On Sunday, 29 May, the Democracy Day, Steve Onu, popular comedian and On
Air Personality known more as Yaw, will be hosting the eight edition of his
annual Yaw Live On Stage. The very funny guy invited P.M.Express' FUNSHO
AROGUNDADE to his Surulere, Lagos newly-fitted Studio cum office for a chat. He
bares his mind on his staying power as an actor and radio presenter, and his
love for stage
What is this your forthcoming show ‘Shalanga’ all about?
The word Shalanga otherwise known as Pit Latrine is
funny as it sounds. However, Shalanga is a play written by actor, Femi
Branch. Year in, year out, I always love to produce stage play which mirrors
the society in a satiric manner. So this year, I discussed with Femi Branch
that I wanted to repeat the stage again and he told me he has a play that I
will love and that play turned out to be Shalanga. This year, the
audience will enjoy a recap of what has happened in the country from the
beginning of the year till now. The play will revolve around politics,
entertainment and what is generally applicable to the society at large. In
essence, if you had seen the poster for the show, you would have seen me
squatting and pooing into the country (Nigeria). This is assumed to be the pit
latrine where everybody just comes from nowhere, and all we just do is deposit
our waste. Most times people don’t care about what happens to Shalanga
because we just drop and then we go. It’s none of our business to take care of
it, we just deposit the 'hard one' plus the 'watery one'. Everybody just drops
whatever he wants to drop in the latrine without any care. Same thing we do to
our country, forgetting that we are all government. We want people to know that
it’s not just about those in Aso Rock alone, we must contribute our own little
quota and don’t wait till everything is spoilt before we start complaining. The
country can only be better if we all are united and that is the message Shalanga
is trying to pass at the end of the day. This is the eighth edition of
different plays, the same theme, talking about government. So, it’s just a
recap of what you and I know. It is a satire. Satire is just like a rubber
sword, you throw without intending to spill blood but you inflict pain. You
stab the person a little, the person feels it. At the end of the day, you might
laugh and then go home and think about it.
Unlike every other comedy show which is strictly music and comedy, yours
is different. Is it deliberate?
You know I did drama in school. I am a proud Theatre Art graduate. Right
from my days in school, I had started producing stage plays and I said to
myself, I would want to continue in this trend. Back then in school, I had been
doing comedy, music and drama on my shows and the likes of Omo Baba, Jedi,
Sound Sultan, Ruggedman were regular attendees of those programmes. So when I
came out of school, I told myself to continue with this same style. The truth
is I just wanted to do something completely different, and that's because I am
first and foremost, an actor, a trained actor. I decided to just do that and
infuse music and comedy because lots of people like to watch music and comedy.
It’s a standard I have set overtime and can only improve on it.
What informed your choice of AY as your co-star on Shalanga?
As you know I have featured many experienced actors such as Funke
Akindele, Koffi, Okey Bakassi to mention but few in the previous edition. So
last year, AY approached me to tell me he would love to be on board for the
next one, same as Sound Sultan and Akpororo. I have lined up these fantastic
guys for the next three years of my show. But I choose AY to be on stage with
me for this year not because of any consideration. I guess you know AY is also
a Theatre Art graduate who has done well in the comedy and movie industry. I
love his craft and style and I know we can always pull through together. The
stage play, I bet it with you will wow the audience and the message we are
trying to pass will get across to people.
Is there any supporting actor during the play?
Normally, the concept of the show is a two-man cast. I only introduced
the Crown Troupe of Africa to add flavour to the play. They will come to dance
and interpret the scenes where we needed crowd. We have the Crown Troupe to
help do that but on this coming stage play, I decided not to use them. I'm
using one or two actors to play minor roles and off the stage. But majorly it
will be myself and AY on that stage because we don’t intend to have blackout on
stage. That is the concept I'm working with.
What should guests expect from the show?
Expect all the best packaged fun at the show as it will be filled with
performance by talented musicians and comedians that include Olamide, Phyno,
Ycee, Lil Kesh, Vector, Humblesmith, Solidstar and Reminisce to mention a few.
