Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, the International Actress Celebrates' her Birthday Day.
She barely looks it, but believe it or not, acclaimed international actress, Ms.Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, turned 70 on February 3. Since then, it has been celebrations galore.
Taiwo Ajai-Lycett
Today, Sunday, February 20, a thanksgiving service followed by a reception on the church premises is being held at St. Francis’ Catholic Church, Idimu, Lagos. All the events were organized for this illustrious Nigerian by her colleagues, friends and family members. Overwhelmed by the loud accolades pouring down on her as she turns 70, this veteran stage actress and Lagosian of Awori descent, spoke on the state of the entertainment industry in Nigeria and her plans for her foundation, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett Foundation, in a chat with Vista Woman.
Hear her:
This is the best time of my life, quite frankly. I never thought that I could say that I had a best time because every time is always good for me as far as I am concerned. But I must acknowledge that this has been very special.
All my friends, colleagues in business, people in my constituency, fans and family members have really surprised me, and I feel relieved. I thought I was living a good life, but I did not know that I was living a stupendously glorious life. For that, I am eternally grateful. Now I know that I am truly blessed; it’s all beginning to unfold for me how wonderful people can be.
Being 70 and drinking in all these goodness that people are throwing at me, strengthens me. Some people feel that being 70 makes you nearer to your grave, but for me, it makes me feel like whatever I have done in the past is nothing compared to what I can still do. I mean, I can still do more. It particularly dawns on me when I see youngsters who say ‘You have been an inspiration to me’.
Now I want to give back to them through my foundation, Taiwo Ajai- Lycett Foundation, because the situation here in Nigeria is strange. People have learnt to love the art, and Hollywood and Bollywood are on top of us. I go to the cinema, and I see youngsters moving around there and dying for entertainment.
Some of them even dream that one day they themselves will be performers. Now, I feel that this is the time that I should use my mind more creatively. Hence, I hope to set up an office, something like an academy, nearer town, for Taiwo Ajai-Lycett Foundation, and put my heart into the training of youngsters. I want to help them start entertainment in the right way. I want to teach them on how to be a voice coach, a piano coach, musician, prospective actor and actress, etc. Even a lot of musicians can hardly be heard when they sing. So, the voice training is very important.
The foundation is also going to be organising workshops to train people on comportment, clarity in speaking and clarity in thinking. It is a known fact that to speak well, you have to have a clear head and also understand words better. I mean, you have to understand words, and the nuances of words. When you know the nuances of words, you choose your words very carefully, and you think twice before you say a thing; you don’t talk carelessly. By teaching all these to young people, I want to help them make use of the gifts God has given them, and also master those gifts.
If I can get the facilities that I need ready in the next two or three months, I will put all these plans in motion. Whether you are a lawyer, politician, reporter, bank manager, doctor or whatsoever, you have to inspire people in your speaking, and those are the kind of people I want to produce for our nation. I want to teach people how to touch and inspire people by what they say; so, it’s not just youngsters that I want to work it. Many atimes I listen to many of our politicians speak, and I begin to wonder.
I mean, such people cannot buy my vote because I just cannot hear what they are saying! If you listen to Barack Obama, you will know why he is my idea of a politician. He is a man who knows words and how to deliver words. You have to inspire people by your words.
This is why the academy will also be teaching professionals. I am very keen on all these that I have said, and as a matter of fact, they are what I want to dedicate the next 70 years of my life to. As I do my best, I’m sure I’m going to get the cooperation of people. That’s my commitment to my country.
Looking at the performing art in Nigeria, I would say we have a long way to go. People complain that it is not thriving, but I think the problem starts with us. If you don’t make great arts, you can’t find people coming to watch you.
To prosper, you need to have great arts. In this country, we don’t have efficient and effective art management. If people give out their hard-earned money to watch you perform and what they get is nonsense, the next time you invite them, they’re not going to come. You have to first of all create great arts, and then an institutional market.
The government has dedicated N20million to Nollywood now, and I’m sure they are all wanting to get their hands in it. But where is the plan on how to utilise the money? First of all, you should know what you want to do. When I talked about my plan for Taiwo Ajai-Lycett Foundation and the academy, I haven’t just thought about it; it has been registered and incorporated since 1998. I have been living with this dream for years now, and now, the plan has really matured in my mind. To save our art industry, a lot of things should be looked at.
First of all, we are always thinking that it is only the people in the art that are responsible for thriving and successful entertainment; but that’s wrong. The media also have to be responsible for what’s happening. If you’re promoting people who have shallow talent, and hardly any experience (that’s not a crime because we all have to start somewhere), you don’t blow them up so that they then get big headed and feel they’ve got everything. So, the media is also responsible for the state of the arts; we have to accept that.
We shouldn’t just keep knocking the actors and actresses. The media promote people for putting up one album, and they do not even wait to know what the next is like. In Western countries, even if they make you a superstar because your work is wonderful, the media put pressure on you to let you know you better work very hard to best what you’ve just produced.
That way, the artistes are always on their toes! Are we doing that here? I suggest we all work together to develop the kind of entertainment industry that we want, because it will be good for our polity and because entertainment is about information and education; not just about entertainment. We can develop our political followers by making them have the correct information, correct ideas about their country, love for their country, responsibility to their country, etc.
Look at our roads! Entertainers have a responsibility to impart social skills and information to the generality of the public because we have a captive audience who look up to us. If we do appreciate our importance in the polity, then, we should grab it.
I was born on February 3, 1941, here in Nigeria, but I moved to England in 1960, and worked in the British Civil Service until 1970. I studied Business Studies, but later trained for an acting career at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the City Literary Institute and the Dance Centre in Covent Garden – all in London.
Among other productions, I have featured in many UK theatre productions, at venues including The Royal Court Theatre and the Royal Opera House. I performed recently in 2007 in the play, ‘Critical Mass’ at the Almeida Theatre in London.
My television appearances include one of the popular British sitcoms of the 1970s, ‘For Better For Worse’. In the Hollywood film, ‘A Warm December’, I appeared alongside the iconic African American actor, Sidney Poitier. My appearance with Michael Crawford (who played Frank Spencer) in the classic British TV comedy, ‘Some Mothers Do Have ‘Em’ is a popular video on YouTube.’
Interviewes by
JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA
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