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By Rita Okoye
Sola Kosoko-Abina is a versatile and accomplished actress steadily carving her own path in the Nigerian entertainment industry while upholding the legacy of her father, Jide Kosoko.
In a recent interview on Nollywood on Radio Podcast, she offered insights into her upbringing as the daughter of a screen legend; spoke extensively about their latest cinema project; and shared her perspectives on family dynamics, including polygamy, among other personal and professional experiences.
You are the daughter of a legend who is still thriving in the industry. Growing up, how did you feel being the daughter of Jide Kosoko?
I always feel good. I met one of my classmates three days ago, and he was telling me, ‘You remember that time when your daddy was in the school? Everybody will be peeping through the window to see your dad.’ I said, ‘I remember.’ So honestly, I feel good being his daughter. Every one of his children, of course, we feel good. And he is always showing up for us anywhere and everywhere that he needs to be.
When he told you about his latest movie, Eleko (Oba Esugbayi), what did you think; were you scared for him, at over 70, because of how stressful it would be?
We always have pre-production, production itself, and then post-production. The pre-production alone was very, very stressful; extremely stressful. At some point, I cried. Honestly, he saw me on location and I cried. I felt the stress was too much for my dad. But I have always known him to be a very strong man. My dad is very strong. Even when we tried to caution him; ‘Dad, please let us handle this’ – at the end of the day, we thank God that we were able to pull through. It wasn’t easy. The movie was capital-intensive. It was stressful. Bringing different heads together from various angles is not easy. I must confess.
Your dad is a prince in Lagos, was that the inspiration behind this movie?
No, no, no. Being a prince was not the inspiration for this movie. Let me say this, we have seen a lot of movies in that genre elsewhere. But this is about a Shudai in Lekki; it is about the very first story coming from Lekki. We decided to tell our story because if you don’t tell your story, nobody will tell your story for you. So, we decided to pick one of Lagos’s stories and talk about it. We decided to start with Eleko of Badagry. So many others are coming.
As a line producer on the movie, which is set in post-colonial Lagos, how hard was it recreating the 1920s all over again?
Yes, it was really, really hard. You know, there were some cars we used on set that could not move from their original location to the set. We had to carry them with a trailer; a separate cost. We had to pay for the car and then pay for the movement as well. That is just one out of so many challenges. Getting the houses of that era, getting the costumes, we had to get every detail right because it is historical. When a film is not historical, you can find a way to manage some things. But in this case, we couldn’t manage anything. We had to get it right, from cast to costume to language, to make-up, and the rest of it.
How was it like managing the veteran actors on set, including your own father?
I’m their daughter. It was not that difficult to manage them. And even when that was a factor, they are professionals. When you tell them ‘This is it,’ they listen. So, it’s been a year since he’s been trying to bring me onto the show. Finally, we did it, and it was worth it.
You grew up in a polygamous home. Would you agree to your husband practising polygamy?
No. That my dad is a polygamist does not mean that my husband should be a polygamist. It’s a different era. I love you, one-on-one now. I have a younger cousin who is just 41 and he has three wives, but that is their own choice. I know who I married, and he cannot be a polygamist.
A lot of people feel that the Europeans have brainwashed us into believing that polygamy is bad while other things are not. Why do you have an issue with polygamy?
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Growing up, it was like a man could acquire wives. And even in the industry, I have spoken to daddy and he would tell me that most of the men who got married to many wives, it was not because they wanted to ‘acquire’ wives; it was to aid their business. If they needed to perform or travel and the time came, a husband would not let his wife go. So people ended up marrying their colleagues, and that is why Ogunde and the rest had so many wives. Honestly, me, I don’t have anything against polygamy. Statistics have shown that we have more women than men, so how do we help others? Whoever can manage it should go for it. I even saw a video a year or two ago of a white man who married three wives. Let’s be realistic; the same people who told us certain things are not good, they have started doing those things themselves. I disagree that there are a lot of things that have confused us. But thank God for enlightenment, thank God for technology.
Let’s go back to this movie. Are you not scared about the cinema turnout?
We are getting there. What we have done in the past is less than what we are yet to do now. We have been scared in the past. I am not overconfident, but I believe that God is there for us.
You know the economy is tough. Families are managing tight budgets. So, tell me, why should a man take his wife and children to go and watch your movie?
We have always had a hard economy. I remember during the reign of (Gen. Sani) Abacha, during the reign of all the presidents, people were always complaining, and then we were surviving. So, it is the same way we will continue to survive. We pray that things get better. We pray that leaders will really help make things better. But that is not to say that in the midst of all this, you will not go out and enjoy yourself. So, the money you have in your pocket, what do you want to use it for?
What do you think are the things your daddy did that shaped you?
One of the things my dad taught us is humility to a fault. I remember greeting someone one day and he said, ‘I don’t like the way you greeted that person. I said, ‘Well, Dad, I don’t even know him.’ He said: ‘You still greet.’ So I have learned to be very humble. And the same goes for my dad. He is humble too, extremely. The last time I saw him at the Abuja airport, he was the one who spotted me. I didn’t see him. He ran after me. Imagine. Some people might not be able to do that. That is one of the things we have all learned from him. Humility is very important in everything we do.
Now, you are the second generation of the Kosokos in Nollywood. Are any of your children showing traits of wanting to follow that path?
I know one of my children will come into this line as well. She has been showing traits, just as you said. And yes, I am encouraging her. It’s not a bad idea. I got into this through the influence of my father. I never actually wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a broadcaster, a mass communicator, or probably a lawyer. But growing up, I was acting even before I gained admission into the university. There was a particular movie my daddy produced in 2001 that shot me into the limelight and I started enjoying stardom. I started acting through the influence of my father and I am enjoying it, so there is nothing wrong with my child doing it as well.
They always say that sometimes it is the people you meet that you end up dating or marrying. Why didn’t you marry an actor or someone in the industry?
It was not a decision. It was just how it happened. Nothing is wrong with marrying an actor. I am an actor myself. So if I don’t want to marry an actor, who will marry me? It wasn’t a decision.
Have you been in a situation where you did a role your husband was not comfortable with; do you discuss with him when you get a script that is somehow extreme?
Yes, sometimes I discuss with him. Whenever I see that a script is extreme, I discuss it. But before I started doing that, there was a film in which I kissed someone. I didn’t even wait to see his reaction. I left the environment just to avoid any issues. He didn’t talk about it. He didn’t complain. But later on, I think my husband has grown to understand that it is work. A very good actor must be versatile and should be able to play any role. So, I think he has, at some point, come to understand that if it is her job, she should do it well.
After this experience of making this movie, are you also passionate about pushing your own cinema project soon?
Very, very soon, by the special grace of God. You know, being on set with your dad and doing this; this is even something special. When you are dealing with people, there is always the possibility of betrayal. So, there were some challenges I did not expect, and they happened. But we had to take it the way it.
What would you say to your fans to convince them to go and watch Eleko this weekend?
This holiday is a good time to learn about the history of Lagos, the traditions, and the culture. We learn every day. I am currently researching a certain individual and the things I have learned, I didn’t even know. I was shocked. A lot of people will find out a lot of things when they watch this film. And I can tell you, because I have seen the movie, that it is a good movie. It is well put together, directed by Tunde Olaoye, Bayo Tijani, and Tunde Kosoko. It has all your favourite stars that you can think of. It is well put together, well done. I wish you all the best as you go to the cinema.
