Femi Branch
NOT MANY KNOW THAT DARK-HUED AND TOUGH-LOOKING ACTOR, FEMI BRANCH OF THE DOMINO FAME TRANSITED FROM STAGE PRODUCTIONS IN THE 1990S TO MOTION PICTURES SOMETIME IN THE 2000s. AND BY STROKES OF LUCK, HE ROSE TO STARDOM, EFFORTLESSLY COURTING THE ADMIRATION OF SOME AND SCORN OF OTHERS WITH HIS NEWLY FOUND CELEBRITY STATUS. UNRUFFLED AND UNBOWED BY SCORES OF NEGATIVES THAT TRAILED HIM RECENTLY, BRANCH OPENS UP TO LANRE ODUKOYA ON MATTERS DEAR TO HIS HEART
ABOUT TURNING 43…
Well it felt great, I am thankful to God for the grace of another lease of life. The fact that my friends and colleagues came out in their numbers to celebrate me was a most humbling experience.
Well it felt great, I am thankful to God for the grace of another lease of life. The fact that my friends and colleagues came out in their numbers to celebrate me was a most humbling experience.
MORE EXPECTATIONS...
Well I’m thankful for what I have now but of course, one can only wish for more. When we stop aspiring as they say, we start expiring.
Well I’m thankful for what I have now but of course, one can only wish for more. When we stop aspiring as they say, we start expiring.
MEMOIRS FROM ACTING…
It was colorful, that was the period I was heavily involved in music and stage productions. I was choir director of three different churches during that period, I even started work on my album around 2003 but had to abandon it when I got the MTN advert job and the acting thing took off full blast. During that period, I was also mostly on stage, that was where acting started for me. Aside from the ones done in school, I had a series of stage jobs during that period, like Private Lies starring Genevieve Nnaji and I, an adaptation of the merchant of Venice with Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva, two other plays by Tyrone Terrence and the premiere of my own first play at the Muson Centre starring the late Jaiye Aboderin and Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey. It was indeed a colorful era.
It was colorful, that was the period I was heavily involved in music and stage productions. I was choir director of three different churches during that period, I even started work on my album around 2003 but had to abandon it when I got the MTN advert job and the acting thing took off full blast. During that period, I was also mostly on stage, that was where acting started for me. Aside from the ones done in school, I had a series of stage jobs during that period, like Private Lies starring Genevieve Nnaji and I, an adaptation of the merchant of Venice with Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva, two other plays by Tyrone Terrence and the premiere of my own first play at the Muson Centre starring the late Jaiye Aboderin and Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey. It was indeed a colorful era.
ON DISCORD IN FAMILY…
How possible is it to abandon my family in such a despicable manner? This I believe was rumored around the period following my one year hiatus caused by my accident, I had not worked for a whole year and I needed to come back into the system so my colleagues would know I was back and fully recuperated. People that didn’t see me in or around my house at that period naturally came up with all sorts of rumors. Most people living around us don’t know what’s up with us or what’s going on in our home because we keep to ourselves and oftentimes, when you’re in the eye of the public and people don’t know facts about you, they make up different things as it suits their fancy. I will like to ascribe this rumor to this.
How possible is it to abandon my family in such a despicable manner? This I believe was rumored around the period following my one year hiatus caused by my accident, I had not worked for a whole year and I needed to come back into the system so my colleagues would know I was back and fully recuperated. People that didn’t see me in or around my house at that period naturally came up with all sorts of rumors. Most people living around us don’t know what’s up with us or what’s going on in our home because we keep to ourselves and oftentimes, when you’re in the eye of the public and people don’t know facts about you, they make up different things as it suits their fancy. I will like to ascribe this rumor to this.
GOING LOW KEY AFTER MTN DEAL AND DOMINO…
Like I said, I’ve been out for a year but since I returned I’ve been involved in the production and touring of my stage play Jungle Justice from my published work titled FROM SENBORA. It’s a courtroom comedy that starred such names as Segun Arinze, Funke Akindele, Hafiz Oyetoro (Saka), Doris Simeon, Femi Brainard, Mercy Aigbe, Saeed Mohammed (Funky Mallam), Rykardo Agbor and Omololu Sodiya. It was directed by William Benson. We’ve performed in Bonny Island, Lagos and Abuja and we are now preparing for Benin. I am also out in the new monster soap ‘Emerald’, a new soap that is fast returning credibility to Nigerian Television Productions. I play the controversial Police Chief; Tega Boyo and for those who have missed the bad boy, you can catch him on Emerald every week on AIT and NTA. I am also a Brand Icon for one of Nigeria’s foremost Fashion Designers; the Abuja-based VODI. The most current project however, is a new Tv Soap which promises to be the most explosive thing to ever hit African Television. So watch out.
Like I said, I’ve been out for a year but since I returned I’ve been involved in the production and touring of my stage play Jungle Justice from my published work titled FROM SENBORA. It’s a courtroom comedy that starred such names as Segun Arinze, Funke Akindele, Hafiz Oyetoro (Saka), Doris Simeon, Femi Brainard, Mercy Aigbe, Saeed Mohammed (Funky Mallam), Rykardo Agbor and Omololu Sodiya. It was directed by William Benson. We’ve performed in Bonny Island, Lagos and Abuja and we are now preparing for Benin. I am also out in the new monster soap ‘Emerald’, a new soap that is fast returning credibility to Nigerian Television Productions. I play the controversial Police Chief; Tega Boyo and for those who have missed the bad boy, you can catch him on Emerald every week on AIT and NTA. I am also a Brand Icon for one of Nigeria’s foremost Fashion Designers; the Abuja-based VODI. The most current project however, is a new Tv Soap which promises to be the most explosive thing to ever hit African Television. So watch out.
