Mr. Latin, Baba Suwe, Sanyeri, Adekola Odunlade, among many other comic actors?
We are all friends and we relate like a
family. Whenever we are together, we all laugh. Whenever I see the likes
of Sanyeri, Odunlade, they hail me and greet me with respect. We all
joke a lot. I don’t see them as a competition; in fact, they create more
jobs for me. There are times when I feel I have been at home for too
long and I need an acting gig, all I do is call Mr. Latin and he would
invite me to Abeokuta. We all relate like one big family and there is no
rivalry among us.
family. Whenever we are together, we all laugh. Whenever I see the likes
of Sanyeri, Odunlade, they hail me and greet me with respect. We all
joke a lot. I don’t see them as a competition; in fact, they create more
jobs for me. There are times when I feel I have been at home for too
long and I need an acting gig, all I do is call Mr. Latin and he would
invite me to Abeokuta. We all relate like one big family and there is no
rivalry among us.
Whenever you wooed a girl as a youngster, did she ever take you seriously?
I hardly did that. It took a long while
before I began to woo ladies. I learnt a lot from my father, who married
only one wife. He always told us to be patient and wait for the right
time before embarking on anything in life. Whenever I wanted to woo a
woman, I always wondered what I would do if she got pregnant and the
thought always dissuaded me from acting on my urges. I had female
friends but nothing amorous. On few occasions when ladies would tell me
they wanted to come to my house, I always discouraged them from coming
because I did not want any trouble. I did not want a scenario where
someone would get pregnant for me when I was not ready. For a long
while, my neighbours thought I was impotent because they never saw any
girl pay me a visit at home as a bachelor.
before I began to woo ladies. I learnt a lot from my father, who married
only one wife. He always told us to be patient and wait for the right
time before embarking on anything in life. Whenever I wanted to woo a
woman, I always wondered what I would do if she got pregnant and the
thought always dissuaded me from acting on my urges. I had female
friends but nothing amorous. On few occasions when ladies would tell me
they wanted to come to my house, I always discouraged them from coming
because I did not want any trouble. I did not want a scenario where
someone would get pregnant for me when I was not ready. For a long
while, my neighbours thought I was impotent because they never saw any
girl pay me a visit at home as a bachelor.
We learnt you met your wife on a movie set.
Yes, it is very true. She came to see her
sister who was an actress. Her sister was a very morally upright lady.
Her sister knew that I was a serious person, but was unsure if I was
married. When I approached her, she was reluctant. It took a long while
before she granted me audience, but she insisted that I must be the one
to come to her house because it was against her principle to visit men
in their homes. I went to her house one day and I was amazed because
they were God-fearing people. I decided I would marry her because her
family was not the type to toy with. Eventually when we began dating,
she came to visit me to ensure that I was not married because people
were telling her to be careful as I could be a married man. When she
came to my house, she inspected it to be certain that I was not married
before her mind was put to rest. She asked me and I told her that I was
never married.
sister who was an actress. Her sister was a very morally upright lady.
Her sister knew that I was a serious person, but was unsure if I was
married. When I approached her, she was reluctant. It took a long while
before she granted me audience, but she insisted that I must be the one
to come to her house because it was against her principle to visit men
in their homes. I went to her house one day and I was amazed because
they were God-fearing people. I decided I would marry her because her
family was not the type to toy with. Eventually when we began dating,
she came to visit me to ensure that I was not married because people
were telling her to be careful as I could be a married man. When she
came to my house, she inspected it to be certain that I was not married
before her mind was put to rest. She asked me and I told her that I was
never married.