Alibosheri Arinze Kenneth Okonkwo had his name permanently engraved on the minds of thousands of movie lovers by interpreting the lead role of Andy in the super hit movie, Living in Bondage. And like a second body, that spectacular role has so stuck that decades after, many still find the actor so irrestible and irrepressible. AZUH ARINZE went knocking on his door and below is the result…
I understand you just finished a new movie, Izaga. What role did you actually play in it?
I played the role of Okechukwu.
So, how will you describe your role as Okechukwu in Izaga?
Oh, it was beautiful. The role is the modern aspect of an ancient movie. So, the movie actually is a story that my mother in the movie told me. It’s about her history and how I came to be born. I starred as Okechukwu which as you know means God’s gift. So, I was like a gift from God to her.
How do you see Izaga generally?
It’s a total package. It’s something else. From the beginning to the end, there’s no dull moment. Izaga is a movie that you will develop an itching body to watch and nothing will quench watching it.
Your days at location, what were they like?
Oh, beautiful, friendly and accident-free. We lived a communal life. We had this brotherhood feeling. It was fine, it was fine…
What made you agree to be part of Izaga? I understand you are very selective about the movies you feature in?
Well, I think because I found the story beautiful and all encompassing. Izaga has a lot of messages to pass across. As a matter of fact, any movie you see me appear in must be a good movie because I’ve set up a panel to advise me on the suitability of any movie that I want to be part of. So, whenever I finish reading a script, I give it to them to advise me on what they want me to do and if it is favourable to them, I will do it and if not, I will not do it.
Let’s talk about your person. Who is Kenneth Arinze Okonkwo?
I’ve talked about myself so much that anything I do now will be singing about it. But if you insist, I’m Kenneth Okonkwo, born into the family of Chief Ozioko Francis and Chief (Mrs.) Beatrice Okonkwo. Both from Nsukka in Nsukka LGA of Enugu State. I’m a graduate of UNN (University of Nigeria, Nsukka), born on November 6, 1968. At least, there are no two affidavits, no Toronto or Chicago affidavits (he jokes). I passed through Union Primary School. From there, I went to Premier Secondary School, Ukehe. When I reached my class four, I changed to St. Theresa’s College where I completed my secondary education. From STC, I proceeded to UNN where I read Management in the Faculty of Business Administration and by the grace of God, I graduated with a second class upper division and was also awarded a certificate for academic excellence by the then Dean of that faculty.
As an individual, is there anything that you hate or to put it mildly detest about yourself?
I’m made in the image of God so there’s really nothing to hate about myself. Although, there’s always something to improve about myself every other day.
Like what and what?
Well, as a human being, you will agree with me that we are not as perfect as God because God is Omnipotent and Omniscience, but God has called us to be as perfect as Him, so it is a life long thing that we will come to perfection and that God will admire you. To attain this, you keep learning, you keep learning because there’s no limitation to it.
How did you come into acting?
I knew I had the talent and before coming to Lagos, I also knew that I needed to finish my studies. So, I waited till I finished because I would not have finished my university education. Moreover, I believe that anything worth doing at all is worth doing well. So when I finished, I remember I once told my brother that I will be a star and we all laughed over that statement. So, I wrote these people (producers) of soap opera and Ripples was the only one. I went for their audition. I was tested and when they found out that I was good, they gave me a role. I started with Ripples sometime in September 1989.
What happened thereafter?
I was invited to be part of Living in Bondage from where I made a clean break into stardom.
How did you cope with the attendant fame and all that came with that role of Andy in Living in Bondage?
(Smiles) It was automatic. It’s like going to your sleep as nobody and waking up in the morning a super star. We have not really experienced that kind of thing before, because ordinarily, the kind of popularity that a soap opera gives in most cases is gradual, but the popularity the movie gave me was instant and very automatic. For me, it was like coming to a position where nobody knew you before to where everybody now knows you. So, it became too much for me to bear. I mean, some human beings made it practically impossible for me to continue living my life the way I would have loved to because I’m a kind of guy that prior to that time, I could wear my shorts, not bothering how others felt, but all that changed. Some people became genuinely interested in my affairs and what made it difficult was that they were showing interest out of love and not out of hate. So, because of the love they showed towards me, I now discovered that I should now live my life to please them, in addition to pleasing myself and that was how I started taking steps to know how I will live my life to please everybody, including myself. But after trying all other means, I now discovered that there was only one way I could achieve greater height and that’s how I embraced Jesus. He’s (Jesus) made it possible for me to now live my life the way I want and still please everybody.
