Veteran actor, Akin Lewis, has been a
household name since he was 22 years old. But unknown to many, at a
point in his life, he became an evangelist. He shares some of his life
experiences with Ademola Olonilua
household name since he was 22 years old. But unknown to many, at a
point in his life, he became an evangelist. He shares some of his life
experiences with Ademola Olonilua
What would you say has made you relevant in the industry 44 years on?
In the 44 years you are talking about, I have done more than acting. I am a trained movie director also; I was trained at NTA
as a producer and I served them for 13 years before I retired. I have a
master’s degree in acting and directing. Of course, I also built a name
in the corporate world while I was acting as well. I would say it is
the grace of God, hard work and passion for what I love to do. That is
my staying power. Every day you want to surpass where you were in life
the previous day.
as a producer and I served them for 13 years before I retired. I have a
master’s degree in acting and directing. Of course, I also built a name
in the corporate world while I was acting as well. I would say it is
the grace of God, hard work and passion for what I love to do. That is
my staying power. Every day you want to surpass where you were in life
the previous day.
All through the 13 years you worked with NTA, why didn’t you bother to delve into broadcasting?
I presented some programmes and I was
also writing for them. Like I said earlier, I am more than an actor. We
used to create series content. I was a broadcaster at the time
essentially.
also writing for them. Like I said earlier, I am more than an actor. We
used to create series content. I was a broadcaster at the time
essentially.
For someone whose father was
a professional, an engineer, how come he allowed you to start acting at
a tender age but frowned upon your decision to make it a life time
career?
a professional, an engineer, how come he allowed you to start acting at
a tender age but frowned upon your decision to make it a life time
career?
When I was growing up, I did some acting
and it was my father that was taking me everywhere. He would buy me
books, including comics. I think he did all that so that I could broaden
my horizon but I caught the acting bug early in life. During that
period, I just felt like acting was what I was meant to do and I kept at
it. By the time I was in secondary school at Lagelu Grammar School,
Ibadan, I knew what I wanted to become in life and that was the period
we fought. Everybody wanted me to become an accountant because the banks
were still very good.
and it was my father that was taking me everywhere. He would buy me
books, including comics. I think he did all that so that I could broaden
my horizon but I caught the acting bug early in life. During that
period, I just felt like acting was what I was meant to do and I kept at
it. By the time I was in secondary school at Lagelu Grammar School,
Ibadan, I knew what I wanted to become in life and that was the period
we fought. Everybody wanted me to become an accountant because the banks
were still very good.
When you say you had a fallout with your father over your career choice, what specifically do you mean?
We actually just had a man to man talk.
Everybody used to be afraid of my father because he was a giant. He had a
lot of apprentices and street boys who were always willing to do his
bidding. My father’s word was final on that street that we lived in; so
for me to have flouted his orders meant I must have crossed the Rubicon.
It was more of an interrogation than a talk and after I was persistent
that acting was what I wanted to do, he said I could not do it in his
house. That was the fallout. He was very angry and because I was his
favourite child, he was very disappointed. That’s how I went into
apprenticeship with a drama group which was led by Professor Bode
Sowande of the University of Ibadan. That is how it all started. I thank
God that I became a star before my father died.
Everybody used to be afraid of my father because he was a giant. He had a
lot of apprentices and street boys who were always willing to do his
bidding. My father’s word was final on that street that we lived in; so
for me to have flouted his orders meant I must have crossed the Rubicon.
It was more of an interrogation than a talk and after I was persistent
that acting was what I wanted to do, he said I could not do it in his
house. That was the fallout. He was very angry and because I was his
favourite child, he was very disappointed. That’s how I went into
apprenticeship with a drama group which was led by Professor Bode
Sowande of the University of Ibadan. That is how it all started. I thank
God that I became a star before my father died.
