Multiple award-winning dashing actor, Bob Manuel Udokwu, needs no introduction. He’s not only come very far, but is still waxing strong in Nollywood. With myriad home video, television, stage and radio appearances to his credit, Bob, without mincing words, has done very, very well in his chosen profession. This interview, with AZUH ARINZE, held at his Festac Town, Lagos home, saw him opening up on his love life. Excerpts:
Why didn’t you marry an actress?
Well, I had always said in interviews that my choices are open, which meant that I could have married anybody, but as it turned out, my wife is not an actress, for now. To answer you directly, there’s no reason why I didn’t marry an actress. Nothing whatsoever. Perhaps, it was not meant to be like that.
I want to get you right. Is your wife nursing any acting ambition?
I assume that by her accepting to marry me, she has become an actress. Or don’t you think she is qualified?
Tell us more about your wife…
It depends on what you want to know. Normally, if you ask specific questions, I will give you specific answers.
Tell us everything about her.
She is from Achina. Achina in Aguata LGA of Anambra State. She is an identical twin. So, you can see that my wife is unique. Her name is Cassandra Chidubem while her twin sister is Sandra Ijeoma. We met at the University of Lagos. Seeing for the first time, that was in March (1999), no big deal until about three months later and by September 21, I went down to the East to pay her pride price. So, you can see that it took just six months between when we first met and when I went to settle her bride price. If you add it to the traditional wedding of December 28, you will see that it took just nine months for everything to materialize.
Was she in the same department with you while your Master’s degree programme lasted?
Noooo! It was just a chance meeting.
How did it happen?
Em…I don’t know if the detail is necessary.
Of course!
I was living in the Post Graduates’ Hall (Henry Carr). I just moved in then because our exam was about to start. That was in March. So, late in the evening, I was going to make a phone call and among other people, I noticed a very tall lady walking towards me, elegantly. The first thing that came to my mind was, “This girl is probably a model”. I wanted to comment on the way she walks, but on a second thought, I changed my mind because I wanted to be as unobtrusive as possible at UNILAG. Don’t forget, this is Bob-Manuel Udokwu, a popular actor. I felt that if I should comment, maybe, she will see me as a womanizer. We passed each other and that was it. After the phone call, I was going back, but then decided to check somebody at the female hostel (P.G students)…
(Interruption) The person you went to see, was she your lover or just a casual friend?
No! Just somebody I know. As I was saying, halfway to that hall, I saw her again. This time, she was standing with two guys whom she later told me were toasting her. I was now compelled to stop and comment. I said hello to the guys and to her too. Apparently, she was already dismissing them because they left and then I asked her if she models. She replied in the negative and wanted to know why I was asking. So, I told her that she walks like a trained model. As we were talking, we were walking towards the female hall. She asked me what I was doing in school. I told her I was doing a Master’s degree programme and was living at the P.G hall. She told me her room number and we parted ways. That’s it about how we met.
So, when did you start wooing her?
Three months after our meeting.
How did you do that?
(Thinks) How did I do that? We became friends and I found out that the qualities I look forward to are all present in her and even more. That’s it.
How did you propose to her?
Let’s not talk about that now.
Okay. So, what made you conclude that she is the person for you and not somebody else?
I found out that she’s well brought up, highly disciplined and very respectful. This is not an exaggeration, but it is difficult to find her type now, especially in a place like UNILAG and with all the fake mannerisms that the girls there display.
What do you like most about her?
(Laughs for sometime) That one is tough o, because I like virtually everything about her. You can see she is busy preparing breakfast…She’s not fake. She’s somebody that knows her responsibility.
What course did she pursue at UNILAG?
English Education. Already, she has an NCE from St. Mark’s Teaching Training College, Awka, Anambra State.
A lot of people see you as a playboy. Are you truly one?
Well, those who see me as a playboy probably don’t understand me. If women are attracted to you by virtue of your profession, your looks and what you stand for, does that make you a playboy? I guess no. Showbizness is all about showmanship and don’t forget, my first degree is in Theatre Arts and I know that I’m a consummate showman. In the end, you move from one stage of life to another. I had a full bachelorhood, which I enjoyed to the hilt while it lasted. So, playboy or no playboy, everything belongs to the past now.
(Another interruption) Your name has been linked to so many actresses…
(Cuts in) Are you not the one doing the linking? (Laughing) Go straight to the point…
Okay. To cut a long story short. You were alleged to have dated Ayo Adesanya, Jennifer Olisa, Vivian Metchie, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Susan Patrick, Kate Henshaw and many others. True or false?
One common denominator was that we were in one production at one time or the other, over the years. That’s the common denominator. Beyond that, I don’t think anything serious happened. If it did, perhaps, one of them will be living with me now, and don’t forget that they have equally been linked to other men. So, their names being linked to mine in one way or the other does not really indicate that anything happened. Except where you show an empirical evidence.
Talking about stardom, what do you hate most about it?
You don’t live your life the way you want to. In other words, your life is constantly under scrutiny, which is not so much for commendation, but for faults and condemnations.
What are some of those things that ordinarily, you will like to do but can’t do now because of stardom?
You might want to go for an outing, say the beach or the open market to buy food by the road side, once people see you, they crowd you and sometimes, social miscreants use such occasions to extort money with subtle threat. But if you are not a star, so to speak, you live your life quietly and more often than not, pass unnoticed.
What and what do you hate about yourself?
(Smiles) It’s not so much as hate. It’s a quality that if I can, I will like it changed and that’s my being kind-hearted. People have taken advantage of that too often. As for physical quality, I think I’m the best man God has ever made. My wife can attest to that. And that’s why some of your colleagues have always described me as a ladies’ man.
Who is the real Bob-Manuel Udokwu?
