My life with 20 wives
By BISI OLALEYE
Friday, May 13, 2005

Ogungbe and one of his wives

Photo: Sun News Publishing

Elder artiste, Chief Akin Ogungbe, may no longer be popular among the new generation of theatre lovers/practitioners. But the veteran actor and dramatist was for many years a household name among entertainment lovers, particularly in the western part of the country where the Yoruba travelling theatre thrived.

Ogungbe is actually the only surviving artiste who belongs to the first generation of theatre artistes, like the late Chief Hubert Ogunde, Kola Ogunmola, Duro Ladipo and Oyin Adejobi (who all recorded their landmarks in the same industry). By the time he too established his theatre, many notable artistes like Charles Olumo (Agbako), Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), Jimoh Aliu (Aworo), Jide Kosoko, Gbenga Adebayo, Olaiya Igwe, Alade Aromire and the late Ade Afolayan (Ade love), among others, had their tutelage under him.

Ogungbe, who recently celebrated his 50th anniversary on stage, explained to Daily Sun at his Iberekodo home in Abeokuta how he took to drama after watching a play and got easily inspired.

Following hints that the 71- year- old dramatist was down with illness, Daily Sun recently visited him only to find him lying on his mattress, smoking. When asked why he was smoking even in ill health, Ogungbe said it was an old habit that he hardly can shelve, lest his health deteriorates the more.
The septuagenarian also spoke on his acting career, his achievements, memories, regrets as well as his 20 wives and 50 children among others.

Background
My name is Christopher Akintola Ogungbe. I was born in 1934 in Abeokuta. I attended St Paul’s primary school and later Oke-Ona primary school.

I loved theatre arts from the onset, on completion of my primary education, I could not find a job, I had to learn cabinet making. But one day, I saw a poster announcing a play that was to be staged at Tom Jones Memorial Hall, at Ita Agarawu. I went there and was amazed at the artistic setting of the stage and the quality of performance. I was so overwhelmed that I made up my mind there and then (1953) that I would join the drama troupe.

Eventually someone gave me the address of the group and I traveled to their rehearsal venue. I kept visiting them until the leader, G.T Onimole, asked me to join the group. I was happy and saw it as the turning point in my life.

Soon, I became popular in the troupe. After a few months, I became a problem to the leader, because, I had started chasing girls and smoking. But one day, the leader could no longer tolerate my excesses, he therefore unleashed his anger on me, but rather than apologise, I walked out on him.
Meanwhile, people had told me that they always watched our plays because of me. This got into my head, and I felt that I could start my own group as well. So I started mine in same year - 1953.

On getting to work the following day, I instructed some of my junior colleagues to make different sets of Samba drums. Already, I had been promoted a senior foreman at SOA at Ebute- Elefun where I was working as a carpenter. So having built the drums, I thought of where and which play could launch me into prominence. Then D.O Fagunwa’s Igbo Olodumare came to mind.

Ogungbe Theatre group
At that time, we didn’t have ladies, all my friends had joined me. Whenever we wanted to have a female part, one of the young men did it. That was how we started holding our rehearsals at Olowogbowo, also in Lagos.

It was during the rehearsals that we got a patron, who financed us and even got ladies through his second wife (who was called Sidi Ereko). Later, I resigned my job to face live theatre fully, in spite of pressures not to do so. By then, I had married my second wife, who was popularly called Erelu, she was the one that practically helped my troupe, and we started the travelling theatre in 1961.

Plays/home videos so far
There are so many plays. Is it optical films that you want or stage plays?
Ha! That is a tall order, I might not be able to give all because it is a very long time, but I will try my best, You know, I am now an old man. All my works will be close to 40 or even more now. They include Asiri Baba Ibeji, Igbo Olodumare, Ireke Onibudo, Lisabi, Agbongbo-Akala. When we talk of home videos, these are so many too. I started with Owo Esu, Ologbojogolo, Agbebo Adie, Eiye Ega, 50-50, Eje Nkan and Omoloku. This is quite different from what Alade Aromire did. He stayed with me and got his ideas from me. Others include Imole larin okunkun, Baba ijo, Omo nbo, among many others.

