Where is Agbako?

At 85, veteran actor, Abdulsalam Sanyaolu,  popularly called Agbako,  is determined to continue to pursue his career with dignity despite his ill-health , writes GBENGA ADENIJI

Locating Powerline Road in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State is not a hard task. If nothing else speaks for the road, its sorry state which motorists and motorcycle riders pitiably ply on a daily basis conspicuously stands it out.

It is, however, interesting to note that in one of the streets tucked in the vicinity is a veteran actor, Abdulsalam Sanyaolu, who earned ‘Agbako’ that can be translated to mean ‘calamity’ from the role he played decades ago in the dramatisation of D. O. Fagunwa’s Ogboju Ode ninu Igbo Irunmole, where fierce forest spirits battle some hunters on expeditions. Agbako is one of the demons.

Immediately our correspondent mentioned to one of the motorcyclists known in local parlance as Okada riders that he was going to his place, it did not take long before he was led to the popular actor’s ‘hideout’ through the road.

And the building can, however, be described as a hideout, based on the status of the actor. Nothing suggested that the man who shakes film scenes with the hard roles he plays with force and finesse was in the gated house standing at the entrance to a street overlooking the Powerline Road. As our correspondent later gathered, the house belongs to his sister, who insisted he stays with her and her family for adequate care after he suffered stroke not long ago.

One would have thought he was preparing to read a script for a block-buster film as the interview started with the way he carefully took his time to speak.

But he explains, “I struggle hard these days to remember things. I went for film promotion on a television programme in Ogun State. After the appearance, I was driving myself back home when my body started shivering and, instantly, I started defecating. I was rushed to a hospital where I later suffered stroke. I am better now. It happened three years ago.”

Notwithstanding his health challenge, the 85-year-old dramatist, who hails from Egba Owode in Ogun State, is still strong.

Also, his peculiar English diction which has endeared him to many comes to the fore as the interview started. For instance, his precise pronunciation of ‘Joseph’ and ‘brethren’ despite being an Alhaji makes one wonder if he does have a private tutor.

To that, he says, “I do a lot of research because members of our audience are educated. I cannot afford to reel in ignorance. It is crucial to update one’s knowledge to assist in whatever one does.”

But did he receive any formal education? Agbako discloses, “Yes I did.  My primary education was at Ogidan in Egba Owode while my secondary education was at Ogbe Methodist School in Abeokuta. After my secondary education I went to Ibadan and worked with a company called Harmony before leaving to train as an auto mechanic. I learnt it for three years and left for Abeokuta where I started acting.”

The story surrounding his foray into acting is an interesting one. He states that there was a friend of his in Mushin, Lagos State, who told him one day that he was going for a choir practice.

Agbako adds, “I followed him only to discover that they were rehearsing for a drama for a programme in his church. I told him that I liked acting and he encouraged me to be attending rehearsals with them. I was then working in Lagos for a ferry company based on the Island. The title of the drama was Joseph and His Brethren.

According to him, the fate of his acting career was eventually sealed when the person acting the role of Joseph started taking other members of the cast for a ride.

“I heard them beg him that he should not leave them as it was exactly two weeks then before the performance. He told them that he had something to do somewhere else that day. At that point, I called my friend and told him I could play that role. I did and everybody was happy, for they said I acted it better than the former person. On the day of the performance, I did so excellently well that the congregation showered me with money. Since then, I have been acting without looking back,” he says.

The development, he adds, was what made his friends, fans and co-dramatists to encourage him to form a group.

He eventually did and named it Olumo Concert Party. “So many people came to join us and we moved round from one event place and church to the other.” The group was later disbanded.

On the situation concerning his car that got burnt some years ago, he notes that he now drives a Honda brand.

According to Agbako, who says he has three wives that are in the movie business with him, he once acquired a Jeep and a V-boot before his latest car.

Lamenting that some persons took advantage of his condition then to seek for assistance on his behalf without his knowledge, he states that his children forbid him to go cap in hand to anybody so that he does not look like a beggar.

He says, “But I need the help of government and well-meaning individuals. It is only popularity I enjoy. There is no money. I have a building I have not yet completed at Onibuku area of Sango Ota in Ogun State. I have stopped the construction work because of lack of money.”

His major regret, he discloses, is the death of his mother, who he described as caring. ‘‘Her death dealt a big blow on me for she cared so much for me. But unfortunately, she spent all her money on sickness.’’

At the moment, he has two films, Kesin Loro and Nkan Se that have, however, been  destroyed. Paucity of funds hampered him from reproducing them.

Punch Nigeria