The movie industry in Africa is fast-growing and attracting both local and foreign investments and partnerships.

In addition to the continent's music exploits, the movie industry has also stepped up its game and is not being left out on the amplification of our culture, histories, and stories inspired by the realities of people on the continent.

One of the continent's finest, Gideon Okeke, known for his role in the continental classic TV show Tinsel as well as the movies Crossroads, Legally Blunt, and A Place in the Stars, returns after a brief hiatus period with the latest blockbuster on the continent.

Transitioning from his studies in "Applied Biochemistry" into the world of arts and entertainment took more than just talent and passion.

Recognizing how challenging the road to stardom in the movie industry is, Gideon sought to upgrade his skills and knowledge by attending the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, where he mastered method acting.

Endowed with talent, determination, knowledge, and skills, Gideon has gone on to become one of Africa's biggest movie and film stars.

As part of Gideon's contribution to the amplification of African stories, he assumes the lead role in Rasmey Nouah's latest directorial film, Tòkunbò. The film is a depiction of how people are caught up in a struggle for survival in a limitless system where the lines between morals and ethics become blurry.

entertainment, movies, pan african — Gideon Okeke, Image: Supplied

In a conversation with GQ, he speaks about his new film Tòkunbò, the importance of partnerships with investors and streaming platforms, and his vision of the growth and development of the African music space.

GQ: The name Gideon Okeke is no stranger to our screens. Looking back, if you had to tell your younger self something, what would today's Gideon tell young Gideon?

Gideon Okeke (GO): Just be patient with yourself. Sometimes you just might be ahead of yourself. Sometimes you just might be ahead of your time.

Just be patient with yourself because you might feel some frustration because you don't fit in now. You don't fit in, then? It's because you're ahead of something.

You are ahead of something. It just needs time to fit in. It doesn't work now, but it is going to work. But if you just remember that it's a long game, so master your patience and master yourself.

GQ: You were part of arguably the biggest TV show on the continent, "Tinsel." How influential has Tinsel been in your life?

GO: Tinsel was like my first drama school. We got trained for the job and were trained on the job. It was also my first break on screen. But every day on that production presented a new avenue to see this thing as an art as a science. You know, it's not just a plaything.

No, it's an art. It's a science, and all those are inspirations that give me the foundation into looking more. So, I got trained professionally, and you know, my desire was just, you know, to conquer television and then conquer the big screen, and here we are.

GQ: As an alumnus of Lee Straberg's Theater and Film Institute and an actor of your experience, how important is education in your line of work? There are always talks about how being talented will take you places, but do you feel talent alone is enough?

GO: To be an actor. You have to repeat a lot of the writer's words on paper. You have to repeat; you have to memorize and then repeat with me.

With meaning and intent, we have to repeat those things back to someone else. I think you need to be educated to be an actor.

Because it deals with. Vocabulary: it deals with literature. It deals with imagination; it's a science. So why come to the table when you are a pedestrian?

You need some level of education. It is a professional vocation to be a doctor who saves lives. It is not just a flat thing. Talent is just not enough to take you as far.

GQ: We have seen you in several roles across your career, with some being in the action genre. Will you describe yourself as an action film specialist?

GO: Well, I am not a specialist; I am just on a path of discovery. I did not plan to be an action hero. But I have always wanted to make action movies.

I mean, everyone wants to wear a cape and fly, but nobody plans to do that. I am just trying to find out the things that I can do. In fact, I was saying this to my mother. It is like going to an amusement park.

You pay the ticket at the gate and are allowed access to as many rides as you paid for. Right now, let's remember that the ride is scary. But you paid to come here and have fun.

The time is going to be up and your ticket is going to be out, and then you go home sad, but everybody came here to have fun. So, for me, every character, every role, and every opportunity is an opportunity to have fun and test the things that I can do because I pay to take them at the gate and I don't want them to run out.

GQ: You have won awards and received multiple nominations for various awards. How does it feel to be awarded or nominated in your line of work? Does it ever attract pressure?

GO: I just recently won an award two days ago, and I don't feel any pressure right now. But I'm waiting for the pressure. I'm waiting for it to put some pressure on me. I want to see what the pressure does.

GQ: With your level of experience, how different is the movie industry today from what it was when you were starting out?

GO: You know, with the new wave of things year after year, things keep affirming that there's something new with Nollywood every time. There's a new wave of stuff when you watch a film.

There's a new wave of stuff coming, and the film is very emphatic in confirming that Nollywood is something to see; you know, you go for Korean, you go for Bolly, and you go for Hollywood.

There's something to see here, and Tòkunbò is a great champion of that. I hope that in the end, people walk away from it, calling it, you know, a cult following. I hope it's a film that sparks the crossover conversation. I hope that this box office conversation. Yeah.

GQ: You have an upcoming film on Netflix, " Tòkunbò.". Can you share with us what went into the movie and what viewers should expect?

GO: Tòkunbò was challenging in the sense that you have to be done.

First of all, every day was a challenge, and sometimes pleasure can become pain, so it was beautiful in the end. Not while we were doing it, but we had to do it because the doing was the challenge, and we accomplished that in 45 days.

It is a very sentimental film for anyone who worked on it because of what went into it. It's something new here. There's something new that Nigerians are trying to be, and I think it starts or continues with this.

GQ: Like your upcoming movie, we have seen a strong partnership and collaboration between Netflix and other movie platforms with the movie industry in Nigeria and Africa at large. How important have these partnerships been to the movie industry?

GO: Well, one of the challenges Nollywood has been facing is funding and capacity. We are not where we are yet, even with the funding we have, but it's been nice to see projects that have adequately sizable budgets to achieve.

What they can achieve is still not up to the standard and taste of what the same companies pay for other projects.

But we will grow, we will learn, and we will learn our ropes. We're going to grow with time as well, I believe.

The body language of the streaming services towards investment in Nigeria in Africa and all that stuff. We also have to grow and show capacity for us to get the kind of funding that we want.

So that confidence is going to grow on the side of the investor, and we also have to grow that confidence by showing more capacity. So time is an ally at the end of the day.

GQ: Are there any upcoming projects from you that readers should look out for?

GO: Well, right now, my two feet are here (Tòkunbò), and this is where I am right now. This is what we should talk about. But going further after Tukombo, I have nine other projects that I am ready to release.

I am in the lead with four of them. I am in supporting roles, making some others as I speak. It is a beautiful time; just go out and help me tell the world that Gideon Okeke is back.

GQ: If you were asked to list your top 5 films or shows you have featured in, what would those be?

GO: Number one, without a doubt, is Tòkunbò; number two is Crossroads; and number three is still another Gideon Okeke Covenant. Number four is the Godfather, and number five is the City of God.

GQ: For young people who you have inspired in the industry and for those who have plans of venturing into the industry but cannot find the right direction, what do you have to tell them?

GO: Find whatever you love, in whatever department, in whatever field of life, find whatever you love to do. And get some education from it.

That is going to give you the upper hand. In the arts or sciences, you do whatever you want to do. Find what you love, get some education in it, and then go further from there.

GQ: What last words do you have for our readers?

GO: Gideon Okeke is back after a seven-year hibernation. But I am back with Blockbusters in the center, running my own show.

Written by Nana Kojo Mula