Present project
I was on location recently, shooting Niboji. Then I fell ill. And after my illness, I celebrated my 50th anniversary on stage. After that, I fell ill again, but I am now recuperating. Very soon, I will put finishing touches to Niboji, so that it can be released. And after that, I will stay back and think of other ideas and at the same time watch as life unfolds.

Why not in Nollywood
They (members) might feel that being an elderly person, and of course, the most recognised senior in the industry in the country, they wouldn’t want to disturb me. And I can’t be begging for roles at my age.

Overseas tours
No. But my first travelling would have been last year October, but due to some logistics and my ailing health, my family advised me to suspend it. If not, my first performance in London would have been on October 22.

50th anniversary on stage
I sat back one day and thought that almost

all those that we started together had gone to the great beyond. People like Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi and the youngest of them all, Ade love. I also realised that all these people died and were given a befitting burial. And you know the dead doesn’t know what you have done for him. So, I just thought of a celebration while I am alive- let me see it and enjoy it. I wanted people to shower encomiums on me while still alive rather than give long speeches at my graveside. I thank God that many artistes came from far and near to honour me. Artistes like Jimoh Aliu, Adebayo Salami, Jide Kosoko, Dele Odule, among many others came and even staged live performances that pleased and satisfied my soul.

House promised by the governor
No, I am yet to be given. But I am very sure that Otunba Gbenga Daniel will do it. He is a man of his words, he said it publicly and from what I heard, he wants to hand over the keys to me publicly. And I pray and hope that he does that soon. The governor is a man who understands the needs of his subjects; he wouldn’t want me to die before fulfilling his promise.

Ten wives and 40 children
(Laughs) I have more than ten. In fact, when I publicly declared 10 wives and 40 children, my wives protested that they were more than that. In actual fact, they should number up to 20 and my children should be about 50. In fact, they are so many that I have lost count of them. It may shock people that I don’t even know most of my children anymore. Most of them were taken away by their mothers when they were babies. Even during my anniversary, some were fighting one another and we had to reconcile them. For instance, one came all the way from the North. I couldn’t recognise him but when he described his mother, I was able to know that he is my son.

Being a polygamist
Then it was not easy but then I practiced transparency in the areas of finance. And you know women, they want to be involved and I made sure I carried them along. So, there was peace at home. During our days, we were not enlightened, we thought that by marrying most of the female members of the troupe, we would retain them and they would stay instead of using their talents elsewhere. That was how I married many wives.

Between live theatre and home videos
Live theatre brings out the best in artistes. We know that there is a major difference today because it is just like comparing death to sleep. In the past, we never knew we could do a complete film. Then at Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), there used to be what we call film insertion, when we need the scene of a stream, it will be shot for us, and inserted into the film. But Ola Balogun changed all that, when he returned from Europe with his wife. He produced Ajani Ogun but gave it to Duro Ladipo to coordinate. But when I insisted that he should call Ade Love as a specialist on love, he obeyed.

Fond memories
Well, my fond memories are those days of live theatre. Today, there is a dearth of story lines and even the audience are tired of watching the same story on a daily basis.

Challenges
My greatest challenge now is lack of money to churn out innovative epic and contemporary stories.

Regrets
Yes, for marrying many wives. But it was because we were not enlightened then. Now, I am almost alone with my brother Paragon. Home Alone! (Throaty laugh).

Achievements
My achievements can only be measured in terms of what I have put into the theatre. But mere watching those that have been through my tutelage are my achievements.

What to be remembered for
(Laughs) I don’t want to die now, don’t ask me that question, because life is beautiful.
But if I finally join my ancestors, I want those behind to remember me for my integrity, steadfastness, hard work and belief in God. I am not tribalistic. As a Christian, I went to Mecca and I am an Alhaji.