I Was Shocked When I Fell In Love With An Actress — Actor, Ibrahim Suleiman Speaks About His Life

In this interview, popular Nigerian movie star, Ibrahim Suleiman, tells NOAH BANJO about his career, family, movie industry and other issues

What was growing up like for you?

I was born in Kaduna State. I am the oldest of three children and we were raised by our mum. We had a pretty decent life. She (mum) was a civil servant but kept two jobs (sometimes three) to make sure we had all we needed. Yes, we did but without some things we wanted nevertheless our needs were always met.

I studied Architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, but the most important education I got was from my mother, on how to be humane. She taught me empathy, dignity in labour, family values, honour, decency and faith in God.

What event in your formative years shaped your path in life?

That would be watching my mother raise three children on her own without sacrificing her values. Regardless of the consequences, she always strove to do what was right, and she put others first every time.

Your dance group became popular on a national dance show. What can you recall of that experience?

At the time, it was predominantly about proving to the world that one can be educated, talented, serve God ‘loudly’ on a secular platform and still be excellent.

Everything else that we got along the way was an unexpected bonus.

You were known as Captain Quest, the leader of the group. What happened to the group and why did you stop dancing?

Members of the group graduated and we all moved to different parts of the country. Some of us also relocated abroad. In a nutshell, we grew, and it was beautiful to see.

I haven’t performed publicly in a few years because of a car crash I had in 2016. But, I still create and choreograph.

Do you still keep in touch with other members of the crew?

Yes, we keep in touch; some more often than others. But whenever we do, it is always laughs and banter. I miss our days of 10 hour-rehearsals and rushing to airports to catch flights, the thrill of new cities and performing live in front of new crowds every other weekend. Now, some of us are in Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos and the United Kingdom.

How did you transist from being an architect to a dancer and now an actor?

(Laughs) I was a professional dancer before I graduated as an architect. I actually have remained consistent as a practicing architect. I never stopped full-time.

Acting was the one thing I never planned. My plan was to be a writer and director. So, I guess that’s still part of the near future.

Did acting come by chance or it had been part of your plan all along?

It was purely by chance. It was supposed to be for a three month-period while waiting for something else I was commissioned to do. However, three months has blossomed into almost five years now.

Many believe that people in entertainment are living a life of luxury. Is being an actor as fulfilling and lucrative as it is widely thought?

It is fulfilling but not lucrative. One can make a decent living if one is financially responsible but the luxury comes by leveraging on one’s social equity by representing brands and doing other things.

What’s the toughest role you have ever played?

That would be ‘Anayo Dike’ on AccelerateTV’s web series, The Olive. I play a widowed man in his forties who has three teenage children and has lost his biggest client. To look and feel older, I had to gain six kilogrammes for the role and had to learn to walk and talk a little slower. It was tough but invigorating at the same time.

What are your most memorable moments in the industry so far?

That would be when I appeared in the movie, Up North, which was my first cinema feature. Also when I appeared on the television series, Tinsel, where I got to learn from my colleagues.

Have you had any regrets taking a particular role?

Of course, everybody has had at least one of those.

If you were not an actor, do you think being an architect or dancer would have got you the success you are enjoying now?

Yes, definitely. Success is measured in different ways. As an established architect, I would be earning more, per project. But would I be seen every weekday by millions of households in sub-Saharan Africa? No!

What are your concerns about the movie industry?

I feel we are not doing enough in terms of collaboration. Too many people want to be the boss. Long-term, we will always struggle to scale up.

Some moviegoers believe some actors are stereotyped in movies. Do you share this opinion?

It is a valid opinion. But to be fair to the actors, you can only play roles you are offered.

What are some of the things you have had to give up for your acting career?

A lot of sleep. People think we are just playing around but filmmaking is a lot of work. I cannot remember the last time I slept for up to six hours in a night.

Celebrities are looked at with ‘magnifying lens’ by the public. Are there times you wish for privacy or do you enjoy the attention?

My wife and I are very private people. We only share what we are comfortable sharing. But because we do not have much to hide anyway, we don’t stress it.

Celebrities are sometimes held to a lofty standard. How do you manage the pressure and expectation that comes with the job?

I was raised to always do what is within my means. The only pressure I feel is from within. Whatever I cannot internalise, I do not bother with.

Peer pressure never got to me as a child, so it is not supposed to affect me in my thirties.

In your line of work, everyone has an opinion. How much criticism do you have to deal with over the roles you act?

A fair share and I understand it. Art is subjective. If people do not have an opinion on one’s work, what is the point? One creates art so people who consume it feel something. If they don’t feel enough to react, one has to rethink one’s creative choices.

Where do these criticisms come from and how do you handle them?

They come from the people who consume the projects I am part of. And, I always try to understand that not every critical opinion is negative.