Being a star at 22 years old must have exposed you to a lot of things…
Oh! Yes it did. As at then, there
weren’t many stars on the television. I remember the programme that made
me a star, ‘Why worry,’ everyone wanted to meet me, including the
governor. The speaker of the House of Assembly sent for me and they did
not even know that I was a young man because I was playing the role of a
60-year-old.
weren’t many stars on the television. I remember the programme that made
me a star, ‘Why worry,’ everyone wanted to meet me, including the
governor. The speaker of the House of Assembly sent for me and they did
not even know that I was a young man because I was playing the role of a
60-year-old.
It was a shock for me at first and at
that age, what did I care about? I had no one to look after, so we were
open to everything. Luckily, hard drugs were not in circulation then, so
I never took drugs. We never saw them in our circle in those days; so
it was just alcohol, cigarettes, girls and parties. We could attend
parties at four states in a night. Many people died during that time. We
could go to Oyo State, frolic there for about two hours, then head to
Ilorin where we could spend about two hours as well. Then we could move
on to Abeokuta, end up in Lagos and then go back to Ife via Ibadan all
in one night.
that age, what did I care about? I had no one to look after, so we were
open to everything. Luckily, hard drugs were not in circulation then, so
I never took drugs. We never saw them in our circle in those days; so
it was just alcohol, cigarettes, girls and parties. We could attend
parties at four states in a night. Many people died during that time. We
could go to Oyo State, frolic there for about two hours, then head to
Ilorin where we could spend about two hours as well. Then we could move
on to Abeokuta, end up in Lagos and then go back to Ife via Ibadan all
in one night.
How come you never had a child out of wedlock?
My time was different and the girls were
brought up better than the ladies of these days. Those were the days
when you had to woo a girl. You had to write poems and love letters.
These days, you don’t need to woo any girl, just look at her and she
would follow you. This is something that I have seen. In our generation,
you rarely saw people have children out of wedlock. There were a few
cases but 80 per cent of us waited to get married before having
children.
brought up better than the ladies of these days. Those were the days
when you had to woo a girl. You had to write poems and love letters.
These days, you don’t need to woo any girl, just look at her and she
would follow you. This is something that I have seen. In our generation,
you rarely saw people have children out of wedlock. There were a few
cases but 80 per cent of us waited to get married before having
children.
You said you were your father’s favourite, is that why you hardly talk about your mother?
I was very close to my mother and I look
like her facially. I got my body stature from my father. I was very
close to my mother but she was the kind that always pushed us to our
father so that you could be straightened out. She was not the kind of
mother that would spoil you. I must say that when I wanted to become an
actor, she gave me her full support. When I became very popular, they
started calling her Mama Why Worry.
like her facially. I got my body stature from my father. I was very
close to my mother but she was the kind that always pushed us to our
father so that you could be straightened out. She was not the kind of
mother that would spoil you. I must say that when I wanted to become an
actor, she gave me her full support. When I became very popular, they
started calling her Mama Why Worry.
How would you describe your days in the University of Ife?
I was an activist on the side but in
those days when we studied drama, they always asked us in the department
to choose which one we wanted to do: whether we were there to study
drama, do sport or activism. If you goofed in the department, they might
give you one more chance and if you messed up again, they would kick
you out. Studying drama at that time was as tough as being in the
barracks;, it was like being a soldier. If Wole Soyinka was there at
7am, who are you to be late? We would be at the theatre till 12 midnight
with him and as he was leaving, he would always say, measure your
pleasure but as young men, we would go to drink somewhere and we would
start scrambling at 6:30am to make it to class on time. At a point, I
had to let activism go and I focused on drama.
those days when we studied drama, they always asked us in the department
to choose which one we wanted to do: whether we were there to study
drama, do sport or activism. If you goofed in the department, they might
give you one more chance and if you messed up again, they would kick
you out. Studying drama at that time was as tough as being in the
barracks;, it was like being a soldier. If Wole Soyinka was there at
7am, who are you to be late? We would be at the theatre till 12 midnight
with him and as he was leaving, he would always say, measure your
pleasure but as young men, we would go to drink somewhere and we would
start scrambling at 6:30am to make it to class on time. At a point, I
had to let activism go and I focused on drama.
What was it like being taught by Wole Soyinka?