Of course, you will enjoy the best of my colleagues in the comedy business that
night. We’ve also got surprises that we are working on. Last year, we had an Old
Skool act who performed at my show. It was after that success that a lot of
people started using that concept of featuring Old Skool act as surprise acts.
Same thing will happen this year, just expect a total package show. It will be
something different from the regular.
You have consistently organised stage plays in spite of the challenges
many said are hampering its growth in Nigeria. How do you think this can be
tackled?
Of course, you should know that everything boils down to finance. Gone
are those days when you get sponsors for stage plays. Until corporate sponsors
begin to look in the direction of stage play, things will remain the same. The
other thing is the lack of proper structure to put things in order.
But you have been doing the stage in spite of these challenges?
It's just because of my interest in the art. As a trained theatre art practitioner,
I believe in the saying that 'The show must go on'. Despite the challenges, I
have to find a way of getting this show produced every year. It's not easy but
I just have to make it happen.
What has really happened to your popular TV series Yaws & Mine?
The series, Yaws & Mine is on hold for now but pretty soon we would
be hitting location to shoot more episodes. People need to understand that
putting sitcoms on the television is quite an expensive venture. Most of the
time, we shot without sponsors. We took it as our duty as producers to take
care of all our cast and crew members. And it's not an easy task. But by God's
grace, I will be coming back on air before the end of the year as numerous fans
have also been asking for it. Immediately after Shalanga show, we will commence
production. Also, my team and I have equally been working tirelessly to come up
with other fresh ideas.
During your morning talk show on WAZOBIA FM, you and Nedu have created a
cult-like following especially with the way you review the daily newspapers.
Given how early the programme is aired, do you guys rehearse or it's a
spontaneous delivery?
Where is the time? We don’t rehearse at all. It's what I see in the
papers that I review. The humour just comes naturally. But believe me
sincerely, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has been on my neck. They
said I am triggering issues. For heaven sake, I am an humorous person. We look
at the humorous part of the news. I think beyond what you guys (journalists)
have written. I am sure my MD (Amin Moustalli) didn’t have all these in mind
when we started WAZOBIA, but the whole thing started with the way I usually
start my presentation, and then it caught everybody. I started the review with
humour. I just told myself I will put humour in every part of my presentation
because with the situation in the country, I believe Nigerians need humour to
relax the tension. But NBC is saying that’s not news while people's responses
have shown that they want to listen to it. But every time they (NBC) call me,
they said I am going against NBC rules. I usually tell them that I
only say things I see in the newspapers. They then suggested that I should
limit myself to headlines on the cover and not flip into the inner pages where
most of the gists are. That's the dilemma I'm in now.
Many see you more as a comedian but this part of your creative life has
been relegated to the background.
The truth is comedy depends on what perspective you are looking at it
from. We’ve got stand-up comedians, comic actors and then comedians on radio. I
am good at every one of these. I am always on air 24/7, if it’s to act, I act;
if you call me for stand up, I do it; but I see myself as a total entertainer.
That’s just it. Then again, it’s not everybody that is good as a comic actor.
It's not every comedian that can do stand-up comedy, same as not all stand-up
comedians that can act. But thank God, I can conveniently slip into all these
roles as an all-round entertainer.
What is the difference between Yaw and Steve Onu?
Steve Onu, to an extent, is a quiet reserved person. Unknown to some
people, I’m shy and most times want to be on my own. Left to me, I want to be
at home counting money till night. But for Yaw, he must be outgoing, attend
events, be at those red carpets, and then talk. This is Steve Onu speaking to
you now because a Yaw will not speak English but pidgin. Basically, they are
totally two different people, but some things are just similar; I can’t run
away from that, my humorous side. Aside that, I just prefer to be indoors, I
don’t want to go out, party or even go clubbing. I just prefer it that way.
This interview was published by P.M.EXPRESS days before the main show
