Abiodun Ayoyinka, popularly known as Papa Ajasco, is a major player in the comedy genre. In this interview with Tosin Clegg, he talks about how his character and lifestyle.
Getting to know Papa Ajasco
I
acted in one comedy TV series then, by a Wole Amele, and played the
role of policeman, and that was what the producer, Mr. Wale Adenuga, saw
and he looked for me and asked if I could play the role of Papa Ajasco
and I said ‘yes, let me try.’ I, too, have been reading Ikebe Super
since my childhood. So I got the role and he asked what we were going to
do about the bald head. So I said ‘let me be natural and cut my hair
and let’s see how it looked.’ And he saw me after I did that and was
like, ‘wow, this is Papa Ajasco’ and ever since, I have been shaving my
head in order to play the role.
I have been acting Papa Ajasco for almost 20 years
I
have been acting Papa Ajasco for almost 20 years and yes, so much has
changed about me so far; it has made me comfortable. I have my own car
and have my own house. So, in the long run, I will say no regrets at all
playing Papa Ajasco.
Challenges so far
Majorly,
I should have been involved in other things outside Lagos, but I can’t
because of what I do with the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture,
a job I had before Papa Ajasco came in and doing the government job
ain’t easy. I have travelled wide, to US, Mexico and other places.
Cast and crew of Papa Ajasco
Playing
the role of Papa Ajasco, the first Mama Ajasco died and another one
came up and that one travelled out and another came in. I think we have
had three of them on board so far. And Boy Alinco travelled to the US
and we have a second one. Papa James and I have been together for so
long and that hasn’t changed. Then the little Ajasco was changing
frequently because as he keeps growing the role may not fit in again, as
he is supposed to be a short boy character. The producer changes him
and it’s been quite nice working with them. They have been cool-headed,
as we have some characters who just want to give the producer problem.
Call time is call time. Also, we have someone new playing Miss Pepeye
now.
The New Series, Papa Ajasco reloaded…
It’s
all about WAP Mr. and Mrs. Talented show. It teaches us that when God
has provided us something, we shouldn’t use crooked ways to get it, if
not it leaves us. And that’s Papa Ajasco himself trying to play coni
coni way, and a lot of things happened thereafter. You will be seeing
jugging, dance and you will be seeing a lot of stars on board. Let my
fans out there go and watch it as it would be very interesting.
I’m used to the fame already
Some
people will walk up to me and say ‘let me touch your head sir’ and I
will say ‘touch it.’ They will ask a lot of questions like is it
original, is your tummy real and at times they see hair on my head and I
tell them I always shave it off because of the role of Papa Ajasco. In
fact, any time my fans greet me outside, I’m always cheerful, I don’t
show it even when I’m sick, or something is happening to me. I will
always be there for them. I always answer them and even up till now the
little boy crawling still knows Papa Ajasco.
Watching
Papa Ajasco alone brings families together. Because I had one
experience; there was this woman who was on a wheel chair with partial
stroke, to be precise, and she was watching Papa Ajasco with her family
and, all of a sudden, while she was laughing and all that, she gradually
stood up from the wheel chair. We have had a lot of experiences like
that. We have touched a lot of families like that in Nigeria. Our comedy
is not only for laughter but for education too. So you have something
to learn in our drama.
Starting out I had a few mentors
It
was the likes of Ojo Ladipo, Baba Sala, and that was years back when I
started. I have been acting since my secondary school days when I was in
a drama society in school. I was trained by Ben Tomoloju and we were
together with Antar Laniyan and a few others. Baba Hurbert Ogunde, Ojo
Ladipo and Baba Sala were my mentors then and Baba Wande also.
I
have done other productions aside Papa Ajasco and that was on NTA. It
was called Sandra, and it was long ago. I featured in some Yoruba movies
with a lot of big Yoruba movie stars. But majorly, it’s been Papa
Ajasco and Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture.
What made me exceptional
The
role that I play as Papa Ajasco, I never go off it. I stick to it like
my life, and the name is what I cherish a lot, as I don’t want to
tarnish the image. The producers will be like please don’t tarnish the
image outside, saying anything I want to do should be clean and clear.
In
the next couple of years, I would retire and start my production
outfit. I have been planning to do so and I pray to God that everything
should come out well. I will always like to associate myself with Wale
Adenuga, first of all, and then work with Tunde Kelani. But I have
worked a lot with Tunde Kelani and these two I will always work with.