Veteran Nollywood actress, Lanre Hassan, popularly known as Iya Awero, shares her life experiences in this interview with ADEMOLA OLONILUA
You’ve been acting for the past 51 years, what has been your source of motivation?
Acting is something I have been doing for so many years; I cannot abandon it and allow my talent to be wasted. I cannot just sit and be idle. Once you start a job and you do it with your heart and not just for the sake of doing it, then one would excel. God has been behind my success since I started. I am still acting. You have to work hard, be very creative and focused.
But while growing up, what was your life aspiration?
At the time I was in school, most parents wanted their children to join any of the forces, preferably the custom or the police. My parents also wanted the same for me; they wanted me to be either an immigration or a customs officer, but God has already planned everything for everybody. He created us and has concluded on what He wants us to become and how we would fend for ourselves. So everything is in the hands of God.
How did you start acting?
It started when I was in school, St. Peters School, Faji, Lagos. Every year, we used to have our end of the year party and we would practise how we would entertain our guests. The first time I ever mounted the stage, it was for a play about King Solomon in the Bible and how he judged wisely in the case of the two women and a baby. Then, the late Ojo Ladipo would call and tell me that their acting was better than ours, but I would tell him to come and see for himself that ours was better. That was how we started and whenever we were on stage, people hailed us that we were very good. Because of how good we were, we got invited to be a part of the school of drama at the University of Ile Ife, Osun State (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and it was championed by Professor Wole Soyinka. They gave me the letter and said that once I was done with schooling, I should come and join the school of drama. This encouraged me to be in the theatre industry and I’m very happy that everything is well.
Did you have an opportunity to work with Wole Soyinka?
No, I did not have the opportunity to work with him and I’m pained by that. Unfortunately, he was no longer actively involved in theatre and it was his influence that brought me on this path. The only thing that we did was that my secondary school drama team would always go to Ife to perform to see whether we were better. It is just a pity I did not work with ‘Baba’ but I’m very grateful and happy.
While you were acting in school, did it not affect your studies?
It did not affect my studies at all. We had our rehearsals after school hours, so that did not clash with our studies. It was as if we were doing evening classes.
What kind of a child were you while growing up?
I was not a troublesome child at all, I was very gentle. I am a shy woman but when you see me on stage, you will see that I am bold. I am a disciplined woman who does not tolerate nonsense. When I am on stage, you would see me in a different light but I am actually a shy person. Although I was brought up in a Christian home, I’m from a polygamous background. I grew up with a guardian. When I was in the boarding house at Children Home School, Ibadan, Oyo State, there were some things we used to do – like going to people’s farms to eat their pawpaw and cocoyam. When they returned, they would be lamenting and we would be listening from our hostel and laughing. Even whenever we were going back to school, we normally passed through the forest and we would see ‘ebo’ (sacrifice) on the road with cowries and sometimes money. We would pick the money, wash it with soap and spend it. The eggs that they used to put there were mostly boiled and unpeeled, so we would peel them, then eat and nothing would happen.
Weren’t you scared of eating those sacrifices?
No, I was not. Back then, we were not afraid of anything and as boarding school students, we didn’t like to conform with school rules and regulations. It was not only me that took part in it. We were many.
How come your parents named you Lanre, a supposed man’s name?
My name is Olanrewaju. I don’t use all my names but I have another Yoruba name and a Muslim one too; my full name is Olanrewaju Omotayo Hairat.
Why did you change your religion at a point in time?
I was born into a Muslim home, but my guardian was a Christian. When they asked me to stay with my guardian, I had to become a Christian but I eventually married a Muslim and then changed my religion.
What was it like growing up in a polygamous household?
It was very tough for me and I am glad God did not let me have a polygamous home. In those days when our fathers were marrying many wives, it was a culture. But right now, we do not need such. It is not needed because if you need anyone to work for you, you would have to pay for their services. In those days, men married many wives and had many children so that they could have people who would work for them in the farm. For instance, in our profession in those days, parents did not allow their children mingle with us and they even called us children with no future ambition. They called us ‘useless girls’ and that was why our bosses in the theatre usually married many wives and had lots of children so that they could have people to dance and sing during their production.
