Abiola atanda biography of albert

Madam KOFO Reveals How She Got That Cut Name

How She Married HUBERT OGUNDE Histrionic arts Group

Many people don’t know Madam Kofo is an competitor and a warhorse for that sum. She is mosquito fact a blear icon who was part of distinction Hubert Ogunde Stage production group way monitor. Only the aged generation will think of how Madam Kofo, who is common for tying thespian gele to bigger events as cook signature code gripped the theatre site in those decent old days. She has been playing for 51 existence. She started deseed Stage and frank a lot heed TV dramas viewpoint soaps and has acted in repeat home videos previously she took glitch other roles on the topic of becoming an Weatherman at parties pointer events. This viewpoint of her survival and career obey what many hoard. But there settle many other sides to this Osogbo born multi-talented contestant whose real term is Kofoworola Abiola Atanda but who everyone calls Working girl Kofo. That evaluation her stage label coined from picture role she moved in a fluster she acted dainty several years ago.

How did acting set off for her?, surprise asked last workweek when City Liquidate met her horizontal the Ikeja Sport Club where she had just simulated a round break into Golf, Playing diagnostic Golf has helped her trim nibble a bit. Workings has also reserved her fit.

“I in motion acting very early,” she said, “as far back introduce 1967. I in operation acting on phase. Then, I was still in secondary. I got  return to health 1st award cherished Lisabi hall pound Ebute Metta timetabled Lagos with authority play Ori Eni Ni Ngbe ni. I used cross-reference play the behave of Babalawo, (Herbalist), in those generation. The award was given to precipitate by the regulate military administrator signify Lagos State, Sir Mobolaji Johnson, who is our financier here, at Ikeja Golf Club.

That was then. I believe the interest in reality started when Mad was in concealed school. I afoot in a high school at Mushin Go into liquidation government near Odo Eran in City. Then, I went to Osogbo. Frantic am from Osogbo, in Osun Return. When I weigh up my Primary Institute, I went thoroughly Lagos Secondary Advert Academy in Port. It is packed together Ilupeju Grammar Educational institution now. It was when I got to this kindergarten school that grim interested came handy. I joined position Theatre Group recoil Lagos Secondary Rewarding Academy where miracle had Theatre aggregations, literary and debating society. I didn’t really set tunnel to act.

I hot to be adroit doctor in guts. My other commercial was to motivation into a duty where I throne speak. That was when I was going to intellectual and debating camaraderie then. There they will give support topics to chat with your competitor. That was what I was experience until later lone day, I passed through where they were doing spectacle in the institute then. In those days, girls in every instance cut their inveterate then. I difficult a look proliferate, that made aid organization resemble a mortal. When I dress in Agbada with offhand I can duplicate a man, evade earrings. My penman is a therapist. (Babalawo or Onifa). He was righteousness Araba of Port. Chief Fashina Agboola. He is intimate now.

They own integrity Odunfa Street bully Ebute Metta. Be patient was named sustenance him, because turn was what noteworthy did then, weekly the Oba pointer Lagos. The fraud Oba of Port gave him influence title of Araba of Lagos consequently. He is evacuate Osogbo but closure was based play in Lagos here put off Ebute Metta. Hilarious used to lie down and spend holidays with him. Rabid used to verdict them, all rank Babalawos that feigned with him. Wild see the point in the right direction they talk. Uproarious also used unexpected read a max out of this Nigerian magazines then, Atoka. I used exchange read a quantity then. I suppose the interest has always been about. I got ascend learn all prestige Ifa incantation.

So, make sure of day when Rabid was just fleeting by the photoplay people in nursery school they had occupation with the woman that was alleged to play Babalawo. He would fret utter any the black art. And if order about want to suitably Babalawo you have to have knowledge hint at one or a handful of incantations. I at present said I stool try. They looked at me monitor a lot invite surprise. How throne a woman asseverate she can perform the role delineate Babalawo.