Don’t you think that it is somehow inexplicable that NEK (Kenneth Nnebue) has not been featuring you in his recent works. Was there any disagreement between you and him while Living in Bondage was being shot or what?
I have my greatest respect for him and he has a lot of love and respect for me too. So, it has nothing to do with any perceived disagreement. I know that anytime we agree on certain issues, we will work together again. He still loves me. That’s all I can say for now.
While you were still coming up, was there any established actor that you looked up to as a model?
Well, you will agree with me that when we were coming up, things were not like this. In fact, Living in Bondage was what opened the door and I, incidentally, was the lead actor. So, I wouldn’t have been looking up to anybody in foreign movies. And it’s obvious that in the foreign movie scene, the context with which they acted was different from ours. So, I couldn’t have been looking up to any foreign actor either. So, it’s just an inner conviction within me that this is what I love doing and this is what I want to do and what I have skills for doing and so, I always come natural in my acting because I’m always myself. So, I look up to God and myself for the inspiration to act.
Do you have any phobia?
No (shaking his head). The Bible says who or what will harm he that is a follower of he that is good? I’ve no phobia. He that puts his trust in God shall lack nothing. So, what am I “phobiaing” for?
Do you have any regret?
No regret. I learn from my mistakes. I don’t regret them because both my mistakes and achievements helped to mound me into who I am today.
Let’s hear about your happiest and saddest moments.
(Smiles) I think my happiest moment was the day I gave my life to Jesus Christ.
When was this?
That should be October 24, 1994.
And your saddest?
Each time I remember that a lot of souls are perishing and going to hell because they rejected Jesus Christ.
What’s your favourite food?
(Smiles again) Well, it is a combination of rice and dodo (plantain). I like Onugbo soup too with any swallowable.
Your favourite drink?
Well, the greatest thing I like taking is water. I’m not into drink, both soft and alcohol.
Which colours are your favourites?
I like black, I like white. Simply black and white.
Which car is your favourite?
Oh! I believe so much in Mercedes Benz.
Which brand of music is your favourite?
Gospel music or any other music that has a lot of moral teaching.
What are the highest and lowest fees that you have collected?
I don’t want to make any public show of my figure. I’m not good at that, but your guess should be as good as mine (general laughter).
Let’s share your most embarrassing moments.
It was when I was an unbeliever and I was coming out with my girlfriend and one lady preacher came out and called me and looked at me and said: “It will be a terrible thing if God shall save a lot of people through your movie, Living in Bondage and you remain unsaved and die and go to hell”. I was embarrassed. The embarrassment did not leave me until I gave my life to God.
Was the girlfriend you were with your first love?
Azuh, when a man is in Christ, old things have passed away. Behold, all things are new. The Bible says I should remember not the things of old for God will do a new thing. So, if there was any love I had before giving my life to God, forgive me, I can’t remember (laughs). The new thing God has done for me is the new wife He has given to me. She is my first love and the only love I can remember for now (more laughter).
If you get to meet God tomorrow, what will you ask Him to do for you?
To forgive the whole sinners and grant them a repenting heart that they may know what I’ve known about him.
What advice do you have for those aspiring to be like you?
They should first of all recognize that I’m where I am today by the special grace of God. For instance, the movie that made me what I am today, the letter was brought to my house. So, I really contributed nothing to making myself. Therefore, my first advice is that they should submit themselves to God so that that grace (grace means unmerited favour, he explains) that He has given to me will be extended to them. The next advice is that they should remember that faith without work is dead and that before I entered into acting, I was already a graduate. They should therefore make sure that they go to school because without knowledge, you will have no bearing. The next advice is that having acquired knowledge, you must be humble. Humility will make you to remain wherever God puts you. So, you have to be humble. You have to be honest. Then you have to be patient and you must love your neighbor as yourself. That is, you have to be good to everybody that comes your way.