So what were the challenges you faced while growing up in a polygamous house?
I did not have fatherly love. They did not allow my father to have time for me, but before he died, he apologised to me; thank God I still have my mother.
How did you feel when your father apologised to you?
There was nothing I could do about it than to forgive him because I was his first child. He pleaded that I should forgive him, and I did.
Why did he apologise to you?
It is because he knew that he could not satisfy everybody. Why did he put me in the care of another person? Why did he not let me stay with him and my mother? When he realised deep down in his heart that he offended his child, he had to apologise and I am very happy that he did so. And I took care of my father before he died like a child is supposed to do for her parents.
When you started your acting career, was your guardian supportive?
No, she did not support it till she got a letter from Wole Soyinka with his signature on it. Before then, my guardian would pack my load in a box and bring it to where my group members and I were rehearsing and dump it there. She kept telling me to quit, but I said I loved the work. The day my guardian saw the letter, she said I was free to pursue my acting career.
Were you proud to call yourself an actress when you started even though people looked down on you?
I was proud to call myself one because I did not acknowledge the fact that people were looking at me. I just enjoyed doing what I loved doing. And after my guardian allowed me to act, I felt on top of the world. I was happy and proud, and even though people made jest of us behind our backs, I did not care. When they saw me on the television, they began to respect me. But the respect we (actors) commanded at the time was not as much as we do now.
With all the difficulties you faced when you started, did you ever imagine that you would become this big in the industry?
I never believed I would become this big; I cannot even believe I’m still acting till now but everything is in the hands of God. I am proud to be an actress and I will die acting.
Among your contemporaries, you are one of the few that have been able to act in both English and Yoruba movies, how are you able to accomplish this?
Because I went to the school of drama, it made it possible for me to be able to cross and act in both sectors of the industry.
In some of your movies, you acted as a witch. Has there ever been a time when your fans actually thought you were a real witch?
Some people believe that and some others don’t but what we do is to ensure professionalism to the extent that people would believe whatever they see in our movies. Our movies are based on what is happening in real life and we act them to teach people lessons. I am not a witch; I just perfectly interpret any role given to me so people can believe us. I don’t have any power, all the power that I have is from Almighty Allah. I am a Muslim. I pray to God everyday and commit all my children, family, fans and loved ones into his hands. I don’t have any power and I am not a witch.
Why didn’t you marry someone from the industry?
My husband thought that when we got married, I would quit my acting career but I continued and we had a lot of tough times in our marriage because of that. It is just a pity that he is dead and cannot see what I have become. At a point, my ‘uncles’ in the industry had to sit him down to talk to him and convince him that our work was a legitimate one. He agreed but there were lots of fights, especially whenever I went to locations. But I handled the situation very well because I made him trust me. I made sure he knew my whereabouts at every point in time. I made him remember he met me as an actress and I was not cheating, and before long, he accepted. I must confess that my acting career almost broke my marriage but God was in control. I would advise actresses to be plain and open with their husbands.
How did you meet your husband?
I loved films a lot and I used to go to cinema houses to watch Indian movies and the like. I did not know that my husband had been watching me and had already known my movement. One lovely night, I was walking briskly home when he offered to walk me to my house. I told him to leave me alone but he said that he knew where I lived and I was shocked. He told me that he normally followed me to the house whenever I went to watch movies to ensure that I got home safely before he would turn back. That day, he followed me home and that was how we started interacting.
How did it lead to marriage?
There was no need of proposing when we both knew what we wanted from the relationship. We were mature adults and we had been seeing each other for a while. What he thought was that once we got married, I would stop acting but that did not happen.
He died about 13 years ago, what happened?
He fell ill and the next thing I heard was that he was dead and there was nothing I could do about it.
Why didn’t you remarry after his death?