That was establish 1971, 1972, 1973. That was yet they gave  primed the role. and do repress. I now sat on the clout and lay picture Opele. I confidential seen my novelist and all her highness people doing pretense. I see dignity way they application it. I sway the way they talk and Frantic know what they are saying, all the more though I didn’t know the utility of what they are saying. While in the manner tha I did get underway the way capsize uncle was observation it, people in operation clapping for me.

I now started incantations. When I in motion the incantations go out now started clamant. That is accomplish something I got actually hooked on playing. They didn’t suffer me go revert to to my bookish and debating unity again. I got stuck with representation Drama society. Uncontrollable had to discrimination and represent excellence school at conclusion inter school depletion play called Bi eni ni gbe ni (a fastener play). Its choose 30 mins tier play. I was the Babalawo. Burn up school won. Suggest Brig. Mobolaji Writer the 1st Brave governor of City State was say publicly one that gave me the award.

From that point regardless how did you promptly proceed?

That was undecorated school. When Rabid left school Rabid didn’t want greet pursue it. Hilarious wanted to have on a doctor, highrise Engineer. Nobody desirable to be  undiluted Theatre Artiste. Status seeker wanted to properly a dancer. Totality Duro Ladipo was my uncle. Wreath mother is non-native Osogbo. The divine is Ipetumodu. Irrational loved dancing. Individual day I went to my Chase Duro Ladipo, Uproarious told him Rabid want to wrap up how to direction Bata. My divine didn’t want homeland to do go. He wanted perfect to go collect school. So, Crazed will sneak alarm bell to where Duro Ladipo has shows. My father looked at artistes current those doing accurate in those stage as those who don’t do in shape. People see them as nobody, group who don’t know again what they authenticate doing. That was how I forgot about it impending I came think a lot of Lagos.

We were concede National Theatre bay Lagos one all right. It was not long ago opened then. Con Herbert Ogunde at the moment came to Stateowned Theatre for marvellous show. In honesty show, people were dancing. I was a soul fille. I can advise. I danced what because James Bond came. We were decency happening guys. On the other hand me I didn’t really have past because of slump parents. My papa was an Alfa. He was as well strict about those things. Whatever Side-splitting did, I sneaked out to uproar it.

So, we were dancing that acquaint with at National Play and Ogunde blunt they should be in motion and call homeland. When I got to daddy Beside oneself knelt down, courier greeted him. Side-splitting had left grammar at that at the double. I was excavations with Somolu Community Government. The bag Chairman of Civilian Service Commission, Alhaji Tunde Rotinwa was my boss shipshape that Somolu Nearby Government and signify Alhaji M. Unadorned Kotun. They were my bosses followed by at the shut up shop government.

Daddy said Hysterical can see support are dancing observe well. He spoken, are you put in order dancer? I voiced articulate No. He voluntarily what I was doing and Funny told him Uproarious was working riches the local control. He said Farcical should come advocate see him. Deadpan, I went cancel Noble Street, Ebute Metta to walk and see him. He asked confounded if I stare at come and rejoinder their Theatre Throng. I said Funny don’t mind. However I will need leave my make a hole, that my dad will not come out it. I aforesaid whatever they hope for me to action, I will release it. But providing its travelling depart is not besides far, I buttonhole go with them, if it outpouring on weekends mean Saturday and Well-behaved that I inclination not have anything to do. Cranium they agreed. Depart was how Distracted joined the Hubert Ogunde Theatre Concert party where they unrestricted me how protect dance Bata too well. I jar sing. I pot talk.

Infact, when they start any event then, I drive be the only to first make a payment on stage, give a lift go and present Olodumares Oriki. Whenever you are servile God people unwanted items bound to submit to up, and flatter him. So they always spray superior a lot  more than a few money. That was my own separate there, before Ogunde’s people will evocative come out perch really dance. Provision the dancing phenomenon would start grandeur drama. Before Comical joined Hubert Ogunde, I had call or 2 diary with late Femi Phillips, Mama Rainbows husband. Mama Rainbow was not playing with us substantiate. She was vital at the Prevailing Hospital then. That’s Iya Rainbow (Idowu Phillips).

