Adebukola Olanrewaju Olakanlu is a comedian, actor, compere, on air personality (OAP) and a filmmaker. Popularly known as MC Loosemouth, the talented entertainer who recently relocated to the United States of America (USA) in this interview with Assistant Editor, Sam Anokam, speaks about his career and family
You are an OAP, MC and actor, can you tell us anything more about you that our readers should know?
Adebukola Olanrewaju Olakanlu
In recent years, indigenous personalities like me have been widely accepted and incorporated into the Nigerian society. My brand has essentially established an image in the minds of the society and advertisers by demonstrating originality through creative and fresh ideas sellable to my audience. I do this essentially as a stand-up comedian, event hosting, acting and Radio and TV show host among others.
How do you combine all these jobs considering that you are in the US with your family?
It’s not been easy really producing Kogberegbe Family that shows on AfricaMagic because the cost of production in the US is really high even if it’s a low budget production. My co- presenter on the show is also in the US now as well as the scriptwriter. The ‘Season Three’ will start showing from this year, and we have begun shooting Season Four. Assembling a production crew was the major problem at first, but thank God everything is in shape.
Do you have a favourite among all the jobs that you do?
When I came up with my style of satirical comedy, it’s because I wanted to right the wrongs in the society through comedy. Loosemouth will surely make you laugh, but you must learn something out of his jokes and that made me relevant on my TV show back then on MITV. So my job now, which is producing and acting in Kogberegbe Family on AfricaMagic is my favourite job so far because I am helping couples to stay in love and I’m promoting family bond.
Can you briefly tell us about your training?
I graduated from Lagos State Polytechnic where I studied mass communications. I also trained and earned a certificate in film directing from Nigerian Film Institute, Jos. I trained to be a video editor at Lagos Television and as a radio presenter by Wale Hassan on Radio Lagos. At the moment, I’m in the second phase of my Master’s degree in Strategic Communication at College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida.
How did this beautiful journey start for you?
I’m from a humble Christian home and the journey started in the house of God as a teenager. My interest in entertainment piqued when I was a member of a socio-cultural performing group in my school years. Through that platform, I did a lot of stage plays, comedy and anchored major events at school, even at National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Abia then. I was so popular that my comedies were recorded and sold at the camp.
When was your first big break?
My first big break was my satire comedy on MITV called Wazobia Plus and radio show, Lere, on Radio Lagos from 2006 to 2009. If you are asking about a big break that came with good cash reward, it was in 2009 when I did a marketing campaign for a pharmaceutical company.
What was the smallest fee you ever earned as an entertainer?
Rain don dey beat vulture long long time ago o. Those were the struggling and desperate years; the smallest was N3,000.
How did you come about the name, MC Loosemouth?
It was at an open-air show rehearsal at the department of mass communication in LASPOTECH and an audience where invited to come for a stand-up comedy. I was scared because that would be my first time to do comedy in front of a large crowd. One of my friends, Kunle Akinsanya, came to visit me from Ogun State Polytechnic and was with me at that moment and he encouraged me to go up and do my best. So I took my first step to stardom; the duration allotted for every performer was just two minutes but I thrilled the crowd for about eight minutes. They didn’t want me to leave the stage, since my comedy is satire. I don’t copy jokes; I use my immediate environment to create spontaneous jokes. They started calling me “Parrot” but because it could put me in trouble with cultist, I embraced “Loosemouth.” It is a nickname I earned because of the liberty I use on stage to address our rector, Engr. Olawunmi Gasper. My Rector was fond of me which made me appeared at every show organised by the school management. I used the name on shows on MITV in 2006/2007. Sometimes, my parents forget my real name and call me Loosemouth.
Tell us about your role in Kogberegbe Family and the feedback you have got from fans and viewers?
Kogberegbe Family is a TV programme that brings to life fun moments and family connections. Most issues in marriages are addressed in an interactive and dramatic act. These include themes such as emotions, finances, morals, endurance, love, tolerance, external influences, and commitment. We looked for an unusually interesting way to create a family TV show that provides room for our audience to participate by contributing useful opinions through vox pop. With these arrangements, people are able to relate in a humorous and entertaining way. It is showing on AfricanMagic Yoruba and the response from fans is huge. We get messages through various social networks, calls, mails and so on. The popularity of the show and characters is amazing.
Who was your female celebrity crush while growing up and why?
It was Toni Braxton; her hair cut was killing me softly. Whenever my wife too wears that kind of hair cut, I do not travel. I always want to be around.
Tell us about your family and how you met your wife?
I got married to Joy Quadri Shitta-Bay in 2010. We met during my National Diploma days in LASPOTECH while we were both studying mass communications. It was student politics that connected us but stage acting and comedy joined us together and ever since I met her, the story of my life has changed positively. Friends close to me can explain better why I named her my brain box and, presently, she heads my management team both here in the United States and Nigeria because I still go for some shoot in Nigeria. We have two boys; the first is three years plus while the second is just four months. We relocated to the United States in 2013.
Who are your role models and what drives you?
I have many, but I’ll mention a few. One of them is the late Opeyemi Fajemileyin. He identified the hidden talent in me and encouraged me. Also, Wale Hassan of Radio Lagos gave me the opportunity to present my own show on radio while for TV and acting, I will like to follow the footprints of Femi Odugbemi and Steve Adesemoye. I also admire Yomi Fash-Lanso, as an actor.
How would you describe year 2014 and what are your plans for 2015?
The success story for 2014 is awesome because Creative Village productions is now registered as an audio/visual company in the United States and we have concluded the last part of our proposed online radio for Mr. & Mrs. Kogberegbe. Also, I was able to secure some product placements. For 2015, we are looking forward to running a series of promotions that will feature the lead characters of Kogberegbe, that’s why I will use this platform to call for advertisers and companies that can partner with us. Popular brands should realise that they can benefit from their products being integrated into plot lines and associated with this popular family show. We want to equate ourselves with valuable brands. Creative Village production is raising the bar through integrated marketing campaign even as Yoruba entertainers. We are planning to transmit over 50 episodes on local stations in 2015.
As an entertainer, what aspect of the industry bothers you the most and what do you think can be done about it?
I must confess that there’s been a huge improvement from the awful wishy-washy productions, storylines and bad plot twist that has affected credibility of our films.
The unreliable supply of electricity is also a major problem just as is low budget filmmaking and non-assistance from government. For instance, in the US and other developed countries, film and TV financing refers to government assistance. Government assistance involves a mixture of government support, distributor/ broadcaster involvement and private investment. In the US, the Defence Department has an open but barely publicised relationship with Hollywood. The Pentagon, for decades, has offered filmmakers advice, manpower and even hardware, including aircraft carriers and state-of-the-art helicopters thus influencing the types of films produced. I pray and hope that the Nigerian film industry will get there.
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