25th April, 2014
Babajide Moronfolu, ace Radio and TV presenter and Voice-Over Artiste, in this interview with KAYODE APONMADE speaks on his life experience, career and Nigeria’s broadcasting industry
How did your broadcasting career begin?
My broadcasting career started in 1986 when I had my four-month internship at Radio Nigeria 2 then on Martins Street, Lagos. I served under late the Ladi Lawal in the news room. Ladi drilled me and encouraged me. During my HND, one of my friends and classmate, Kayode Akinyemi introduced me into advertising. That was how I started producing jingles for Source Communications in Ikeja then. While waiting for my call up letter for NYSC I worked briefly under the supervision of Olusesan Ekisola in OGBC2. Ekisola was another tough guy, after my first audition as a presenter; he sent me packing to come back in six months time. I felt like hanging myself, it was the late Toba Opaleye that saw me on the street of Oke Ilewo in Abeokuta that sat me down and shared experiences of life with me. After the six months, Ekisola attached me to Ambrose Somide to be anchoring “E Maa Bubble” with him. I only did one episode when my call up letter came and posted me to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. At the orientation camp, I became the head of Orientation Broadcasting Service. It was then that a staff of Radio Rivers saw me and I was posted there to work with them as a freelancer under Mrs Florence Ekiyé, Tammy Alalebo and other DJs.
You also worked at Tunde Kelani’s Mainframe?
Yes, I started work in Mainframe sometime in 1995 and left 31 December 1999. Kelani exposed me to film production. My desire was to end up in Raypower/AIT then, but after my training alongside Sule Ellams and one other guy, I was told by TK to adapt late Kola Olawuyi’s Iriri Aye radio show to TV, which I did. Then we set out for shoot in Ibadán.The late Olu Morgan who took me to Mainframe was the camera man. I was the line producer and Kola Olawuyi was the producer; Yinka Ayefele was also with us as a freelancer with Kola Olawuyi. We were thinking of a name to call the programme, Kola opted for Iriri Aye, but in our discussion, I said “Nkan Nbe O”, that was how Kola picked the name as the name of the programme.
How would you describe your experience while at Mainframe?
At first, I was not needed as I forced myself on TK. I was always around him. When Kola left Mainframe with Nkan Nbe, the need arose to create a TV department, and that gave birth to “Aranbada”, a TV show on MITV and later LTV. I was the line producer and Dotun Oyeneye was the associate producer. Yemi Shodimu was the presenter and supervising producer. I also presented the programme when TK and Yemi had to travel to London for the Afro Hollywood. TK never believed I could do it but Yemi insisted. Anyway, I did it and I suddenly became a star. One of my editions of Aranbada featured late Baba Fatai Rolling Dollar and the rest is history.
Why did you leave?
I left when I felt I have had enough training. For all of us, Yemi Shodimu, Sunday Ogunyemí, Idowu Nubí, Kehinde Aje, Bode Odeyemí, Musediq Alayaki, Mumin Kelani, Falilat Kelani and others, Mainframe was a training school. Don’t be surprised that Funmi Iyanda also cut her tooth there. TK also asked this same question and I told him I wanted to be on my own and that is exactly what I am doing now.
You also worked with the late Kola Olawuyi, what was your designation there?
I was never Kola’s staff. I have said everything about our coming together. For emphasis, Mainframe brought us together. But the work relationship metamorphosed to family relationship. Till death, he never introduced me to anyone as a colleague but as a brother, I am still in touch with his family, I go to his office at beck and call.
When did you establish your own outfit?
I started my company, Extra Grade Productions in year 2000 when I left Mainframe Productions, Opomulero.
As a broadcaster, actor and voice – over act, how do you cope with the home stead?
Voice over and broadcasting is still in the same line, but acting is miles apart. I always tell those who want to be an actor and the same time a broadcaster that it is not easy. Acting takes a whole lot of time, that is why I seldom act. I am a family man; I know everything about my wife and children. I often take my daughter to school and go visiting. I also drive my wife to the office everyday and go back or arrange for someone to take her home.
How can you describe broadcasting industry in Nigeria?
It has been messed up. We now see all Not To Be Broadcast, NTBB, pictures on TV. A lot of stations don’t have content even the ones that have are bad content. Do you notice what Multichoice is doing? They are now developing and producing their own content. This means they want to be different. I can’t tell you that they have stopped accepting our contents.
Was there any time you thought of quitting?
Yes. When I was flat broke. Agencies were not paying and other clients also followed suit, it was as if my whole world about to crumble. There was nowhere to run to, so I gave my CV to one of my clients to get me a paid job. It was at this point the woman knew that Jide was broke and declined to help but gave me N10,000.
What is your strong point?
I went through hell to be what I am. There is a yet unanswered question. In those days when I go for job interviews, they came back to tell me that I performed well or I was one of the best but in all my attempts, I was never employed. Even when I approached Ladi Lawal to help me with AIT, he laughed and said “Ibadán Boys Are Dangerous At Night” you don’t need our job. None employed me. That was why I said I forced myself on TK. He didn’t need me and so I was on a stipend of N500 every month as a pain in the neck. Nkan Nbe made TK to employ me. My desire in life was to work in one of the blue chip companies but it never happened.
Are you a member of FIBAN?
No. I am a member of Association of Voice Over Artistes.
How do you see broadcasting industry in the next ten years?
More stations with lack of good contents. But if National Broadcasting Commission can call on brand managers to start appreciating other contents that are not all about music, dancing and nudity, things will be fine.