YORUBA FILM INDUSTRY AND NOLLYWOOD…
This is one conflicting factor in Nigeria now. What is Nollywood? You just said Yoruba and Nollywood. Is there a difference? Nollywood is supposed to be a connotation of Nigeria’s movie producing identity. Language is just a medium of communication. Whether it’s Yoruba, Egun, Hausa or Efik, they are just languages. We are all Nollywood. That’s why I never agree to anyone calling me a Yoruba actor, I’m an actor plain and simple! The language I communicate my acting in is just a medium of communication. I might do more of Yoruba movies but that doesn’t make me a Yoruba actor. It’s just where I find myself more in demand.
This is one conflicting factor in Nigeria now. What is Nollywood? You just said Yoruba and Nollywood. Is there a difference? Nollywood is supposed to be a connotation of Nigeria’s movie producing identity. Language is just a medium of communication. Whether it’s Yoruba, Egun, Hausa or Efik, they are just languages. We are all Nollywood. That’s why I never agree to anyone calling me a Yoruba actor, I’m an actor plain and simple! The language I communicate my acting in is just a medium of communication. I might do more of Yoruba movies but that doesn’t make me a Yoruba actor. It’s just where I find myself more in demand.
ON BUSINESS GONE SOUR WITH ASSOCIATES…
So much has been said about the 4M issue and so many people have had a field day with that. Everybody does business; you make projections, sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. It was unfortunate that this particular matter degenerated to the media blitz it did but it is being resolved now and that is all I can say about it for now.
So much has been said about the 4M issue and so many people have had a field day with that. Everybody does business; you make projections, sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. It was unfortunate that this particular matter degenerated to the media blitz it did but it is being resolved now and that is all I can say about it for now.
MY FORTHCOMING STAGE PRODUCTION…
Like I mentioned earlier, I am currently producing and touring with Jungle Justice. I am not directing it myself so as to give me enough room to concentrate on producing which is very challenging. Yes, I am involved in another stage production - Daniel produced by Snapshots Productions;. This is the drama ministry of Covenant Christian Centre, led by Pastor Poju Oyemade. It is directed by Duka Kachi and written by Phillip Begho. It’s coming up on the 6th of October at the Muson Centre, Lagos.
Like I mentioned earlier, I am currently producing and touring with Jungle Justice. I am not directing it myself so as to give me enough room to concentrate on producing which is very challenging. Yes, I am involved in another stage production - Daniel produced by Snapshots Productions;. This is the drama ministry of Covenant Christian Centre, led by Pastor Poju Oyemade. It is directed by Duka Kachi and written by Phillip Begho. It’s coming up on the 6th of October at the Muson Centre, Lagos.
NEW ACTORS DOING GREAT…
Some really fantastic talents are emerging these days that I believe will give us a good run for our money. People like Lillian Esoro, Ifu Enada, David Ogbue, Felix Omokodian Jnr. Patricia Hannah Ojo, Omololu Sodiya, Ijeoma Agu, Lillian Byoma and so many more. Thanks to these dynamic talents, there is indeed hope for Nollywood, especially now that we are celebrating twenty.
Some really fantastic talents are emerging these days that I believe will give us a good run for our money. People like Lillian Esoro, Ifu Enada, David Ogbue, Felix Omokodian Jnr. Patricia Hannah Ojo, Omololu Sodiya, Ijeoma Agu, Lillian Byoma and so many more. Thanks to these dynamic talents, there is indeed hope for Nollywood, especially now that we are celebrating twenty.
ON BEING SHORT-TEMPERED…
I have no temperament to deal with. What you see on screen is acting, make-belief, it is not who I am. It’s a job, that’s why am paid when I do it. In fact, it is the exact opposite of who I am, ask those who really know me.
I have no temperament to deal with. What you see on screen is acting, make-belief, it is not who I am. It’s a job, that’s why am paid when I do it. In fact, it is the exact opposite of who I am, ask those who really know me.
WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IN LIFE…
So many, but I guess one major one is that I would have preferred a profession which gives me more time with my family. This job is so jealous that it hardly gives you time for anything else, family inclusive.
So many, but I guess one major one is that I would have preferred a profession which gives me more time with my family. This job is so jealous that it hardly gives you time for anything else, family inclusive.
AS TEACHERS’ KID…
I had a very strict childhood. My parents were both teachers so you can imagine what I mean. Most things that many young people then had discovered or experienced at sixteen, I didn’t experience till twenty-one. We were never allowed to go to parties; any kind of outing except it was a family one. But the best thing is that we grew up in a loving environment.
I had a very strict childhood. My parents were both teachers so you can imagine what I mean. Most things that many young people then had discovered or experienced at sixteen, I didn’t experience till twenty-one. We were never allowed to go to parties; any kind of outing except it was a family one. But the best thing is that we grew up in a loving environment.
MY GREATEST ACTING INFLUENCE…
That would be the iconic Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Olu Jacobs and RMD.
That would be the iconic Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Olu Jacobs and RMD.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ME…
Well, for one, I am not mean or wicked. I just look hard. I am a gentleman. Then some people believe that if you pay Femi Branch for a job, you need to fast and pray for him to come for the job. I know a lot of our people who do this but I am not one of them. There have been situations in the past when the late completion of one job led to me not being able to make another but most times, it is also some producers that cause this by bad planning. I am a professional and I know the ethics of this job.
Well, for one, I am not mean or wicked. I just look hard. I am a gentleman. Then some people believe that if you pay Femi Branch for a job, you need to fast and pray for him to come for the job. I know a lot of our people who do this but I am not one of them. There have been situations in the past when the late completion of one job led to me not being able to make another but most times, it is also some producers that cause this by bad planning. I am a professional and I know the ethics of this job.
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