Whenever there are social or political issues going on, people believe entertainers should be vocal about them. What are your thoughts on that?

I am very vocal but one of my closest friends (a civil engineer) isn’t. We are all affected by the same issues but not everybody is interested in social commentary. They prefer to be active behind the scenes. People are on social media for different reasons, and we should respect their choices. Let’s focus our energy on amplifying the voices of those who decide to speak up, instead of hunting down those who have not.

Do you think fans expect too much from celebrities?

Sometimes, yes. We forget that celebrities are regular people with hopes, dreams, fears, challenges and struggles. That their source of livelihood puts them in the public eye should not dehumanise them. They deserve empathy too. I have experienced some really uncomfortable incidents myself and I learnt one or two valuable lessons from them.

Some people have complained that Nigerian movies often have predictable storylines. What’s your response to that?

Sometimes, the safe route is to make films that are similar to films that Nigerians have celebrated. And over the years, this formula has almost always worked. Nigerians love ‘dramedy’ (a fusion of drama and comedy) romcoms (fusion of romance and comedy).

Nigerians like to laugh a lot. But, we also like to complain a lot too. So, we will complain, but we will still watch those films over the crime thriller, a gritty indie film, or the one that addresses a social ill. If we support projects that are different, more filmmakers will see it as less risky.

What would you say is the single greatest investment you have made that has brought you this far in life?

I have invested a healthy amount of time in learning as much about as many different things as possible over the years. It has broadened my palette as a human being and given me more creative raw material to draw from.

In what ways have you been using your popularity to effect change in the lives of youths?

I try to be as approachable as possible. That way, I can share tips, experience and other things with the younger people I meet. I also volunteer at a couple of youth skill acquisition organisations as a mentor. It is fun and I learn a lot from the young people we work with.

Some celebrities rely on scandals to stay relevant in the industry, while some find themselves in it. How have you managed to stay off controversies?

I honestly don’t know. I am not sure it is a conscious decision. Life happens and some people are lucky to be surrounded by people who have their backs, so their shortcomings are not made public. And if scandal keeps the numbers up for some people, more power to their elbows.

What is it like being married to a colleague in the entertainment industry?

(Laughs). We do have a lot of fun together. Because we are both in the industry, it is easier to motivate and support each other. We are each other’s biggest fans. And, she is my acting coach. I can’t wait for her to start directing. I believe she would make an excellent director.

What were the qualities that endeared you to your wife?

Her dedication to family, her unshakeable loyalty to the people she loves, her unrelenting trust in God, her lack of covetousness, her strong moral compass, and her sense of humour. And, have you looked at her? She is breathtaking!

You and your wife are in the limelight. What peculiar challenges does that pose to your marriage?

I think because of how down to earth we both are, being in the public view has not really affected our marriage. We are public figures in public, but as soon as we get home and wash our hands, we are simply two people who choose each other every day.

Did you ever think you would be married to an actress?

Never! It was such a shock to me when I realised I had fallen in love with her. I always was fond of her but I still did not see it coming.

Was there any cultural friction between your families when you decided to get married?

There was none whatsoever. I am from Auchi in Edo State and her family is from Abia. But, her parents grew up in northern Nigeria, so they speak even more fluent Hausa than I do. My first conversation with my father-in-law was in Hausa. From the beginning, we have been a big happy multicultural family.

Since the arrival of your baby, what has fatherhood been like for you?

It has been the best and most intense experience of my life. It is everything I hoped for, and then a lot more.

How has being a parent made you appreciate your parents more?

Becoming a parent makes me miss my mother more than usual. Now, there are things I want to hug her and thank her for teaching me.

Some people can give anything for fame. What are the things you would never do in the pursuit of fame?

That is a long list. But in a nutshell, if it does not feel right, it definitely isn’t right and I’m avoiding it.

How much do you contribute to doing house chores?

When it was just me and my wife, we did everything together. We cooked, cleaned, did laundry and washed the cars. We bonded over everything. But now that we have domestic staff, there is a less housework to do, so I focus on playing with our son and watching him and his mum trying to ‘out-cute’ each other.

Do you enjoy sports?

I love sports. And yes, I am a football fan.

Which football club do you support?

I supported Ajax from 94-97, Manchester United from 98-99, Arsenal and Barcelona from 2000 to date.

How passionate are you about your club?

Passionate enough to run a blog for a few years.

How do you unwind?

I paint (create art). I also watch a show with my wife. We used to spontaneously sneak out of the country for a few days before COVID-19 ruined things.

If you had all the ingredients you wanted, what meal would you cook without a fault?

I think it would be jollof rice, fried plantain and chicken. My yam and egg sauce also taste good.

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Source: Sunday PUNCH