In
the wake of the sudden death of Yoruba movie starlet, Bisi Komolafe,
who passed away on the New Year’s eve at the University Teaching
Hospital, Ibadan, fellow actor, Saheed Balogun, has disclaimed the
stories making the rounds that Komolafe’s death was as a result of
fetish practices and husband snatching scandals.
Balogun,
who is currently putting finishing touches to his latest movie, ‘You or
I’, says, “I find it very absurd that anyone would attribute the death
or illness of any Yoruba actor to juju. Many people die every day as a
result of various ailments but the reason behind the hullabaloo over the
death of a star is just because we are popular. It has nothing to do
with jazz (evil forces) and no one knows the day he/she will die besides
God. It is just sad that she died at a time when she was about to blow
in the industry and fans looked forward to more works from her.”
On
the complaints that Yoruba movies are filled with fetish scenes and
diabolical practices, an angry Balogun retorts, “Yoruba movies are
filled with juju scenes because I have never seen a situation where an
actor will need to play a witch and then put on a pastor’s robe or dress
like a teacher to act like a thief. We act it as it is and do not
pretend about anything. We the film-makers are like teachers who help
you shape your future and mirror your present.”
Refusing
to examine the circumstances behind Komolafe’s death, and when reminded
about the fact that his industry (Yoruba movies) lost quite a number of
its acts in the last two years, Balogun says, “With all due respect, if
you recollect, you will remember that it was the elders that passed on
last year. Komolafe, was a young and rising star and one of the few
young ones we have lost.”
On
steps to be taken to forestall similar occurrences in the New Year, the
Kwara State-born actor notes, “Usually, when things like these occur,
the elders organise prayer and deliverance sessions for we the
practitioners, and we are going to do just that right now.”
On
the professional side, he concedes that the Yoruba movie industry is
plagued by the copycat syndrome. “Besides piracy, the major issue facing
us is that many practitioners are not organised and focused. Just
because one person produces a comedy, everybody will join the band
wagon. If it is a war film, they will tow that line. Everybody cannot be
a producer, director or actor at the same time. You must have the
talent then get the necessary skills to match.”
The
late Komolafe will be buried today, according to family members. There
will be a special mass service at the Catholic Church Okepadi, Salvation
Army way, in Ibadan. She will be buried at the same venue.
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