I remember the first class he taught us;
he kept on talking and giving note but we were just staring at him.
When he realised that nobody made a sound, he turned back and realised
we were all star struck. The class turned from a lecture to him telling
us to snap out of our amusement and get used to the fact that he was our
lecturer.
he kept on talking and giving note but we were just staring at him.
When he realised that nobody made a sound, he turned back and realised
we were all star struck. The class turned from a lecture to him telling
us to snap out of our amusement and get used to the fact that he was our
lecturer.
At a time when your mates were travelling to London or America to further their studies, why did you choose to go to Bulgaria?
That was in the early 80s; I went to
Bulgaria because of my passion for theatre. Those eastern Europeans
understood theatre. I believed that was the best place to study and I
was right because when I came back to Nigeria, things really worked for
me and I got a lot of acting gigs. I attended Sofia in Bulgaria. That is
where I bagged my master’s degree. I also studied languages because of
my love for it.
Bulgaria because of my passion for theatre. Those eastern Europeans
understood theatre. I believed that was the best place to study and I
was right because when I came back to Nigeria, things really worked for
me and I got a lot of acting gigs. I attended Sofia in Bulgaria. That is
where I bagged my master’s degree. I also studied languages because of
my love for it.
When I was in Sofia, I was involved in
politics and I became the leader of all the Yoruba people in that
country at a point in my life. I was also the goalkeeper for the
national team in Bulgaria.
politics and I became the leader of all the Yoruba people in that
country at a point in my life. I was also the goalkeeper for the
national team in Bulgaria.
So why did you quit sport?
My professor called me to ask which I
would rather opt for between acting and sport. I chose the theatre
because I had never wanted to be a professional footballer. It was easy
for me to make a choice. It helped me because I came out with the best
overall result in that school, the same way I was a distinction student
in Ife.
would rather opt for between acting and sport. I chose the theatre
because I had never wanted to be a professional footballer. It was easy
for me to make a choice. It helped me because I came out with the best
overall result in that school, the same way I was a distinction student
in Ife.
If you had so much passion for theatre, why did you delve into the corporate world?
When we started studying drama, there
was no money in it. They used to say we were doing art for art’s sake.
When we left the university, things were still like that and we could
not earn enough to feed the family. I know a lot of my friends who lost
their family because of that, so what I did was to get another stream of
income and that is how I went into marketing management. I have a
postgraduate diploma certificate in marketing management. With that, it
was easy for me to get jobs. I also did Public Relations and Advertising
before I went to work for a bank and telecommunications industry.
was no money in it. They used to say we were doing art for art’s sake.
When we left the university, things were still like that and we could
not earn enough to feed the family. I know a lot of my friends who lost
their family because of that, so what I did was to get another stream of
income and that is how I went into marketing management. I have a
postgraduate diploma certificate in marketing management. With that, it
was easy for me to get jobs. I also did Public Relations and Advertising
before I went to work for a bank and telecommunications industry.
I branched out because of the money and it helped me to continue with my theatre job until the industry blew up some years ago.
How were you able to combine your role in the corporate world with acting?
Apart from the grace of God, I am a very
scheduled person. I used to work overnight, weekends and even during my
leave so that my face would still be seen on the television. It was
easy for me because I was at the top of the corporate ladder. I was at
the directorate level.
scheduled person. I used to work overnight, weekends and even during my
leave so that my face would still be seen on the television. It was
easy for me because I was at the top of the corporate ladder. I was at
the directorate level.
How did your bosses and even colleagues relate with you in the office as a popular face on the screen?
Some people loved me while some others
did not. I had a boss when I was working in the bank who did not like
the idea. The day he saw me on television, he had to ask me where I had
the time for acting. From that day, he began to monitor me. There were
days he would barge into my office immediately he resumed work for the
day just to ensure that I was at work and performing my duties and I
would be there working.
did not. I had a boss when I was working in the bank who did not like
the idea. The day he saw me on television, he had to ask me where I had
the time for acting. From that day, he began to monitor me. There were
days he would barge into my office immediately he resumed work for the
day just to ensure that I was at work and performing my duties and I
would be there working.
