Nkem Owoh: An actor’s actor story at 70

Garlands have continued to pour in for one of Nollywood’s comic acting gift to the world, Nkem Owoh, who turned 70 recently. Popularly known as Osuofia, colleagues, friends, family members and fans from all over took to their social media handles to hail the actor as soon as the iconic and accomplished actor disclosed on his verified Instagram handle that he has joined the septuagenarian club. “Chi efogo and it’s my 70th birthday. What else can I say? To God is all the glory. Special thanks to you all for being part of this journey. I love you all,” Owoh wrote.

Encomiums continued to come in, thereafter. Owoh’s contemporary and sparring partner in most films, Patience Ozokwo, sent a terse message to Owoh a recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). Ozokwo wrote: “Happy birthday to the legendary Nkem Owoh. Never a dull moment with you. I celebrate you today and always.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also sent his garland through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The President whose administration has shown tremendous appreciation for Nigeria’s creative industry congratulated the veteran Nollywood actor, comedian, and scriptwriter for attaining 70. President Tinubu lauded Owoh’s enduring contributions to Nigeria’s entertainment industry, describing him as “a true legend whose talent has brought joy to generations of Nigerians and Africans across the globe.”

According to the President Owoh has through his iconic roles, particularly as Osuofia, etched his name in the annals of Nigeria’s cultural history.” He used laughter and creativity to reflect our society’s vibrancy and resilience. His work has entertained and united communities through laughter and storytelling. I wish him continued health, happiness, and creative fulfillment in the years ahead,” President Tinubu said.

A self-made actor, humor extra-ordinaire whose fans giggle with excitement each time his name runs out on the credit line of a movie, Owoh is undoubtedly a huge screen favourite. An electrical and electronics engineering graduate, one album music star, husband to Ngozi Owoh nee Ikebude and father of three children, Owoh has continued to dominate the acting skies of Nollywood. He has also earned a number of aliases with four of the popular ones being ‘Pam Pam’, ‘Atinga’, ‘Akidi’ and ‘Osoufia’, a screen name that has somewhat replaced his real names. “The talent has always been there. It began from the day I was born,” Owoh shoots, on how it all began for him. “I have always loved acting and I feel very fulfilled each time I am giving an opportunity to do some acting right from my days in primary school and secondary and to even University. Though I studied engineering, my inclination has always titled towards the performing arts, which includes acting, writing and singing. Which was why when I elected to work professionally, I choose the Nigerian Television Authority as my first port of call and since 1979 I have been stocked to performing arts and I want to believe that it is divine,” he said.

Armed with a pouch filled with movie appearances, at the last count, ‘about 350 major appearances’, with the very notable ones being his appearance in movies like the two part comic encounter ‘Osoufia In London’, ‘Pam Pam’, ‘Akidi’ and ‘Atinga’, it took a large dose of diligence and hardwork and a considerable amount of commitment as Owoh said, for him to walk out of obscurity to fame and for him to remain at the top of a competitive vocation as acting. Some informed observers who have followed Osuofia’s eventful career agree that the Enugu born actor has carved a niche for himself and had overtime acquired a reputation, that of being a recognisable face and a forward liner. Indeed, with Owoh, most people say, there are no dull moments in a picture.

But it was the television that prepared Nkem Owoh for the huge stride he has recorded in the home movie industry. When he accepted over decades ago, the challenge of standing in for a fellow who was supposed to feature as a village drunk in the then weekly television sit com New Masquerade, Nkem said he had no idea at all that he would later rise to become an outsized version of his original story. It was that show of courage that opened the floodgate of opportunities for the actor who once penned scripts for ‘New Masquerade’ and for the late Ken Saro Wiwa’s long rested sit-com on television ‘Basi and Company’. Owoh was also at that time, ‘around 1987 and 1998’ as he tried to recall an accredited writer for the network productions of the Nigerian Television Authority.

But how did Owoh get on the movie run way? He revealed that he joined as a writer adding that he was actually contracted to handle the subtitling of the phenomenal Igbo language home video, Living in Bondage soon as work was concluded on the production. “Most people do not know that, that was how I started,” he said, chuckling. “That was my first movie in this industry called Nollywood. I joined as a writer and not as an actor,” he said.

An acting offer came almost a year after Living in Bondage was upped for public viewing. The producers of another Igbo language movie ‘Circle of Doom’ sought him out and engaged him to play the role of custom officer. He was also asked though unofficially to assist with the restructuring of the script. It was with that appearance in Circle of Doom that Owoh announced his presence on the turf. He got other producers looking his direction not only for his acting abilities but his sense of good scripting. It was to Owoh credits that the movie, Taboo, his third ever movie credit, was acclaimed a success. “I carried out thorough research after I received the script. I felt strongly that it was not enough to just tell a story about the Osu-caste system without thorough research on the subject. I am happy with the story we eventually told.” After Taboo came and not in any particular order, Frame Up, Rattle Snake, Ikuku, Pam Pam and a dozen others.

Asked to name his favourite or most challenging movie run yet, Owoh says naming his favourite movie would amount to saying which of his children is best. All the movies he has featured have challenged him in different ways. “I can’t now say which one challenged me so well. All of them are challenging. There is something each of them demands from me. So it would be difficult to say.”

For all this, Nkem is both loved and reviled. His critics have accused him of rigidity. When they want to smirk at him, they say he ‘plays the character Osoufia in every movie’ thus making most of his movie appearances seem a sequel to what they consider his biggest work yet on video ‘Osoufia in London’.

Even at that, Owoh is a favourite of the core Nollywood crowd. His fans say they love his good humour and charm. Those who have met him outside the screen say he is world apart from the character he interprets with his sense of humour being the only trait he shares with his roles in the movie. They also say that he is likeable, sociable, humane and he is one who is modest about his physical possessions.

Owoh’s greatest interest is in the area of production and directing. Owoh is really looking forward to exploiting his interest in the area of directing. ‘The say there is no retirement age in acting. But when I pull out of active acting, I intend to concentrate on producing and directing. Those are my real area of interest.’

When Owoh is not on set, he spends ample time as he says with his wife and children. ‘That’s only when I have time for them because I am always on the road. I hardly have time to hang out with them. So when I am not busy I spend good time with my children and my lovely wife’.