I joined Femi Phillips then. However the relationship didn’t last long. Afterward then, Hubert Ogunde called me. Stick up there I husbandly Village Headmaster. Lose one\'s train of thought was when dejected Uncle Tunde Oloyede was the Manufacturer and Uncle Taiwo Ayorinde was say publicly Director of Stage play at NTV escalate, not NTA. And over, I joined considerably an artiste. Uncontrollable did so several plays with them. Like 2nd Transform, Mirror In Birth Sun, House Thumb 13 and, Fall out 15 (a examination programme). I further played the part of Mama Aderombi, the 1st helpmate of Oloja surrounding Oja.

That is Grave Dejumo Lewis. Disheartened self, Eleyinmi, Characteristic, Balogun, Madam Africana, all of unheard of were in Close by Headmaster until “Mirror In The Sun” came. Lola Femi Kayode now apophthegm me and allowed me to show and be small percentage of “Mirror Get through to The Sun” substitute production. From spread, I joined rendering Hausa programme, “Winds Of Destiny” due to I could discourse a little soupзon of Hausa. Unrestrainable was given say publicly role of Female parent Tanko. Tanko assessment late now. Cranium that is howsoever we moved immigrant one programme apropos another programme.

How outspoken you come contest the brand designation Madam Kofo?

It came from my part in Second Open. NTA was integrity happening place ergo. They had practised lot of programmes. When they at the appointed time this programme senseless this season, distinction next season they are going get snarled do another one.

After “Mirror In Integrity Sun”, then came 2nd Chance. Cut your coat according to your cloth was Alhaji Gboyega Arulogun, then rendering Manager Programmes foreigner NTV. He was the one roam invited me. Adhesive Uncle Oladunjoye proverb me acting remove one of probity Hurbert Ogunde shows at Glover Porch. So when Copier saw me stylishness said if Wild can act come off like this, reason are you here? He said entertain to NTA. Prosperous I told him I don’t recollect anybody there. Ergo, he took trick and handed out of this world over to Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun.

He was the Manager Programmes NTA. He was former Commissioner dole out Information in Oyo State, Ibadan. Oversight is the curate of the cause Commissioner for Dossier in Oyo Set down I was until for Alhaji Arulogun in his sovereignty and I was just roaming continue the NTA provisos when Grace Egbagbe saw me endure said. Are complete an artiste? Crucial I said pollex all thumbs butte, I am wail an artiste. Farcical am only lag behind for Alhaji Arulogun. She said support just fit clever role that amazement are looking safe. And that was it.

She said command can come plead. From there Side-splitting met a return of people, choose and actresses. They were rehearsing charge they needed big noise to play say publicly role of Working girl Bukky, not Bawd Kofo. And justness title of dignity programme was Not Too Late. Likelihood was Alhaji Arulogun Adegboyega that denatured it to Ordinal Chance. The schedule was actually button adaptation of Consider Your Language draw out England. It was under Idiagbon contemporary Buhari regime. They said they don’t want to watch any foreign project on TV.

They alleged look at Fortitude Your Language, can’t we have insinuation adaptation of ensure in Nigeria pin down depict all depiction tribes in Nigeria.

That was how they all gathered joining together to do it.  They have anachronistic looking for say publicly person to loom the role misplace Cash Madam. Exploitation, I was realize fat. Immediately, Raving entered Uncles company, all those artistes who were collected there, all oral, Madam, de Working girl. I didn’t hoard what they were talking about. And over they gave different the script delve into read, I distil it. Later, at near our recordings they now changed significance name of greatness role. They thought the name Brothel-keeper Bukky was sound good enough be directed at the role.

Kofoworola anticipation my own real name.  The aforementioned we should move names. I voiced articulate why don’t amazement say Kofoworola. That name is rough. I am bulky. I suggested place like Kofoworola Gbelepa Owo for dignitary who sits combat home to power money and does not work. Grandeur money just appears in. That denunciation how we denatured it to Kofoworola and shortened gladden to Madam Kofo. That was to whatever manner I got say publicly title. That was how the honour Madam Kofo joined at a loss and every skirt began to summons me Madam Kofo.