Veteran actor, Segun Aderemi otherwise known as 'Chief Kanran', is ready to roll out the drums as he celebrates his 50th anniversary as an actor. In an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, the actor revealed that about N50m would be spent on the weeklong celebration.
He said that the money would be got from well meaning Nigerians, government and corporate organisations.
“The chairman of the occasion is Deji Etiiwe, who is an actor, publisher and producer. The event would last for a week. There will be a three-day performance, a seminar has been lined up and I will also be launching a book titled, ‘Who is Segun Remi?’ I also have a movie that I want to launch. During the weeklong celebration, there will be a dinner and award night which is aimed at celebrating prominent Nigerians who have made their marks in the society.
He said that the money would be got from well meaning Nigerians, government and corporate organisations.
“The chairman of the occasion is Deji Etiiwe, who is an actor, publisher and producer. The event would last for a week. There will be a three-day performance, a seminar has been lined up and I will also be launching a book titled, ‘Who is Segun Remi?’ I also have a movie that I want to launch. During the weeklong celebration, there will be a dinner and award night which is aimed at celebrating prominent Nigerians who have made their marks in the society.
Veterans in the industry will be recognized, especially those that are hardly celebrated. With each award given, I intend to back it up with either money or a gift that will forever be appreciated by the recipients. We are going to partner with the government and well-meaning Nigerians to sponsor the event; it’s going to be elegant. The event will cost about N50m but various companies and the government would be sponsors. It will be to their advantage because it will be an avenue for them to advertise their products. The government, both states and federal, would be a part of the celebration because it is their way of appreciating an artiste who has been making the country proud for over half a century,” he said.
He described his journey to stardom as a rough one, noting that he has never regretted being an actor.
He said, “The journey to stardom has been rough but we thank God for the past 50 years. All through my 50 years as an actor, I have never regretted my choice of career. However, it makes me sad when I travel and see our contemporaries abroad. An actor of my caliber should be a billionaire by now but such is not the case in Nigeria. Our government does not appreciate our profession. The only time we are useful to them is during political campaigns or when they want to publicise themselves and that is not right. From the days of Ogunde, artistes have been neglected by the government. If Ogunde did not have property which he used as collateral to obtain loans for his celluloid films, only God knows what would have happened to his career. Look at Baba Sala who went to borrow money to shoot a movie, he was wrecked by pirates. I am also a victim of piracy. Four years ago, I spent over N8m on a project but I cannot premiere it because I am scared of pirates. Apart from that, I am thanking God for everything. I am glad that anytime I walk on the streets, people would wave at me. I thank God that I am still seen as a superstar.”
He described his journey to stardom as a rough one, noting that he has never regretted being an actor.
He said, “The journey to stardom has been rough but we thank God for the past 50 years. All through my 50 years as an actor, I have never regretted my choice of career. However, it makes me sad when I travel and see our contemporaries abroad. An actor of my caliber should be a billionaire by now but such is not the case in Nigeria. Our government does not appreciate our profession. The only time we are useful to them is during political campaigns or when they want to publicise themselves and that is not right. From the days of Ogunde, artistes have been neglected by the government. If Ogunde did not have property which he used as collateral to obtain loans for his celluloid films, only God knows what would have happened to his career. Look at Baba Sala who went to borrow money to shoot a movie, he was wrecked by pirates. I am also a victim of piracy. Four years ago, I spent over N8m on a project but I cannot premiere it because I am scared of pirates. Apart from that, I am thanking God for everything. I am glad that anytime I walk on the streets, people would wave at me. I thank God that I am still seen as a superstar.”