There was a day he simply told me to
quit acting but I declined by reminding him that it did not affect my
job. I never slacked off at work and I am a very scheduled person. After
a while, I just got used to the hard work.
quit acting but I declined by reminding him that it did not affect my
job. I never slacked off at work and I am a very scheduled person. After
a while, I just got used to the hard work.
How do you relate with your female fans?
I always run from women. We can hang out
but when it is getting personal or sexual, then I take a bow and leave.
If I had to sleep with every woman that had approached me since I
started this work, I probably would be dead by now. At this level, my
wife is more like my companion, we talk and she gives me sound advice.
At a particular age, I was not interested in advice but to just jump
into the car and head to the club. I have always run away from women, I
mean I literally run from them. We can be friends but when it is
becoming something else, I run.
but when it is getting personal or sexual, then I take a bow and leave.
If I had to sleep with every woman that had approached me since I
started this work, I probably would be dead by now. At this level, my
wife is more like my companion, we talk and she gives me sound advice.
At a particular age, I was not interested in advice but to just jump
into the car and head to the club. I have always run away from women, I
mean I literally run from them. We can be friends but when it is
becoming something else, I run.
In your early days when you wanted to choose a wife, were there girls that schemed to be Mrs. Lewis?
The one I ended up marrying got it right
because when the others were always there to go to the clubs and
parties, when they were too available, she was not. They were always
flocking around me because they wanted to be seen as my girlfriends.
because when the others were always there to go to the clubs and
parties, when they were too available, she was not. They were always
flocking around me because they wanted to be seen as my girlfriends.
The lady I ended up getting married to
never did that and even when she showed up, she would just sit down
quietly despite the number of girls she saw around with me. That was how
I knew she was the one. We got married eventually and she had children
for me before the marriage fell apart.
never did that and even when she showed up, she would just sit down
quietly despite the number of girls she saw around with me. That was how
I knew she was the one. We got married eventually and she had children
for me before the marriage fell apart.
When we got married, I decided to be a
faithful husband and I was always taking my wife everywhere, even to
joints and that was a bad move. Some friends had to tell me not to move
around like that with my wife.
faithful husband and I was always taking my wife everywhere, even to
joints and that was a bad move. Some friends had to tell me not to move
around like that with my wife.
How did you feel when your first marriage broke up?
I felt very bad, it was such a
disappointment. We had all sorts of problems and I felt she did not do
well but what can I do? If a woman does not want you, there is nothing
you can do about it.
disappointment. We had all sorts of problems and I felt she did not do
well but what can I do? If a woman does not want you, there is nothing
you can do about it.
Did you not fight to get your ex-wife back?
We tried everything, ranging from
counselling, couples therapy, everything. You should know that before a
marriage breaks up, it does not start in a day. The little things that
never mattered became big issues. Everyone was brought on board to help
us sort our differences out; our church and family also intervened but
it just did not work with her because she was the one who quit. We tried
reconciling for a year but she called it off.
counselling, couples therapy, everything. You should know that before a
marriage breaks up, it does not start in a day. The little things that
never mattered became big issues. Everyone was brought on board to help
us sort our differences out; our church and family also intervened but
it just did not work with her because she was the one who quit. We tried
reconciling for a year but she called it off.
They say the children bear the brunt during divorce situations…
It is true, it was a very tough period
for the children and because of them, I had to make some sacrifices and
compromise. They were affected in one way or the other.
for the children and because of them, I had to make some sacrifices and
compromise. They were affected in one way or the other.
For someone who was married for two decades and all of a sudden became single, how were you able to adapt to bachelorhood?
When the marriage failed after so much
efforts in trying to patch things up, I advised myself to move on. I got
married again; I did not stay in the singles’ market for too long,
otherwise I would have become a playboy. I went into another marriage
which also did not work out. Then for the third time, I gave marriage a
shot and it is working out fine. I am in my third marriage.
efforts in trying to patch things up, I advised myself to move on. I got
married again; I did not stay in the singles’ market for too long,
otherwise I would have become a playboy. I went into another marriage
which also did not work out. Then for the third time, I gave marriage a
shot and it is working out fine. I am in my third marriage.