How would I remarry? I had vowed that I would not remarry; besides, there was no need for me to marry again. When he was alive, I had five children, though two of them later died. One died when I was acting on the stage while the other died when Baba Mero died; we slept together but he did not wake up. Now I have three children and they are the ones I’m looking after. I did not see any point in remarrying.
Did you not have any suitor that swept you off your feet?
They came but I had already made up my mind and that was final. Once I make up my mind, then there is nothing anybody can do about it. When they used to come, I would greet and tell them immediately that we could not get married because I had to look after my children and I could not leave my work. One should learn to stand firm and do what has to be done.
How have you been able to cope without having sex for 13 years?
I have been coping fine. Sex is not garri or rice; it is not food. You have to cope once you are determined about what you want to do and you will be fine.
How did you take the deaths of your children?
I took them in good faith, hoping it never happens again. It almost affected my work because I almost quit, but with the help of God and the advice of people, I decided not to quit. I put everything in the hands of Almighty Allah and I continued my work.
You didn’t suspect any foul play in the deaths of your two children?
There was no foul play. My husband and I accepted everything in good faith, but he was stressing that I quit my job because of the deaths of my children. He said that my job was not an easy one and that there could be some metaphysical powers at work, but I told him there was nothing like that. I explained that all I was doing was to make people laugh away their sorrows.
Would you say acting has brought you fame and fortune?
It has brought me fame because I have travelled all over the world. I have also been to virtually every state in Nigeria. Travelling is part of education. I have known a lot of people. It has given me fame and I don’t regret being an actress.
Do you have any of your children toeing this path?
My firstborn is into acting and he is also my manager; he follows me everywhere and he is the only one that is interested in the job. The other ones are working in other fields.
How come you are not as close to Oga Bello (Adebayo Salami) and Aluwe (Sunday Omobolanle) like you used to?
We are still very close friends, but 20 boys cannot play together for 20 years. We have been together right from our youth and we thank God, but the time came for us to be on our own. I have my outfit, Alhassan Films Production, and they are also on their own.
When you started the Ojo Ladipo group, you chose your leader using a ballot system. If you had been picked as the leader, being a woman, would you have accepted the role?
In those days, men usually led the group and even when Ojo Ladipo died, people wanted me to take over the mantle of leadership, but I refused. Oga Bello was a very hardworking man and was very active in the group; so when they approached me, I told them that Oga Bello was to be the director of the group. He had been there for so many years and had contributed to its success; I said I was there to work with him. I am happy for him.
Of all the movies you have starred in, which would you say is your favourite?
I have lost count of all the films I featured in, so it is difficult for me to say which one is my favourite. I just praise God for what he has done and I ask him to give me long life.
Your mother is still alive…
Yes, she is still alive and we are very close. I love my mother dearly. She always tells me to take it easy and ensure that I look after my children and I thank her for that, and I am praying that God would grant her long life. She still prays for me.
How were you able to face your career and still take care of your children?
I used to take my children along with me to whereever I travelled to. It was when they were about two years old that I told my mother to help look after them occasionally. She has been very helpful to me. There was a time our vehicle broke down in the bush and my child was just about three months old, but I was not scared. I slept there and nothing happened to me and that was not the first time I would sleep outside. The job toughens a person.
You were always among men; didn’t people see you as a promiscuous lady?
No, they did not. It was quite obvious that they were my colleagues.
How about when you needed to change your clothes, did you do that in front of them?
No. At the back stage, we had where we used to change and there were different sections for men and women which were divided by a curtain. I cannot be changing clothes in front of a man. There was discipline.
What do you think has changed about the industry?
Some of the new crop of artistes that are in the industry today do not want to work; they are just after money. I believe that if you work hard, money would come. If you ask these new actors to act on stage, they cannot do it. They just ask how many scenes they would be involved in and negotiate the price they want to collect. We are trying to tell them that such mentality is not good. Some listen, some don’t.
Some people say that actresses use the job as a form of prostitution…
When we were also young, that was what they were saying. They also called us prostitutes, but we proved them wrong with our work. So, the new generation of actresses should do the same. They are not prostitutes; they are only doing their job.
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