PATIENCE OZOKWOR, the Nollywood actress popularly known as Mama G, was in the country recently as the special guest of the Nigeria High Commission for the Tafrija Festival. When Patience is not playing the role of a wicked woman, she is playing the old wise woman. She spoke exclusively to SHIRLEY GENGA

I always wanted to be an entertainer from the time I was a little girl, but I was not sure what I wanted to do exactly. I came from a humble family in Ngwo, where my village is Amaobo. I grew up in a polygamous home but my father made everyone feel equal — we all ate together and no one was treated better than the other.

Patience Ozokwor in Kenya. [PHOTOS: JOSEPH KIPTARUS/STANDARD]

After completing my primary school, I gained admission into Methodist Girls in Yaba but because it was in the heat of a political crisis that later culminated into the civil war, my family relocated to Enugu. I joined a secondary school in Ngwo, but my results were not good in the end and I repeated, although this time I took the private GCE exams and passed. I got married immediately afterwards in 1976.

Later on, I attended a teachers training college and taught for about four years. I also studied Fine and Applied Arts, specialising in Graphics, but I never practised for one day.

Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I never new I would one day become a famous Nollywood actress. I did not even know anything about the industry. Although I enjoyed teaching, there was restlessness in me. I wanted to do more but at the time I was not sure what.

In 1982, Radio Nigeria came to the school where I was teaching to do a programme. They liked me and asked if I could moderate a children’s programme. That is how I got into radio, and I loved the experience. It was as if I was born to be on radio (laughs).

I worked with Radio Nigeria for four years and then I was retrenched. It is hard to be retrenched and my family went through difficult times, but I have always been strong and I always find ways to overcome obstacles. I went back to teaching, which many people found strange.

Tv promo

A few years later, Chika Okpal, a veteran Nigerian comedian, invited me to play the role of a wife to top Nollywood actor Pete Eneh in a TV promo where I would be encouraging citizens to seek education before getting into business. Nigerians received the commercial very well and I even caught the attention of Chief Zebrudaya.

When Pete Eneh got the opportunity to shoot a television series (Someone Cares), he gave me the lead role. That got me noticed; yet I was still cautious. I felt that going to Nollywood would give me unnecessary exposure, plus I considered myself as shy.

By the time I shot my first movie, (Sins of a Father) in 1998, I was already a household name, but that was nothing compared to the popularity I gained after the movie Authority (1999). Since then, I have never looked back.

Most of the roles I play in movies are of villains. I’m usually the wicked woman. People have asked me if I’m always typecast to play the evil woman but the truth is, initially I did not like the role.

With time, however, I made peace with it. It is a role, after all. Now when I appear as the bad woman, I use the scenes to master the wicked souls filled with hate and envy.

My career in movies spans 13 years and I have acted in many movies. I can’t say I have any favourites, and I always give the best in every script I’m given. The roles I play sometimes get monotonous, but I try to always add some freshness to each movie.

Debut album

Did you know I’m also a musician? Yes, I discovered my musical gift earlier than I did acting, but I didn’t have money to work on it. Once you have the talent to entertain you can do all things through God. I was patient, and God has been great, because I released my debut album, National Moi Moi (Volume one and two), two years ago.

The music is talks about morals, and my goal was to catch the attention of our leaders and Nigerians in general. I have songs directly targeting Government, in which I remind our leaders that they owe us good governance. I also have songs for the people where I remind them of their role. We shouldn’t expect the Government to do everything for us. Both the Government and the people have important roles to play.

Although the messages in the songs are serious, I also tried to make the music fun to listen to. It gives me joy to know that people appreciate my music a lot. People listen and sing to them when the tracks play on air. That I have been able to put smiles on people’s faces and make them laugh gives me great joy. I’m currently working on a new album.

Give back to society

I have always had a passion to give back to society, and I have been doing this through my church, where I am also a choir member. I love to give different things, but my heart aches for women. I always try to help them. Recently, a colleague in the movie industry lost her parents then got pregnant. I heard she wanted to abort so I approached her and warned her not to do it, or else I would hand her over to the police.

I then took her to my house and took care of her until she delivered a baby girl. I’m still taking care of the baby today while the mother continues pursuing her career.

I hate abortion with a passion so I also talk to young girls. My plea with them is to abstain until marriage, but should they have sex and get pregnant, I urge them to come to Mama Gee for help as I’m ready to shelter them as long as they do not abort.

God has been a constant pillar in my life. I got saved while in high school. When your foundation is in God you can achieve a lot, but if you put your trust in yourself, you can fail. I have always put my trust in God and He has never disappointed me.

I, therefore, believe that before you do anything, pray first. The greatest lesson I have learnt in my life this far is that God is never late.