Some people would have given up on the institution called marriage, why did you keep attempting it?
I don’t know, my wife actually asked me
why I was getting married again to her and honestly, I can’t answer that
question because I already have children. Maybe, somehow God wants to
use me as an example because I love that sacred union called marriage
and I know both parties have to work hard to make it work. If it works,
it helps the children and even those involved. I think maybe God just
wants people to know that what had happened does not matter.
why I was getting married again to her and honestly, I can’t answer that
question because I already have children. Maybe, somehow God wants to
use me as an example because I love that sacred union called marriage
and I know both parties have to work hard to make it work. If it works,
it helps the children and even those involved. I think maybe God just
wants people to know that what had happened does not matter.
Was your wife not scared or sceptical about getting married to you after two failed attempts?
I had to prove myself to her and I talked a lot.
How did you meet her not to talk of convincing her to marry you?
My wife was a secretary to a friend and I
used to have an office space in that same building. Anytime I was less
busy, I was always at that my friend’s office. Besides, we had a jazz
bar at the basement of the building, so after work, we always converged
on the bar. When I was having all my marital problems, she was there and
even heard some of my story while I was discussing with my friend who
was her boss. She observed me and according to her, she always said that
I am not as bad as people think I am. The day I eventually asked her
out, she refused my offer. But honestly, she is the one that has made me
smile again.
used to have an office space in that same building. Anytime I was less
busy, I was always at that my friend’s office. Besides, we had a jazz
bar at the basement of the building, so after work, we always converged
on the bar. When I was having all my marital problems, she was there and
even heard some of my story while I was discussing with my friend who
was her boss. She observed me and according to her, she always said that
I am not as bad as people think I am. The day I eventually asked her
out, she refused my offer. But honestly, she is the one that has made me
smile again.
Don’t you think that your career probably caused your marital crisis back then?
The truth is that if you work too much,
they would call you a workaholic and when you decide not to do anything,
the same people would call you a jobless idiot. The important thing is
that before I met them, I was already doing my work; so they came on
board knowing the nature of my job. This is what puts food on my table,
so you cannot be eating my food and taking my money only to turn around
to say that I work too much. How do I reconcile that? I have always
created time for my family and I cherish spending quality time with my
family. Most weekends, I am with my family.
they would call you a workaholic and when you decide not to do anything,
the same people would call you a jobless idiot. The important thing is
that before I met them, I was already doing my work; so they came on
board knowing the nature of my job. This is what puts food on my table,
so you cannot be eating my food and taking my money only to turn around
to say that I work too much. How do I reconcile that? I have always
created time for my family and I cherish spending quality time with my
family. Most weekends, I am with my family.
When did you encounter the happiest and saddest day of your life?
The happiest day of my life was when I
gave up everything I had to become an international evangelist. The
saddest was when I discovered some things they do in church that ought
not to be, so I quit.
gave up everything I had to become an international evangelist. The
saddest was when I discovered some things they do in church that ought
not to be, so I quit.
So at a point in your life, you were an evangelist?
Yes, I am a trained and ordained evangelist who went on missions.
What led to your call from God?
I have always been a Christian but at a
point, I met with a group of people who really showed me the scripture. I
was baptised but I felt it in my heart to do more for God. At that
time, I was a controller in a bank.
point, I met with a group of people who really showed me the scripture. I
was baptised but I felt it in my heart to do more for God. At that
time, I was a controller in a bank.
If you were ordained and even went on missions, why did you quit being an evangelist?
When I saw some things that were being
done in church, those we were meant to look up to and learn from, I was
amazed. I tried to change the status quo but they refused, so I left.