Who is Bob Manuel Udokwu? Well, Bob-Manuel Udokwu is a simple, cool-headed, disciplined dude. He’s also hardworking and God-fearing. He sees life as being meaningless, especially when one cannot use his God – given potentials to affect his environment positively.
That’s nice. When was Bob born, which schools did he attend, etc?
Bob was born on April 18, sometime in the 60s. He attended St. Peter’s Primary School, Ogbete, Enugu (now Hillside). Oraukwu Grammar School, Oraukwu, Anambra. University of Port Harcourt and University of Lagos. I hail from Ogidi in Idemili LGA of Anambra State. I’m the fourth child in a family of six (three boys and three girls).
What was it like for you, growing up?
My childhood was a regular civil servant father upbringing. My father was like a disciplinarian and he made sure we always attended Sunday schools and never missed church service. So, with that kind of upbringing, a lot of moral values were instilled in one at a very early stage in life. But these things may not be obvious to a casual observer. It’s only when you are really close to me that you can observe these things. My wife found out those things when we got married and it was a pleasant discovery for her. So, she can now boldly tell you that it is wrong to judge artistes based on the roles they play on TV.
How did you get into acting?
It goes way back to primary school. First was in 1972. By primary six, I had become very, very popular in my school. But strangely enough, in my secondary school, I wasn’t a member of the Dramatic Club, I was a member of just the Debating Society. After I left secondary school. I was drawn to the TV. I was also a member of some amateur theatre groups and a guest presenter at FRCN, Enugu. So, you see, before I went to the university to study Theatre Arts professionally, I had traversed TV, radio and stage. That’s why I see myself as a core professional. That’s why those who you say claim that I’m difficult to work with should be pitied. The truth is that there are no more challenges for me in this industry as it is. In 1986, I gained admission into UNIPORT for a one-year professional training as an actor. I made a distinction in that and by 1987, I won an award as the Best Student Actor of the Year (runner up). I pursued a degree programme straight away. By 1989, in Jos, I was elected the National President of the Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Students Association (NUTASA). I left UNIPORT 1991 with a 2.1, B.A degree in Theatre Arts. Same 91, Checkmate started and I played a prominent role. I was the co-ordinator, NYSC Theatre Group in Ibadan. Oyo State between ’91 and 92. In 1998, I won the Best Actor Award (Igbo) at both REEL and THEMA. What else?
Who do you have as your role model?
My role model generally is Sean Connery. But in international politics, I like Abraham Lincoln. The tenacity of his purpose trips me. In Africa, I admire Nelson Mandela.
Which food is your favourite?
I eat any well cooked food. Thank God, my wife happens to be a wonderful cook. That’s why I say her type is hard to find.
Which drink is your favourite?
Water.
Which brands of music do you enjoy so much?
Ah! Reggae music. Especially Bob Marley and the Wailers and maybe any good highlife music too.
Which colours are your favourite?
Black, blue and cream.
Your favourite car?
My favourite car is Mercedes Benz. Why? It combines comfort with ruggedness and durability.
What’s your phobia?
My phobia is fear itself.
Do you have any reget?
Regret? No, I don’t think so.
Can you recollect your happiest and saddest moments?
The saddest was when my first sister, Ify (points to one of her potraits hung on the wall) died. This was May 3, 1993. My happiest day is yet to come. Everyday is happy for me. That’s why I wrote on my car: Give Thanks Always.
What’s the highest and lowest fees that you have ever collected?
I know I’ve been paid N5 in NTA in those days. I think the highest should be…(leaves it hanging).
Which of your roles do you think are your best and your worst?
Every role I play, I give my best shot, but if you are talking about the ones that made the greatest impact, then When The Sun Sets. It was my first romance role. I was a bit uncomfortable when it was released. Another is Evil Genius. And that’s because of the bestial nature of Morris, the character I played in the movie.
Talking about romantic roles. How do you feel playing them?
You see, our society is highly hypocritical. When love scenes are shown on TV, people criticize us and even ban their children from watching such show of affection. But the same society will always allow their children to watch violent films, war films and bloodshed without thinking that there’s anything wrong with that. What is the result? Young people now hardly wait to get into universities to practice what they see on TV, violent cult clashes that will even make Hollywood producers marvel and also a serious increase in sexual immorality because human nature is basically exploratory. “That which you seek to hide is that which the world seeks to discover”.
What is your assessment of the industry?
The industry is killing itself. It is killing itself in the sense that where non-professionals who have the capital run an industry, mediocrity thrives. Scripts are hardly written by professionals, non-professionals are turning to producers overnight and business men are suddenly becoming directors. All in their bid to maximize profits. They don’t care about the quality or standard of what is produced. There’s virtually no Nigerian film that you can exhibit in international film festivals because virtually everything is below standard. Except for a few. Technically, directorially, script – wise, everything is below standard. The viewing public is now aware of the current celebration of mediocrity and is seriously complaining. Again, those who market these films are dishonest. Otherwise, how do you explain that when a movie is produced by a professional, no matter how good, sales- wise, it falls flat on its face. Why? The industry is just killing itself.
What do you think is the way out?
The way out is already in progress. There’s a silent revolution going on. Bodies of professionals are being formed and in no distant future, the impact will be felt and this mindless shortchanging of the viewing public will stop.
What’s been guiding you. I mean, your guiding principle?
My guiding principle has been believe in yourself, trust in God and work hard.
…WE ALSO HAD A VERY BRIEF CHAT WITH BOB’S GAP-TOOTHED, SVELTE, HAIRY AND PRETTY WIFE
Why did you agree to marry Bob?
Because I like him.
When or how did you begin to like him?
When we started getting closer, I realized he’s God fearing, gentle and homely and that was it.
What do you like most about him?
He cooks for me sometimes and he also helps me a lot.