Munachi Abii: I’m comfortable with acting, singing

Munachi Abii is a music artist, songwriter, model, actress and beauty pageant titleholder. Popularly known as Muna, she is the winner of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) 2007. Born and raised in Port Harcourt and Owerri, Nigeria, Muna was encouraged by her family and friends to pursue her passion for music and arts, she holds a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at Benson Idahosa University. Being one of the female rappers to feature and represent Nigeria on the globally televised BET Cypher for the BET Awards in 2011, and in April 2012, Muna released two singles, Here To Stay and Down Down Low. She has also featured in Nollywood’s Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, Finding Hubby, Obsession. In this interview with IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA, talks about her new TV show, delving into production.

What have you been up to?
Apparently in post-production for a tv show called the family game show. Look out for that. It should be on TV anytime soon. I’m also doing a couple of others things, which is my first and solo production.

How easy or tough was it?
It’s hard not because you have to source for funds. The amount of money you need to make a movie is not beans. I thought music was difficult but film is a totally different story all together. The thing is that with film is almost like you can tell where the numbers are, you can trace it to a certain extent so you know what you are getting yourself into. With music it’s a bit difficult, at the time but now it’s a bit easier because you can stream and see your numbers. It’s also hard because you have to promote but when it comes to film is an entirely different ballgame. It’s ridiculous. Let’s say if you spend a 100 million on a movie you need at least twice that to promote it. Where are you going to get that money from? At the end of the day, we basically just push and keep pushing until someone helps or people like the project and it takes off.

What has been your driving force?
God. It’s just God and believe in a higher source that you know will never let you down because human beings will always let you doing. I’ve heard ‘Nos’ and it has been an interesting journey so far. I know for a fact that God won’t let me down so I’m just holding on to God.

Do you feel more comfortable with film or music?
They are comfortable for me because its story telling at the end of the day. I like storytelling, I like pictures as well. I like putting good pictures to the story I hear or tell. Film actually makes it easier for the music to sink into people. Now, I won’t just be making songs for song’s sake, I’ll be doing soundtracks for films that will last forever. You still have to tell people to listen to my track but if there is a story tied to it, 85 per cent makes more sense.

Is music something you are no longer looking at?
Music has always been there. That’s my first calling and my forever calling. It will always be there. I can’t help it unfortunately; I have to answer that calling but I have to find a way to answer that calling so that’s what I’m doing.

Do you have a dream role?
No. Here is the thing for me, I’m always excited about challenging roles. I don’t do too many movies and that is because I like a challenge. People see me in a certain role and may think that that role is nice, I tend to get a lot of script with that same character and that is okay for some people if that is who they are but for me I like to be different things because I don’t want to be put in a box. Tomorrow, if you call me to come and act a 20-year-old I might do it. If you tell me to act an older lady I might do it. I can be versatile. I’ve always been one to work outside the box. I don’t follow the norm. I don’t do what people expect me to do. I would rather do my own thing and because of that I do challenging roles. I looking forward to the next challenging role. Maybe I will have to jump over a three-storey building. I’m looking for roles that challenge me to be better and look different.

What will make you reject a script?
If it doesn’t resonate with me or I feel that someone else can play the role better I would gladly say this person can do this better and perhaps you can offer it to them. If I feel like I’m being stereotyped and I feel like I’m not bringing anything new to the table then there is also that. However, once I find a character that I am very comfortable with I may play that character a couple times. We will see how that goes. For now, I’m just chilling.

How have you changed your life since MBGN?
I got that question a lot back then. Now, I would say over the years it’s actually better now as an ex-visitor in the music scene than to be there now. There are certain people that I still go to now that say you are here too so how can we help you. There is a certain level of respect that comes with it. Being known. Would say fame, but I don’t like it. It’s the same thing. I like to be able to do what I want to do, which is go around without people harassing me. Some of us now are not able to do that. I still can and I think that’s a blessing. I don’t mind the fame thing. It does open doors and that’s not why I do the things that I do.