Many were moved to tears, while some cried uncontrollably when they saw the health condition of many Nollywood veterans at Foluke Daramola’s Gala Event and Awards that was organized for the veterans in the industry. The programme is tagged PARA.
The event venue which was filled to the brim with many Nollywood stars elicited a mixture of happiness and sorrow. You may ask why? They were all happy that Foluke Daramola came up with that idea and initiative because it is very rare to see a Nollywood star spend heavily on her colleagues. She went as far as reaching out to many veterans who have been forgotten in the industry.
The part that saddened everyone present is the health status of many of these veterans. Although, the news of the illness of some of these veterans was all over the place when their various ailments began, but there were some that we either never heard of or probably never knew it was that serious.
Clearly, the sun hasn’t been smiling on many of these veterans because we could barely recognize some of them when they were brought into the event hall. It will shock you to know that some could not even stand on their feet. One of them was practically carried into the hall as he couldn’t walk. His health condition made many people cry at the event because many couldn’t recognize him when he was brought into the hall.
We are talking about popular Nollywood actor, Olukayode Odumosu popularly known as Pa Kasumu. It was gathered that Pa. Kasumu has been battling with a re-occurring illness since 2009. In 2011, the news went viral that he reportedly suffered stroke but he bounced back. As you read this, he is in critical condition. He can’t walk either can he talk clearly.
You would be forced to ask if that is really popular Pa. Kasumu we see on screen. He has lost so much weight that people couldn’t control their tears when they saw him.
Just as we have many veterans who are critically ill, there are also many who aren’t sick but they have fallen on bad times. We all know that the movie industry is not pensionable which has made it so hard for many of these veterans to survive since most of them no longer get movie roles once they start ageing or slowed down by one ailment or the other.
According to one of the veterans, Obiageli Molube, she said ‘’we are like damaged goods’’. She further said, we make people happy, we make childhood fun for many but because we are old, they have abandoned us.” She even added that maybe if she is based abroad and she is very rich, they might not abandon her.
Many of these veterans also fall sick due to depression. Producers no longer find them worthy of acting a role for them not because they can’t act that role but because they believe viewers are only interested in young actors believing they are the only ones who can sell their films. By so doing, these veterans become very jobless and this has affected many of them a lot. Should we also add that social media has also affected them a lot as marketers now cast movies based on the activeness of actors on social media.
Most young actors now get movie roles based on their followers on Instagram or other social media platforms. This leaves out the old veterans that are not active on Instagram, and others who do not even have an Instagram page, they are left to suffer the consequences of social media in the industry.
Some of these great actors who are going through hard times are Chief Olofa Ina, Chief Lere Paimo, Alhaji Kareem Adepoju popularly known as Baba Wande, Chief Peter Fatomilola, Yemi My Lover, Barbara Soky, Iyabo Oko, Samson Oluwole (Irunmulowo), Yetunde Ogunsola Ayoni.
Written by Toyin Ogundiya