The bible states that God would begin his judgment in the church. I
tried to fight the ills that were being done but they fought back and
the truth is that it is difficult for one man to fight an institution. I
would not want to mention the name of the church.
done in church, those we were meant to look up to and learn from, I was
amazed. I tried to change the status quo but they refused, so I left.
The bible states that God would begin his judgment in the church. I
tried to fight the ills that were being done but they fought back and
the truth is that it is difficult for one man to fight an institution. I
would not want to mention the name of the church.
So you do not minister the word of God to people anymore?
I just let my lifestyle and work speak for me. I also mentor people.
Was it difficult for you to change your lifestyle after your ordination?
I dropped everything negative I was
doing then and it was not difficult for me because I felt the call. I
really felt the call; I was not assigned by somebody. I was not living a
life of lie, I was true to my calling and you would not believe the
places they kept sending me to.
doing then and it was not difficult for me because I felt the call. I
really felt the call; I was not assigned by somebody. I was not living a
life of lie, I was true to my calling and you would not believe the
places they kept sending me to.
Places like were?
They sent me to Muslim nations, war
fronts. I was the evangelist in charge of the Mano River areas; places
like Conakry and Liberia. I started a church in Sierra Leone and I am
talking about the period when they used to chop off people’s arms. I was
sent to places like Guinea Bissau. Where I lived in Conakry, you dare
not say you are a Christian because they would cut off your hand, so
that you would not be able to carry your bible. I lived right in the
midst of the fundamentalists, so you can imagine the incredible miracles
God has used me for; miracles that I cannot begin to count but when I
saw what the ‘big bosses’ were doing in church, I had to pull out.
fronts. I was the evangelist in charge of the Mano River areas; places
like Conakry and Liberia. I started a church in Sierra Leone and I am
talking about the period when they used to chop off people’s arms. I was
sent to places like Guinea Bissau. Where I lived in Conakry, you dare
not say you are a Christian because they would cut off your hand, so
that you would not be able to carry your bible. I lived right in the
midst of the fundamentalists, so you can imagine the incredible miracles
God has used me for; miracles that I cannot begin to count but when I
saw what the ‘big bosses’ were doing in church, I had to pull out.
But was your call by God dramatic?
No it was not and that is part of the
problems that we have. The church has become so dramatic that you think
that everything that has to do with the spirit must be dramatic,
spectacle, screaming, etc. That is not the Holy Spirit because he is so
gentle; you would not even know you have him until he uses you for his
glory. The Holy Spirit does not make people to fall down like evil
spirits do. You see some people performing deliverance and people would
be falling but in the bible, the only thing that made people to fall
down was evil spirit. I just felt God’s call in my heart and that was in
the 90s. Before the call, I was with the bank and I had a car, a house
and a driver, so you can imagine how much I was earning. The bank was
paying for everything I was doing. I was riding a Mercedes Benz at the
time and I was not yet 40 years old. I had such a great future in the
bank and my boss would not forgive me till date for quitting because he
was grooming me for the top. I just left everything, sold all I had and
joined the ministry. I passed through some incredible experiences even
with armed soldiers but I was saved by God. After going through all
that, I realised that the ‘ogas’ were messing up, so I challenged them.
problems that we have. The church has become so dramatic that you think
that everything that has to do with the spirit must be dramatic,
spectacle, screaming, etc. That is not the Holy Spirit because he is so
gentle; you would not even know you have him until he uses you for his
glory. The Holy Spirit does not make people to fall down like evil
spirits do. You see some people performing deliverance and people would
be falling but in the bible, the only thing that made people to fall
down was evil spirit. I just felt God’s call in my heart and that was in
the 90s. Before the call, I was with the bank and I had a car, a house
and a driver, so you can imagine how much I was earning. The bank was
paying for everything I was doing. I was riding a Mercedes Benz at the
time and I was not yet 40 years old. I had such a great future in the
bank and my boss would not forgive me till date for quitting because he
was grooming me for the top. I just left everything, sold all I had and
joined the ministry. I passed through some incredible experiences even
with armed soldiers but I was saved by God. After going through all
that, I realised that the ‘ogas’ were messing up, so I challenged them.